Today is a BBC day so I’m off to do my bit on the radio talking about how to keep your cool naturally.

The weather up here has been really warm and muggy. Some days with sunshine and others, like yesterday, with no real sunshine overhead but kind of hot and sticky nonetheless.

Here are my tips for top to toe freshness and how to beat the heat naturally.

Instead of buying those facial sprays make your own with a plastic spritzer bottle, some water and 10 drops of lavender essential oil. I used a 500ml bottle and filled with cool water, add the essential oil and then just stritz about 12″ from your face (with eyes shut). This is cooling and refreshing and the fragrance of lavender is relaxing too.

When it comes to underarm freshness there are various ways to keep your cool without chemicals.

In Mexico limes are the traditional method. Slice one in half and rub the cut side on your armpit. Store in fridge and use each morning then toss out after a week. Remember not to use it for your G&T though, ugh!

Baking soda makes a good powder form deodorant. You apply with a cotton pad or powder puff. The disadvantage is that it will leave tell tale white marks on black clothing, never a good look.

The best I’ve found is witch hazel with a few drops of essential oil. You can also try white vinegar with a couple of drops of essential oil. The smell of the vinegar disappears as it dries.

Lavender, sage and rosemary are all good neutral sorts of scents. Don’t use vinegar on broken skin though, ouch!

For sweaty palms sage tea is helpful. Drink three cups a day and soak hands in it at night too. Or try apple cider vinegar as a good hand soak before bed. It helps to dry the hands in a soothing way.

For hot feet soak them in the evening in a cooling foot bath of salty water. A few drops of sage essential oil in the water is antibacterial and healing too. Scatter baking soda in soles of shoes (especially trainers) to keep them fresh. Mix some dried sage with the baking soda to help fight footy infections that breed in sweaty damp conditions.

Keep cool guys!

Karon x