Pictures from the past Indian Summer

Summer is a distant memory already... But here in Southern France autumn means what we call "Indian Summer", a sort of late heat wave that carries us gently to the colder season.

The best moment of the year - When you thought summer was over and fall just around the corner, you realize you can still enjoy the perfect weather and the best waves without the crowds of summer tourists...

These moments are pure joy. The locals pour out of their offices on to the beach for a more intimate late summer sunbath.

In the last couple of months I had the chance to be one of these locals.
Today I want to share with you the captures I took from one of these Indian Summer days. I love these kind of spontaneous shots. I hadn't previewed them at all, but the moment was too beautiful not to be captured and shared. I hope you enjoy the images and the lights as much as I do.

Pool party with EQ Evoa

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know I took some days off to go see my family in Italy about ten days ago. Even if I had to pass a University test (the last one, yaaay!!!) and the stress was there, I spent some beautiful moments with my beloved ones. I also had the chance to spend some time with my lovely nephews, one of whom I hadn't seen before since he's just two months old!

During the weekend, I went with my parents to our family seaside house and it was a blast! I treasure wonderful memories of all the summers of my childhood there and I had the chance to meet with some old dear friends of mine too. A jump in the past!

I spent the whole weekend reading by the pool and swimming under the September sun. What else could I ask for?

One thing living by the ocean and the beach taught me is that you should never trust the weakest sun. I won't tell you the whole story about the risks of sun exposure (I've already done that here) and I know you mermaids out there are well aware of the dangers for your skin without a proper screen.

And since sun protection is essential and a must-have in our bag even during the off season, I wanted to focus on the importance of a good quality sunscreen. One that can protect both us and the environment we're surrounded by.

Today I partner with EQ // Evoa to tell you more about an eco-friendly way to protect yourself and prevent skin issues, while respecting the nature.

Corals live in harmony with micro-algae (zooxanthellae) housed in their tissues.

Did you know that some UV filters found in sunscreens activate viruses that multiply and kill these valuable micro-algae? Well, corals then whiten and die within 48 hours.

"When applied on skin, the chemical filters contained in most sunscreens are spread in the water and are highly polluting for the aquatic environment"

And what about the parabens, preservatives, sulfates and all the other chemicals used in cosmetics? I am not an expert, but it is known that they can be dangerous for our own health if used for a long period.

EQ wanted to say no to all of this and started its own eco-friendly and bio line of sunscreen, Evoa.
The brand created a unique formula, rich in bio vegetable oils, with antioxidant, nourishing and regenerating properties. It is 100% natural and uses mineral filters.

The sunscreen I am using is spf 30, a high protection formula which exploits the properties of these four active ingredients: nyamplung bio oil, karite bio butter, bees wax and sunflower bio oil.

The only little price we have to pay for a natural sun protection is a fine white effect on the skin. Organic sunscreens, due to their ingredients and formulas, may be particularly opaque sometimes, leaving a whitening effect on the skin due to the mineral fillers used as sunscreen agents.

Overall I am pretty happy with my choice and I'll try to use more and more natural products in my everyday routine. You can also check my previous post about natural argan oil, if you feel like ;)

I hope you want to give natural cosmetics a try and you won't stop protecting your skin from sun rays even when the sun can't be seen (but is still there).

You can learn more about EQ // Evoa here

Have a wonderful weekend!

Celebrate summer

Today I am feeling so grateful for this life of mine. The sun is shining and fills me up with vitamin D. My mood is rising to the stars and I just want to dance in the sand.

It's crazy how a season can change how you feel inside and out.

So, today I want to celebrate summer! I want to move to the rhythm of the waves and jump to the sky. I want to light a bonfire and picnic on the beach. Sandy toes, messy hair, hands in the air...

It's summer and it feels so good!

What are you doing to celebrate summer?

I wish you all an amazing weekend!

When on a Summer's Morn

William Henry Davies

When on a summer's morn I wake, 

And open my two eyes, 

Out to the clear, born-singing rills 

My bird-like spirit flies.

To hear the Blackbird, Cuckoo, Thrush, 

Or any bird in song; 

And common leaves that hum all day 

Without a throat or tongue.

