Hello, lovelies! Happy August <3 And happy Taylor Swift album release cycle to those who celebrate!!! I’ve had such a lovely summer so far and even though I’m back to work for the school year, it’s still high summer time, especially in Orlando. I swear I almost can’t breath when I get into my car at the end of the day after it’s been baking in the sun.
Heat aside, summer is a great time to sink into wellness and really take care of yourself (well, any season is). Specifically in summer, I know I’m super busy with fun things and being unwell puts a damper on my plans. I want to feel energized, happy, and healthy so I can live it up all season! Below are some different things that I’ve been loving this summer ~2025~ to keep me feeling my best:
Quality Skincare
Healthy glowing skin makes me happy. It’s also just simply good for you to protect your skin barrier! My summer skincare is super focused on nourishing products like barrier repair serums, moisturizers, and of course sunscreen! I honestly think I’ve cracked the code, finally! I have never been the girl with beautiful skin, but over the past few months, my skin has looked its best in a loonnnnggggg time! Below are the products I’ve used this summer and absolutely love:
Morning:
- Cocokind Ceramide Barrier Serum (Amazon)- This product has really helped with my acne scars and improved overall appearance. I tend to have skin that reddens easily and gets flaky from the sun, but this is my go-to to help with it!
- Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream (Amazon) – This has been a great summer moisturizer because it’s really light and doesn’t feel greasy, but it is super moisturizing! My skin dries out easily from the sun (especially if I don’t drink enough water), so I love having a quality morning moisturizer.
Evening:
- Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse (Amazon)- This foaming face wash is a daily AHA and BHA facial cleanser. It’s gentle, foaming, and claims that it is anti aging as well.
- Sophie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum (Sephora)- OH my gosh, this cured my hormonal acne. Seriously. I am 30 years old and have gotten breakouts on my chin and along my jawline pretty much since I turned 16. There are times when it isn’t bad and times when it is, but I promise you that I have yet to get a breakout since using this product. Definitely one of my summer favorites.
- Absolute Collagen Deep Lift Eye Cream (Absolute Collagen) – I’m still on the fence about the worth of an under eye cream, because I believe moisturizers do the same thing, but I’ve been using one this summer and if I notice my under eyes looking dry or wrinkly throughout the day, I’ll put some of this on.
- Medik8 Advanced Night Ceramide (Amazon)- LOVE this! I go to bed feeling super moisturized and glowy after putting this cream on. It has the lightest of scents but isn’t at all irritating.
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Hydrating Foods
During summer I shy away from soups and hearty dishes and lean into smoothies, fresh salads, and juicy fruits. I have a lot more free time in the summer so I enjoy taking my time in preparing something yummy and nourishing. A few of my summer recipes are listed below:
- Super Smoothie
- Ingredients:
- 3 to 4 cups of Frozen berries (we get the bag from Aldi)
- 2 tablespoons of milled flaxseeds
- 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
- Enough water or juice of choice to make your smoothie frothy
- Directions: Just blend together! We use this blender.
- Ingredients:
- Chickpea Cucumber Salad
- Ingredients:
- 1 can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
- 1 large cucumber
- cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 bell pepper
- dressing of your choice
- Directions:
- Chop up large cucumber, tomatoes, and 1/2 of the bell pepper.
- Toss into a bowl with 1 can of chickpeas and stir together.
- For dressing, use your favorite, but I use apple cider vinegar or a mixture of sweet rice vinegar and sesame oil – so good.
- Ingredients:
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Quality Sleep
To get quality sleep, I really can’t use my phone before bed. Instead, I’ll pick up a book or listen to ASMR (and try not to peek at my phone). I’m currently loving realistic fiction before I do a full send into suspense and horror as spooky season approaches. My summer reads are below (pulled straight from Goodreads) and linked to Amazon:
- “The Secret History,” by Donna Tartt – 5 stars
- “Mad Honey,” by Jodi Picoult – 4 stars
- “Ward D,” by Freida McFadden – 4 stars
- “We Were On a Break,” by Lindsey Kelk – 3 stars
- “Summer Love,” by Nancy Thayer – 4 stars
I have books to thank for quality sleep! Another rule I live by is that the bed is for bedtime. I’ll very rarely sit on my bed or lay in bed other than in the nighttime when I’m actually ready to go to sleep.
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Self Love Podcasts
I love a good podcast! I’m really into holistic wellness podcasts and self love podcasts. Usually I’ll turn one on while I cook or shower. Some of my favorites at the moment are: Date Yourself Instead; Glow and Tell; Unleash Your Power
I always use Spotify but I believe these are available on most listening platforms. This next statement might sound dramatic, but podcasts have changed my life. It has been a slow change, but podcasts have made me more confident, happy, and excited about life! They’re like books in a way – it is healthy to hear ideas and perspectives outside of your own head. But just like feeding yourself healthy foods, make sure you’re feeding yourself healthy ideas.
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Feel Good Activities
My summer musts every day are sunshine and moving my body, so I usually knock this out in one go with a walk or a skate around the park. My go to spots in Orlando for my walks are: Lake Eola, Lake Baldwin, and the Dinky Line. See my post Best Orlando Walking Trails for ideas if you’re from the area.
Another way I have loved moving my body this summer is F45. I’m more of the pilates type of gal but to step out of my comfort zone, I started booking F45 classes and they’ve been a great challenge! I always use ClassPass because I can sign up for different types of workouts depending on my energy levels and where I am in my cycle. It’s great if you know someone with ClassPass because they can get you a free trial with more credits than the regular free trial.
Being well is so much more than just eating good foods and going to the gym. It’s about doing more of what feels good for your body and mind – remember to be kind to yourself! xo
