How's this heatwave treating you? Whether you consider summer your natural habitat or you're a winter lover through and through, no one can deny having felt a little hot and flustered over the past couple of days. Britain was not made to handle heatwaves. Properties aren't fitted with air con from day dot, supplies of plug-in fans sell out within seconds of the mercury rising above 20 degrees, and hands up who is organised enough to book their car in for an air conditioning service each year? Not us.
Needless to say when the weather gets hot in Britain it's generally a bit of a mission to cool down. Enter Grazia's list of heatwave hacks! A bundle of fuss-free tips and tricks - they're pretty genius if we do say so ourselves - that stand to chill you out this sweltering summer season. Scroll on down, these ideas are game-changing:
1. Freeze Your Hot Water Bottle
Got a hot water bottle with a soft case? Fill the rubber part up with cold water, secure the cap tightly and put it in the freezer. A few hours later (between four and seven depending on the size of the hot water bottle) and you can pull it out of there and enjoy. Place it on your lap while working at your desk during the day for a long-lasting cool hit, or cuddle it at night to help you sleep better.
2. On The Go? Reach For Your Bum Bag
If you find yourself with no other option but to brave sweltering public transport like buses, trains or the tube during the heat wave then this trick is a must-try on the go. It does hinge on your outfit working with a bum bag though. Simply freeze a mini bottle of water overnight and put it in your bum bag just before you leave. Fasten the bag around your waist and enjoy a constant hit of cool around your middle. It sounds odd, it might even look pretty odd, but trust us, as soon as you're on the tube in and amongst the sweaty masses you'll be feeling pretty darned smug about life.
3. Invest In A Hand Fan
No, we're not talking about those techy pieces of kit that always get caught in your hair, we mean those good old fashioned fold-out fans, the sort that Daphne, Penelope and mainly Cressida always make a point of batting their lashes behind in Bridgerton. It's a greatly underestimated accesory that takes up barely any space in your handbag. Keep one in there at all times so that you always have a way of batting a little makeshift breeze your way on the go.
4. Prep Your Bed
Advice for pet owners during a heatwave last year advised freezing large bottles of water, wrapping them in tea towels and placing them in their pets' beds to ensure their furry friends always had a place to cool down. Well, if it's good enough for the beloved Labradors of this country! We highly recommend - if you have the freezer space - filling up a couple of 2L bottles, freezing them, and placing them under the covers just before you go to bed. Do it just before you hit your skincare routine. The result? You return to a blissfully cool bed, and can even keep them in there - we recommend having one near your feet and one closer to your body - if you're sure they're not likely to leak overnight.
5. Simulate Air Con At Home
If you have a fan at home try this nifty trick. Put your fan on its highest setting and in front, in the middle of the air flow, place a large frozen bottle of water or a bucket of ice. It might look a little odd but as long as their going into the fan is warmer than the frozen water in front if it, the air, once it reaches you, will be icy cold. Need to shop a fan for this one? Scroll on down to browse our pick of the most aesthetically pleasing fans going...
6. Face Mist
Facial mists instantly cool the skin and can be a breath of fresh air in hot weather. In hot temperatures I prefer to use this in place of setting spray to refresh makeup, and I find it gives the skin a dewy finish. Many mists are infused with antioxidants, vitamins, and botanical extracts that hydrate the skin. To use, simply spritz the mist on your face throughout the day whenever your skin feels heavy.
7. Blotting Paper
On days its hot our skin produces extra oil to keep the body temps regulated. This can often make the skin feel constricted and tight. Blotting papers are designed to absorb excess oil from the skin, to make our faces look less greasy without disturbing makeup. They are compact and convenient, perfect for touch-ups on the go, and help maintain a matte finish. Dab, don't rub.
Shop: The Best Heatwave Hacks
www.johnlewis.com
If your home is pretty cool but it's your office that's sweltering, this desk fan from John Lewis might be just what you need. It's £12 and comes in white, sage, yellow or lake blue.
www.tatcha.co.uk
To use, gently press a sheet against oily areas of your face, to absorb oil without rubbing.
Infused with Aloe Vera, this spray provides an instant cooling sensation on the skin, perfect for those days when your face feels hot and heavy.
www.thewhitecompany.com
Load this up with cold water in place of hot, for those days the heat seems unbearable.
www.lululemon.co.uk
In the sweltering heat you'd much rather a light bag around your waist, than a backpack on your shoulders (trust me). This one from Lulu is a decent size to fit all your essential bits in.
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