Who doesn’t want that coveted summer glow? It radiates health and shouts, “I just got back from vacation!” But how do you get it without harming your skin?

“There are a number of ways you can get a healthy glow and reduce the damaging effects of the sun,” says Shirley Madhère, MD, an NYC-based plastic surgeon and founder of the Holistic Plastic Surgery philosophy. She emphasizes healthy, protected doses of sunshine, which your body needs to produce vitamin D, plus these key habits to help skin glow from the inside and out.

Eat sun-protecting food.

No, you can’t eat sunscreen, but certain foods, such as blueberries, tomatoes, oranges, carrots, and apricots, can boost skin protection. Dr. Madhère says these fruits and veggies are naturally rich in carotenoids and other photoprotective compounds that help the body defend itself from harmful rays.

Make water your best friend.

It’s no secret that water is crucial to skin health. So, make sure you’re drinking enough to quench thirsty skin and help prevent dryness or flakiness. And guess what else? You’ll need that extra hydration when spending time in the sunshine. Your body loses a lot of water through sweat, even when swimming.

Soothe skin naturally.

After sun exposure, apply a soothing salve that includes the garden marigold Calendula. “This flower has inherent healing properties and contains powerful flavonoids and linolenic acid,” explains Dr. Madhère, both of which aid in calming and restoring the skin barrier. She recommends using a Calendula topical like Calendula Cream by Boiron for a variety of skin irritations, including sunburn relief.* Not only does it soothe red, peeling skin, but it also promotes healing and adds moisture.

Moisturize all over.

Even though moisturizers don’t protect skin from the sun, they can help limit its ravages. Properly moisturized skin is less vulnerable to UV rays. The same is true for your tresses. Applying a nourishing hair oil can help repel the negative effects of chlorine, saltwater, and sun from lingering on your locks.

Be proactive about first aid skin care.

If you lead an active life, you don’t want its effects to show on your skin. It’s best to treat bumps and bruises at the first sign with homeopathic Arnica montana, a plant-powered medicine Dr. Madhère uses with patients in her practice. You’ll find it as the active ingredient in Arnicare Bruise Gel by Boiron, where it works to diminish discoloration while reducing pain and swelling.*

For more skin health tips, visit BoironCalendula.com and tune into weekly episodes of Dr. Madhère’s podcast, Forever F.A.B.

*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.