LOOK

Summer Skin

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

Winter’s dry, cold weather paired with indoor heat can be harsh on your skin, making it feel itchy, dry, and rough. Follow these three easy steps to help regain your natural glow and get your skin ready for summer fun.

STEP ONE:

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. I cannot say this word enough. One must remove the top layer of dead skin cells before new skin cells can give you a healthy glow. For the body, this can be accomplished with dry brushing, a loofah, or body scrubs.

Try this: Prior to showering, use a natural bristle (not synthetic) body brush on dry skin to exfoliate your entire body gently. Brush in long strokes toward the heart. Daily dry brushing stimulates circulation, cleanses the lymphatic system, and removes dead skin. Dry body brushes can be purchased on a variety of Internet sites.

If you aren’t into dry brushing, try a sugar or salt scrub once or twice weekly. Sugar scrubs are gentler for sensitive skin.

If you choose sea salt, grind it in a coffee grinder for a finer scrub. Here is a simple body scrub recipe:

1. Mix one tablespoon sugar or sea salt with two tablespoons organic coconut oil, one tablespoon honey, one freshly chopped sprig of rosemary, and 12–15 drops organic lavender essential oil.

2. Gently rub the scrub onto your skin in a small circular motion.

3. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. No need to wash off the scrub with soap. Enjoy the richness of the coconut oil on your skin.

STEP TWO:

Hydrate both internally and externally. Start by drinking at least eight 10-ounce glasses of water daily. Drink even more if you are working up a sweat. Increase your intake of essential fatty acids by adding flax and chia seeds to your daily diet. Both are high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which help increase the moisture content of your skin. Hydrate externally by applying a high-quality moisturizer to the face and body. While facial moisturizers should be tailored for an individual’s specific skin type, body moisturizers are generally more forgiving. Look for a body moisturizer containing at least 10 percent lactic acid, which will help exfoliate dead skin cells and allow moisturizers to penetrate deeper.

STEP THREE:

Protect your skin. All this exfoliation will make it more vulnerable to the sun’s powerful rays. Remember to apply a daily sunscreen containing micronized zinc oxide to all exposed skin. Reapply every two hours while outside and after swimming or excess sweating.