And when Time strikes the hour for sleep, 

Back in my room alone, 

My heart has many a sweet bird's song - 

And one that's all my own.

ps: If some of you are wondering, my bikini is from Rip Curl's Summer 2015 collection. You can grab it here ;)

Getting ready for summer // What's in my bag

With the warmer weather and the summer season knocking at our doors, we are always looking forward to our free time for running at the closest beach. I love lying in the sand and just do nothing but listen to the sound of the roaring ocean.

My only problem is I always tend to bring too much stuff with me so that as soon as I get at the beach I'm already sweating and my shoulder hurts behind the weight of my bag.

So, today I'll share my top 5 items to bring at the beach, with the hope to stick with just the five of them next time I decide to go lay in the sand.

This post is sponsored by Rip Curl. The brand created such a feminine yet functional collection for this summer. I hope you all enjoy it!

1. THE BAG - You always need a capacious bag. I know I said I'll try to limit the things I bring with me, but how can you resist to a bag in which you can really fit anything (or almost)? This one in particular is fun and has such a summer vibe that catches you even in the most cloudy days (hello Biarritz!!).

2. THE SUNSCREEN - When we chill in the sun we don't always realize we are risking our own health. UV rays are a real danger for our skin - all types of skin! Since we don't want to run to the ER with deep burnt all over or even get a cancer that will mark our lives forever, we better protect ourselves with a thick layer of sunscreen. I personally love P20, especially for surfing, as it lasts up to 80 minutes in the water!!! You can learn more about P20 here. More and more brands have also developed eco-friendly formulas, so you can enjoy your time under the sun while protecting the environment. 

3. THE BIKINI - For this season all swimwear brands definitely outdid themselves! Colorful and tropical prints everywhere, body-fitting shapes, unique cuts... They make you wish it was summer all year long! And this bikini by Rip Curl is no exception! I love how beautiful and girly it makes me feel every time I dip my toes in the sand.

4. THE SUNNIES - I love sunglasses, I really do. I used to buy a lot from cheap stores and change them matching my outfits. But then I found this pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer and never wore another one. I also became aware of the damages of sun rays to our eyes and eyesight, so that good lens can definitely make a change. I've been owning the same pair for about five years now and they're almost perfect! So, spending a little more money in the end was worthwhile both for my health and for the quality of the product.

5. THE BEACH TOWEL - I love lying freely on the warm white sand and take advantage of the natural scrub... But sometimes this is not always a good idea. Especially after a dip in the ocean! ;) This beach towel is super soft, you'll find yourself rolling in it during the noon siesta at home too! It's a bit difficult to change in it when putting on the wetsuit for a quick session, but we can always do the mother-naked style, right? ;)

What about you? Do you have particular items you can't do without for a day at the beach?

I wish you all a sandy sunny week!
xo

Credits // Author // Photography: Marta Tomasini, bag, bikini and towel Rip Curl

SURFRAGETTE + ADALÙ // Finally here

I am so happy I can finally wear all the pieces from Surfragette + Adalù collection!!!

I can finally see and touch the results of this amazing collaboration, which is almost like giving birth to a baby.

You can learn more about my collaboration with Adalù in my previous posts here and here ;)

Valeria and I joined forces, skills and passion in order to offer you the best quality products, all made in Italy. During this period of time, not only a collection was born, but also a friendship.

The prints give us thoughts of summer all year long and the soft touch of the fabric makes me want to wear them in and out of the beach...

The past weekend gave us the perfect weather to do a photoshooting for the collection. The sun was shining high in the sky and the early-summer beach wasn't that crowded yet. Andrea and I spent the whole morning on the shore and recharged the batteries for the upcoming week.

I am so happy to be representing this collection! I hope you like it as much as I do! :)

For more info about each piece of the line, you can contact Valeria via Adalù facebook page

I hope you had a wonderful start of the week!

xo



Credits // Author: Marta Tomasini, Photography: Andrea Scatolero, Model: Marta Tomasini

Growing mermaid hair

I've always wished I had mermaid hair. The kind of hair you see on your favorite surf magazine's cover or in bikini catalogs. You see these girls walking along the beach with golden locks floating in the sea breeze... And you think "How the heck do they do?"

My kind of "surfer hair" usually consists in huge knots hard to remove, dry hair and, when I am lucky, some seaweed here and there ;)

Faaaar away from the mermaid locks stereotype.

