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Hong Kong summers are no joke. And beating the heat can seem like an impossible task, so read on to discover Sassy’s top health and wellness tips to stay cool all summer long!
Between the blazing sun, sticky humidity and the occasional typhoon tease, it can feel like you’re steaming in a dumpling basket. But don’t worry — you can totally keep your cool (and your skin, mood and energy!) intact with a few smart, stylish and healthy moves. Whether you’re dealing with internal heat, heat rashes or just looking to survive the sweltering summer, here’s your Sassy-approved guide to beating the heat without parking yourself under the A/C all season.
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Nutrition Tips To Beat The Heat
Lifestyle Tips To Beat The Heat
Beauty Tips To Beat The Heat
Nutrition Tips To Beat The Heat
Hydration Is Your Summer Superpower
We all know the drill — drink water. But in Hong Kong’s sweltering heat, water alone might not cut it. Switch it up with coconut water, cooling herbal teas (Sensa Cools is a Sassy fave!) or electrolyte drinks, such as Pocari, to keep you feeling hydrated throughout the day. You can also freeze fruit like grapes, watermelon or berries for a juicy, ice-cold snack that stays sweet, fresher for longer and refreshing all day.
Sassy Tip: Carry a reusable insulated water bottle so your drink stays cold all day. You can refill them at many MTR stations at no cost — a lifesaver when the MTR platform starts to feel like a sauna!
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Eat to Stay Cool in Hong Kong — Understanding ‘Yeet Hay’ foods
Hong Kong kids will certainly know the phrase ‘yeet hay( 熱氣).’ A cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the term comes from the belief that certain foods can affect and regulate your body’s internal balance and temperature. Spicy, fried and rich foods — like coffee, burgers, lychee and mango — are considered ‘heaty’ (yeet hay) and may leave you with a sore throat or breakouts. On the flip side, ‘cooling’ foods, such as cucumber, watermelon, winter melon soup and barley water, are believed to help lower internal heat and keep you feeling refreshed (and your best self!)
Sassy Tip: If you’re craving an Asian sweet treat, we recommend trying local-style grass jelly — it’s refreshing, light and believed to ‘clear heat’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine!
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Lifestyle Tips To Beat The Heat
Exercise safely at the coolest times of the day
Hong Kong’s midday sun can be brutal, so schedule outdoor workouts for early mornings (before 8am) or cooler evenings (after 6pm). If you’d rather skip the swelter altogether, head indoors for yoga, dance or Pilates — you’ll still get your sweat on, without feeling like you’re simmering in a hotpot.
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Cool Down Fast in Hong Kong’s Heat
When you’re at home, a quick cold shower or soaking your feet in cold water can help lower your body temperature almost instantly. At work, we recommend a small portable desk fan for a gentle breeze at your work station — much kinder on the body (and your skin!) than the icy blast of office A/C.
Sassy Tip: Just back from the outdoors and feeling overheated? Run your wrists under cold water for 30 seconds — it’s a quick, easy trick to cool down your whole body.
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Must-have purse essentials for the Hong Kong summer
The nosiest and beauty obsessed among us will already be invested in ‘What’s In My Bag?’ content, but especially in Hong Kong, purse essentials can be the ticket to survival. On sticky, humid days, keep unscented baby wipes on hand for a quick freshen-up, as well as cooling facial mists like those from Avène and a mini handheld fan for instant relief. A small, extendable UV umbrella is also a must-have — it shields you from the sun and keeps you cooler on the go.
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Beauty Tips To Beat The Heat
Prioritise skin protection from Hong Kong’s Summer Sun
When it comes to surviving Hong Kong’s intense summer UV, SPF is non-negotiable. Choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours if you’re outdoors. If you don’t enjoy the reapplication process, consider spray or mist sunscreens for portable coverage.
Sunglasses can also help protect your eyes (and prevent you from squinting your way into premature wrinkles), while light UV sleeves can shield your shoulders and arms.
Sassy Tip: Lips burn, too! Keep an SPF lip balm in your bag and reapply throughout the day to keep lips healthy and looking good!
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Treating heat rashes in 852 heat
While unpleasant and not the most glamorous of topics, heat rash is infamous during a scorching Hong Kong summer! Thankfully, there are several effective ways to help manage irritation — and the stress that comes with it!
Aloe Vera is your best friend in summer! After cleansing and applying toner, slather a thick layer onto areas of itchiness and heat. We recommend keeping your tub of aloe vera in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation. Best of all, these gigantic tubs retail for about $20 — $30, meaning it’s an extremely refreshing and cost-effective beauty treatment for inflamed skin.
Alternatively, Mentholatum AD creams are ideal. Look out for creams containing an ‘AD’ symbol, which indicates anti-itch or anti-dermatitis properties. These creams are dermatologically formulated to address a range of skin conditions, including insect bites, eczema and of course, heat rash.
Sassy Tip: For severe or persistent heat rash, visit Watsons or Mannings to consult an in-house pharmacist, who can prescribe topical ointments to properly manage and heal severe rashes.
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Cleansing and Skincare tips for a humid Hong Kong summer
Proper cleansing and a good skincare regimen are musts in Hong Kong’s heat. Upon the layers and layers of sunscreen, sweat and urban debris, it’s important to wash faces and bodies thoroughly to remove trapped sunscreen and impurities. Use salicylic acid-based products to keep pores clear if your skin can tolerate it. For sensitive skin prone to redness, try Oxy 10 as a gentler alternative.
Besides the hidden sweat that inevitably pools behind the knees, baby powder is a great secret weapon for chafing areas. It helps keep skin dry and comfortable in the humidity.
Air conditioning is a lifesaver, but constant blasts can dry out your skin, especially at night. Keep your body moisturised with lightweight, unscented products. For the face, opt for a lightweight cream that contains hyaluronic acid to moisturise thoroughly, without feeling heavy. Don’t forget, with excess sebum production in the summer, a chemical exfoliant such as glycolic acid is a solid method to ensure your skin stays smooth, hydrated and clear.
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Dress for the Hong Kong summer heat
Skip heavy fabrics and tight fits, and opt for breathable linen dresses, flowy cotton tops and airy activewear for extremely hot days. Light colours like white, cream and pastels reflect sunlight and keep you cooler, so now there’s an excuse for your next shopping indulgence.
