Ahhh, it’s summer. For many, this means weekends at the beach, cookouts and spending as much time as you can outdoors. However, there’s bound to be a few sunburns and other little mishaps along the way. Fortunately, we have some tips to help make your summer a breeze.

Slather it on! It’s practically the first rule of summer: Load up on sunscreen. You want to slather on enough lotion to fill a shot glass. Be sure to reapply every couple of hours, more often when you get out of the pool or take part in activities like volleyball. Check the ingredients list for zinc oxide, which shields against both UVA and UVB rays. Tip: Apply sunscreen 15 to 20 minutes before going outdoors because it allows time for the lotion to soak into your skin. Aim for an SPF of at least 15.

Soothe that burn. Okay, so maybe you didn’t apply enough sunscreen, or you totally forgot (please see previous tip), and now your skin is red. The best way to ease the sunburn pain is to use aloe vera. Apply a product that contains 95 to 100 percent pure aloe vera. You can also cool your skin down by combining a cup of powdered milk with 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Shake the ingredients in a jar and let them sit for a day before adding them to a lukewarm bath.

Save your skin. Just as uncomfortable as a lobster-red sunburn is a heat rash. As with sunburn, you can alleviate the pain of a non-blistering heat rash with aloe vera by using a mixture of aloe vera gel (half-ounce), vitamin E and cod liver oil. This special concoction will reduce the redness and heat of the rash. You can also use calendula salve lotion (available at many health food stores and online) to hydrate and calm your skin.

Achoo! Ahhh, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and you’re reaching for that box of tissues. During allergy season, visit your local drugstore to pick up allergy medicines and more tissues, but we have another option. For a natural remedy, fill a thermos with nettle tea, a natural antihistamine, or even cut back on dairy to help reduce congestion and sinus-pressure headaches.

Hydrate! Keep yourself hydrated, especially on the hottest days, by drinking lots of water – preferably eight glasses – to prevent heat stroke. Also, steer clear of alcohol and caffeinated beverages and spend your time in the shade, the water or in a cool indoor place. Try eating juicy foods like watermelon and mango, too. 

Keep it fresh. There’s no better way to spend a beautiful afternoon than at a cookout. Be sure to properly refrigerate and store any foods that spoil easily. Also, cover any food that is left out to protect it against insects and other pests. 

Keep cool and follow some simple rules, and you’ll have a wonderful summer.