I challenged my hair a lot in the past... Short cuts, punk colors, dyeing, bleaching... Let's just say it wasn't an easy road to let it grow naturally and healthy.

But I'm not a quitter and today I want to share with you some little secrets I discovered along the years to grow the beautiful, long, soft mermaid hair we've always dreamed of.

LESS SHAMPOO
Don't be scared, you don't need to grow dreadlocks on your head! But too many shampoos can easily reduce the natural oils of your hair. Which means greasier and less healthy hair.

If you plan to surf three times this week, try to only rinse it with cold water after each session and use shampoo once. Sea water do miracles to your hair and create amazing natural waves and highlights. But salt tends to dry it, so we don't need to get it worse.

GIVE THE TIPS A CUT
I know, you want to grow your hair longer and longer... And it takes time! But cutting the tips once in a while can give your hair that extra push to grow stronger and faster. Just make sure you let a professional do the job. Someone is talking for experience here! ;)

NOURISH IT
Always. Period.

If your hair gets dry with the time spent in the water and under the sun, you should nourish it as much as you can.

I personally use argan oil almost everyday during the summer, but there are a lot of other natural oils that can work the same.

Don't forget conditioner after every shampoo and go for a nourishing mask twice a month. Your hair will be softer and shinier! There are a lot of recipes for homemade hair treats out in the web. And most of them are also yummi!!!

Little tip: put a little conditioner in your wet locks after your surf session and let your hair dry naturally. You will never have softer hair!!! Promise ;)

PROTECT IT
Here I am guilty, I never do that. And when summer ends I realize I should have - my hair looks less shiny and definitely dry.

That's why it's so important to protect it from the damages of the sun, which is not only dangerous for the skin, but for the hair too.
Add too much time spent surfing in salt water and here you find yourself knotting at the door of the closest hair saloon for a hair cut. But we don't want that, right? So let's go buy a great hair product with UVA/UVB filters and put it on as soon as the sun rises up.

GO EASY ON THE HEAT
As soon as spring knocks at our doors we know we don't really need the blow-drier any more.

If we are lucky enough to spend the day at the beach we can make the sun and the warm winds do the job. The strong heat damaging our hair, we better give our blow-drier and straightening/curling iron a rest for a few months.

Plus natural drying gives our hair that perfectly natural waves we only see on the beaches. 

It's a win-win. :)

Little tip: brush your hair as soon as you get out of the water when it is still wet - not after! This way your natural waves will stay in place after drying.

LET IT GO WILD
If you usually wear your hair in a ponytail, give it a break. The messy bun is on trends right know and there's no need to say how much I love it. But I know it can easily stress my hair and risk to break it when it is tied too tight. So, let it off!

The wilder the better! Play it around and messy. Your hair will be healthier, sexier and definitely "beachier".

I hope these tips will help you getting longer and stronger mermaid hair. If you want to add some, please share them in the comments below!!!

xo

Credits // Author: Marta Tomasini, Pic via Pinterest

Flashback from last summer

Now that spring is approaching, I can't help thinking about those long warm water session, kissed by the sun, sliding on small fun peelers...

The reality is a bit different right now in Biarritz, - a little tougher I suppose. Huge stormy swells hit the coastline and break the spots. The weather can eventually bless us with a day or two of sun, between long cold rainy weeks... But I'm getting used to it :) Even if I'm well aware we'll have to wait at least until June to get some summer warmth.

That's why the only thing you can do in this case, other than following my tips on cold surfing, is taking advantage of cozy afternoons under a blanket and scroll through last summer pics.

That is when I found the pictures my friend Luca took the week in October when a few friends came here on a surftrip.

Because yes, here October is (most of the times) still considered like summer.

So, if you were contemplating the idea of a surftrip around here, I suggest you prefer September/October over the mid summer months. Actually, I change my mind, I better save the waves for the few in the lineup ;)
Just kidding, I'd love sharing some fun with you guys! So, let me know if you ever pass by!

By the way, Luca Panegatti is such a talented photographer. So, if you're interested in action sports photography, you don't want to miss a visit to his tumblr, where you can find all his best shots.

xx


Credits // Author: Marta Tomasini, Photography: Luca Panegatti