There are as many reasons to go on a holiday as there are places to go. I’ve been vacationing in Bali this past week — this means I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time lounging around in the blazing sun, jumping out of dive boats, and sitting on pool chairs that are placed wherever the hotel staff feels like it. (This is usually the worst, hottest place they can think of)
So I’m on the last leg of my holiday — living on a tiny island off the mainland, with beautiful beaches, white sand and crystal water. I’m also progressively getting fifty shades darker and living with crazy, frizzy, humid hair. It’s actually not so bad because I never get lost in this town… My folks know that they should look for a girl who looks like a goddamn Sasquatch.
Can you tell that travelling does not particularly agree with my body? Same goes for adventure sports, with the exception of scuba diving. My first dive, two years back had me shaking… the only thought running through my head was, “Who will have all my hand creams when I die?” No seriously, when the time comes to read my will — the real winners will be: friends who wear a size 5 shoes and friends who love a good hand cream.
My point being: diving is addictive. And also gives you the worst hair and a nasty tan. Salty ocean water messes with your hair like nobody’s business — I’ve been dousing myself in deep conditioners and praying for salvation. Did you know that you can tan even when you’re 20 meters under the water? (This is a problem when you are on an island with absolutely no makeup matching your skin tone anymore). So please, I urge you — find your sunscreen and slather it on every hour till you’re a slippery seal. If you aren’t already doing this, I’m not exactly clear what you are doing with your life!
On a very handy SPF note, kick to the curb any homemade ‘natural’ sunscreen made with hippie-love and no-toxins because it does NOT work. Sunscreen needs zinc oxide, which must be blasted into tiny nano-particles so it adheres to a cream base and does it’s damn job. This is something you cannot do over a bathroom counter with a spoon. So in short: homemade protectors don’t work.
Additionally, any sunscreen recipe that calls for every beauty bloggers favourite ‘secret’ ingredient — coconut oil; is only asking for trouble. Oil absorbs light (duh!) so you’re now a hotbed for UV rays! OUCH, MOMMY BLOGGERS. So if you’ll excuse me; I’ll be here — on a chaise lounge, cocktail in hand and slathering sunscreen on my soul.
Saumya Chawla
@pixie.secrets
The writer loves to over-share, drink wine & watch period dramas