Get your glow on

GERRY CUPIDO

The key ingredients to achieve smooth glowing skin is exfoliation and moisturiser. Winter’s cold leaves your skin dry and dehydrated. Cracked and flaky skin needs hydration and intense moisturising in order to restore.

Moisturise

By exfoliating you’ve stripped that dead layer of skin cells and without the proper after care your skin dehydrates especially if you do so more than twice a week. The only way to combat that and lock in moisture is to achieve that glow, is to lash on moisturiser. Reach for rich luxurious body butters and liberally smooth in a generous amount into your skin. Natural oils such as coconut, almond or olive oil are ideal for those who have very dry skin and need additional help. Apply to damp skin immediately after your bath. Pay special attention to areas that tend to extra dry parts like your knees and elbows.

Exfoliate

Your first step is to rid your skin of dead skin cells by exfoliating. The build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin makes your skin look rough and dry. Exfoliating gives your skin a more smooth and healthy appearance. There are a variety of ways to exfoliate in the comfort of your own home.

Brush: A bristle brush, some come with long handles, can be used on dry skin before a bath or can be used with a body wash as part of your shower routine.

Exfoliating glove: These are great if you struggle holding onto slippery brushes. Simply slip on the gloves and lather up with soap or body wash. It’s the perfect way to work large areas like your thighs, legs or arms.

Scrubs: There are so many different scrubs on the market but home-made scrubs are just as effected, and cheaper. All you have to do is apply the scrub to the skin and gently, using circular motions, work it into the skin. Rinse with warm water and you’re ready to glow. Exfoliation encourages skin turnover which results in brighter skin and allows for better absorption of moisturisers and serums.

Fake tan

Skin that hasn’t seen the sun in months results in pale and pasty colour. Now that the sun is out and you’re eager to catch some rays you find yourself in a catch-22. You want to expose your skin to get some colour but you don’t want to head out onto the beach with your pale winter skin. Also, who wants to spend hours in the harmful sun. A quick fix for this dilemma is a fake tan. Whether you opt to self-tan at home or go to a tanning salon for a spray on tan or a session in a sunbed, this will at least make your skin appear sunkissed – like you’ve just come back from an island holiday.

Hair Removal

GERRY CUPIDO

HIDING hairy legs or a fuzzy bikini area? During winter, our bodies are covered, so unless you’re one of the few ladies who consistently keep their legs silky smooth throughout winter, you probably have rather furry legs. The same goes for your underarm and bikini areas.

Depending on your preference and pain threshold, here are few hair removal methods.

Shaving

This is one of the most popular, easy and pain-free methods, but there are a few things you need to know when shaving. It’s best to shave in the morning. Always use a moisturising shaving foam. If you don’t have shaving foam, use hair conditioner. Do NOT use normal bar soap. Replace your razor blades after five uses. Shave downward, in the direction of your hair growth, instead of up.

It’s best to shave in the morning. Always use a moisturising shaving foam. If you don’t have shaving foam, use hair conditioner. Do NOT use normal bar soap. Replace your razor blades after five uses. Shave downward, in the direction of your hair growth, instead of up.

Laser

If your beauty budget allows for it, laser hair removal is a more permanent (after a number of sessions) solution. It’s a medical procedure that involves the use of a laser beam that passes through the skin to target individual hair follicles, damaging them and slowing further hair growth.

Waxing

If you want slower regrowth and have a high pain threshold, then waxing is a great option. Before waxing be aware of the following:

• The hairs shouldn’t be too long or too short (6mm is a good length).

• Avoid getting waxed during your period, when your body is more sensitive. Take a painkiller before your appointment in order to help take the edge off.

• Ridding your bikini area of stray hairs is essential when wearing those tiny bikinis. Depending on how much hair you want removed, the different terms for waxing that area can be daunting.

A quick quide to waxing shapes

Regular Bikini Wax

This is your basic, starter bikini wax that removes the hairs next to the bikini line only.

Full Bikini Wax

Takes the regular bikini wax past the bikini line and the hairs from the top to create a neat triangle.

French Bikini Wax

All the hair is removed in the front, leaving just a small patch or strip of hair.

Brazilian wax

Removes all hair, front to back, leaving just a patch of hair in the front in any shape you want.

Hollywood wax

Don’t want any genital hair at all? Then this is the one for you. All hair is removed from front to the back. This is definitely not recommended for beginners.