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Resolution: Exfoliate
I’ve been good about sticking to my weekly resolutions thus far. I wore red lipstick, I baked up a storm and I repaired my clothes. Next up: exfoliation.
I have super dry skin, that only gets worse in winter. I would rather have shiny moisturized skin like in a lotion commercial. So Margaret bought me a Japanese wash cloth, that she swears by. Paired with some scrubby bath products, I should be on my way. Do you have an exfoliation secret?
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I use a Clairisonic Skincare Brush that I just received a few weeks ago. I have very sensitive skin that is prone to both dryness and acne. I have been using the brush to wash my face for two weeks and my skin is now totally clear and free of the dull look that it had from the harsh East Coast winter weather. The brush is expensive — $200! — but I was able to get it for less through my sister who is a dermatologist. It is really the best thing I have found for exfoliating without irritating my skin. Good luck!
My skin has regulated a lot over the last year or so since I returned to the South, but after a decade split between Boston (holy cold winds) and New Mexico (holy dry winds), I must’ve tried every dry skin remedy out there. Three lessons learned:
1) Use an exfoliating serum every day – I still do this, and there’s such a difference in daily brightening. The one I use now is Origins Modern Fusion, but there are loads of great ones out there.
2) My favorite dry skin exfoliating scrub turned out to be Kiehl’s Ultra Moisturizing Buffing Cream with Scrub Particles. It was the only one that didn’t make my dry skin scream in pain in the shower, and instead felt really good to use. Runner-up: Origins Modern Friction (not so much a soothing shower product, but definite results, just don’t overdo it).
3) Also, drink tons of water, because it helps with cell turnover, which will help with your dryness.
I love that wearing red lipstick was on your list. 🙂
for body, i use a mixture of olive oil and sugar. it’s great, because i always have it in the house, and the olive oil is great for your skin…for my face i use this: http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/224/bha-aha-exfoliants
and you can buy samples of it if you just want to try it out.
🙂 happy sloughing!
For my body I use a moisturizing body wash, with scrubbing gloves… A lot cheaper than buying excpensive body scrubs…
A moisturizing tip I read once was to apply lotion as soon as you’ve toweled off after the shower and then apply again 5 minutes later. This is probably only best for really dry skin and with a non-clogging lotion though.
*Side note, my word verification is palin!
I have loved St Ives Apricot scrub since I was in junior high. You can use it all over and can change the ammount of scrub depending on how much pressure you use to apply.
I once got a severe reprimanding from a facialist for OVER exfoliating. I thought that if the Neutrogena Microdermabrasion kit was good once a week it would produce outstanding results twice a week and make me into a 14 year old supermodel if I did it every night. Apparently this is not the case.
In related news: while it’s true that the marshmallow is the best part of Rice Krispy Treats it is NOT true that tripling the amount makes for the best Rice Krispy Treats EVER. What happens is that you cannot get them out and you are forced to throw away the entire pan.
So yeah. My best exfoliating advice is: don’t. At least if you’re me.
Luckily – I’m just talking about my body, not my face here. My face is fine 🙂
I recently started daily body brushing. For about $10 at Ulta I picked up a hand-held natural bristle brush and one with a long handle for my back.
I don't buy all the "rid yourself of toxins & destroy cellulite" hype — just google "body brushing" — but it definitely helps with itchy winter skin. I notice the difference if I skip a day.
My secret is Product Body — that stuff smells and feels so good that I actually look forward to taking a shower all day 🙂
Olive oil and Sugar works so well. You won’t even recognize your skin when you get out of the tub. Its fantastic.
I really like the tangerine sugar scrub from trader joe’s. A good scrub of that in the shower, and then a little moisturizing oil after I’m out seems to work pretty well. It does smell like Tang, and be careful, because the shower gets VERY slick. 🙂
Sorry to come to this so late, but I recommend AmLactin. The smell can be somewhat off-putting at first, but it exfoliates & moisturizes brilliantly. I've also heard good things about Complex 15.