Anyway, I wanna talk about skincare today. In the winter, we slather ourselves in lotion, grow a bunch of hair and cover up. When the temperatures start heating up, we quit moisturizing because it feels gross, we shave all the hair off and go as naked as the law permits... lol :D
Seriously, though, now is the time to start prepping your skin for the onslaught it is about to receive. I'll recommend a few things to get you glowing.
- Exfoliating yourself lightly every day, to encourage new cell turnover and to rid the surface layer of the excessive stratum corneum and sebum buildup.
Mechanical exfoliation is good for limbs/less sensitive trunk areas, and involves using a soft brush or granular scrub. I enjoy a simple sugar scrub; you can make one with 1/4 cup oil (olive, avocado, almond and jojoba are all great), 1/2-3/4 cup sugar (more if you like it drier, less if you like it oilier)and an optional few drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix together in a bowl, and rub it gently on the rough stuff and rinse with warm water. You'll be so shiny and new! Be cautious when you use this and stand in your shower, so you don't fling oil all over the place and risk a slip-and-fall injury.
Chemical exfoliation can be good for face, decollete area, and most body areas, though good sense and caution are paramount. Chemical exfoliation requires the use of enzymes and certain acids to increase cell turnover, improve surface texture and condition, and even improve the appearance of scars, wrinkles, etc. Most consumer grade products deal only with the topmost layers of the skin. I do a light professional peel quarterly(PCA sensi peel with esthetique peel is what I do, I have subtype 1 rosacea and it works out great), though some people are not good candidates for that kind of thing. Do your research and find a skincare pro you trust. - Moisturize your hide after your shower and whenever it starts feeling dry!
People get awkward about moisturizing in the summer, even though most of us get a reasonable amount of sun exposure. Think about it... if plants dry out in the sun, you will too. You don't have to use that super thick whale blubber cream you got in the wintertime, it's okay! Get something lightweight and be dilligent! My faves are: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist, Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Body Moisturizer, and Jergens Skin Firming Daily Moisturizer. Those first two are multipurpose powerhouses! I love them both for my face, hair and body, plus both can be refrigerated for post-sun skin quenching and sunburn relief purposes. The Tea Tree is thick enough to use as a shaving aid too. The Jergens gets my lumps and bumps to lay a little smoother for fancy date night and plus, people ask if I'm working out. HA! :) - Sun protection is your friend!
Broad Spectrum SPF 30 or above. Do it. There are many textures/consistencies/application styles of sunscreen, so no excuses. Try several to find one you like. I like Aveeno Continuous Protection for my body and PCA Perfecting Protection for my face/ears. Broad Spectrum refers to the ability to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Both are troublesome, but for different reasons. UVB rays are the ones that burn you. Old time zinc oxide on the nose is the best example of UVB protection; it deflects the burning rays from penetrating, so it's referred to as a physical barrier. UVA protection took a little bit of doing to figure out, it works by absorbing the rays(kind of like a sponge). They fill up, so that's why reapplication is necessary. UVA rays are the ones that create the lasting damage. They wreck your collagen and elastin, taking the most baby of faces and transforming it into a leather satchel. UVA rays also are the ones responsible for damaging skin's DNA, thereby drastically upping your chances for skin cancers later. Click here to learn about the ABCDs of skin cancer if you have areas of concern, early detection can save you!
Hats are a great idea as well. If they aren't practical for you, do try to use some kind of sunscreen for your scalp (especially if you are fine/thinning in the hair dept.). Nioxin makes one; it's a mist-in type.
If you are going to insist on tanning, please do fake tanning. I like Jergens Natural glow on the rare occasions when my farmer tan just isn''t going to work. :D
Take good care of your skin! :)
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