Because the weather is constantly changing, keeping up as far as skin care is concerned is certainly a challenge. Weather, both hot and cold extremes, can cause your skin to become dried out, over-washing can cause your skin to lose natural oils, and even medication and hygiene play a big part. Your skin can easily become dry and develop dry skin patches if not properly cared for. If it’s left unattended for too long then the dry patches can become scaly, and in more severe cases cracked and bleeding. Not only is the skin on your body the tell-tale sign of your age, but it is also one of your biggest assets as far as beauty is concerned. The ancient Romans and Persians simply worshipped soft and delicate skin. It was a marked sign of beauty if your skin was supple and delicate.
It’s quite hard to find the time to keep up with the average beauty/skin regime with the workload that I have on hand these days. But there are a few little secrets that have helped my skin to stay soft in spite of weather changes and what not. Skin must be properly exfoliated and hydrated in order for it to stay soft and pure. Finding and keeping a balance between the two, is really the secret to beautiful skin.
Exfoliating should not be a too intense procedure. You want to cleanse the pores of your skin, but at the same time don’t use scrubs that are harsh and will leave scratch marks. This has happened once to me, so be careful about the kinds of products you use. The mildest scrubs can be used for your face; the medium-rough scrubs should be used for your body, and the roughest for removing dead skin from your elbows and feet. Exfoliating scrubs do not need to be used every day. Keep a skin routine of using exfoliating scrubs every other day, or every third day.
Along the DIY side of things, there is a wealth of recipes for homemade scrubs online. Most of them are simple and can be quickly slapped together and then used. One such scrub recipe has become my favourite because it’s really quick and easy to make.
Thanksgiving Spa!
1 tablespoon fresh apple mash or apple sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Mix all the ingredients together, being sure not to leave sugar lumps, and then apply it to your skin using circular motions. Because apples are rich in nutritional benefits, are 85% water filled, and are loaded with potassium and Vitamins A and C, they are a rich and healing ingredient for your skin. I’ve found this scrub to be perfect for removing dead skin cells and surface dirt from elbows, knees, and feet.
Moisturising and Hydrating are the next essentials for beautifully glowing skin. I know, taking the time to apply lotion is time consuming, but I found that if you moisturise your entire body within five minutes of stepping out of the shower, then it keeps your skin soft and fresh entire day through without having to worry about repeating the procedure. I personally have acquired the habit of rotating between using essential oils as moisturizers and creams like Aveeno as hydrants. Essential oils like Avocado oil, carrot oil, olive oil, or vitamin E are perfect as natural moisturisers. However, there are days when you don’t want to go out looking too shiny especially if the outdoor weather is already humid. During these times commercial creams like Aveeno and Cetaphil come handy. Both Aveeno Cream and Cetaphil are perfect as moisturisers for dry skin and delicate skin.