5 Hacks to Beat the Heat and Humidity (and look cute!)

Here are my top 5 hacks to stay cute while beating the humidity.

5 hacks to beat the heat and humidity | summer hair | summer outfit | Mash Elle beauty blogger | blue dress sandals

As my grandma would say: “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”. Actually, as my mom pointed out recently, it’s the “dew point”. Whatever it is, it’s my arch nemesis living in Florida. I was born and raised in Canada, so I’m still adjusting to this permanent sauna 5 years later. Why do they even have hot tubs here? While apartment hunting last week I was told if your heater isn’t working and the temperature inside your apartment is 65 degrees or under it’s declared an “emergency” and a technician will see you within the hour. What the absolute heck. All kidding aside, it’s hard to look cute in the humidity. Your hair starts growing horizontally, you sweat in places you didn’t know you had sweat glands and it can be an all-around hot mess. So, I’ve rounded up a handful of tips I’ve learned over the years to beat the humidity and look your best!

Humidity Hack #1: Baby Powder Isn’t Just For Babies

Baby powder is my ultimate humidity hack and therefore lifesaver. What exactly is baby powder? Baby powder is cornstarch with a fragrance additive. It’s created to be extremely absorbent and reduce friction – ultimately reducing sweat production in areas with skin-on-skin contact. On particularly humid days, pour baby powder onto your hands and apply a thin layer to all the places that gather sweat – the back of your neck, your chest, skin folds, etc. Trust me, it will reduce sweating and relieve you from that icky feeling – and leave you feeling fresh! Make sure to use cornstarch-based baby powder and avoid baby powder with talc. Talc powder is extremely fine and can be easily inhaled, causing potential health risks. If you’d prefer a fragrance free alternative, you can use straight cornstarch!

Humidity Hack #2: Dry Shampoo Is Your BFF

During humid months, dry shampoo can save your hair. Ever step outside your house and instantly feel your hair begin to grow? That’s humidity for you! So what exactly is humidity doing to your hair? In a nutshell, humid air creates hydrogen bonds to form between the proteins and water molecules in your hair. So, these hydrogen bonds create unwanted frizz. Those with extra dry hair (hello girls who bleach their hair!) are extra susceptible to humidity – leaving you a literal hot mess. Dry shampoo immediately absorbs oils from heat and sweat and adds instant volume! Simply apply dry shampoo to your roots for a quick pick me up! I’d recommend carrying a travel size dry shampoo in your purse on particularly humid days so you can touch up if needed.

Humidity Hack #3: Wear Loose Fitting, Breathable Clothes

This may be a no-brainer, but wearing appropriate clothes help you stay cooler in the humidity. Jeans, leather and other heavy materials are a big no. Tight fitting, constricting materials can encourage sweat to build up! Instead, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and breathable fabrics on humid days. To stay cool, I often wear lightweight dresses (such as the one pictured above!) for maximum air circulation. Bonus: wearing a dress saves you time spent matching a top and bottoms! Simply throw on a dress, pick out some accessories and you’re good to go! As for footwear, open-toe shoes work best on humid days. It’s amazing how much cooler your body feels when your feet aren’t constricted in closed-toe shoes! I opted for these super comfy wedges which allow me to beat the heat and look super cute.

Humidity Hack #4: Get a Deodorant That Actually Works

The struggle to find a deodorant that works with your body chemistry is real. If you live in a particularly humid climate, it can be even more challenging. If you’re outside for long periods of time, you’ll sweat. It’s human nature. The trick is to find a deodorant that controls the amount of sweat and the (not so sweet) scent that comes along with it. I’ve tried countless deodorants (some that didn’t work, some that left nasty rashes etc.) and the deodorant I always go back to is Dove Clear Finish Dry Sprays. I’ve been using these sprays for the past 3 years and I’m obsessed. Since they’re sprays – they give you an instant cooling effect and leave me smelling fresh all day long. They apply completely translucent, so they don’t leave marks or stains on my clothes and are both sold at Walgreens.

Humidity Hack #5: Drink More Water

I can hear my mom’s voice as I type this: “Make sure you’re drinking enough to pee every 5 minutes”. While this may be a slight exaggeration, it is extremely important to down the H20, especially when it’s humid outside. Sweating is our body’s natural way of cooling us down. When it’s humid outside, we tend to sweat more – thus losing a large amount of water. It’s easy to become dehydrated – so it’s important to keep track of how much water you’re drinking. After a quick Google search, it seems eight 8-ounce glasses (half a gallon) of water each day is the magic number. One hack I use to ensure I drink the maximum amount of water is ordering a glass of water with every drink I consume during the day. So, I force myself to drink above and beyond the water I’d typically consume if I order a specialty drink. For example, if I order a grande pink drink at Starbucks (aka the best drink in the world) I always order a venti iced water (free of charge). I make myself finish the iced water before I finish my pink drink!