Scrub Away the Winter!

You’ve been indoors and under at least one layer of clothing for a while now, and you skin knows it!  As you start to head into the outdoors more, and more of your skin gets exposed the sun, the outer layer of your skin may start to get flaky.  Don’t worry!  It’s natural that we flake off some of the protective skin we had during the winter, but you can gently help your skin along! 

Warning!  We won’t be telling you to do any harsh rubbing or scrubbing to your skin!  That kind of rough treatment is bad for skin, making small tears that can have lasting effects.  Your young skin doesn’t need that kind of heavy duty attack!  As they say, the right tool for the right job…and be mindful of your skin type!

For bodies, a not too rough body mit, loofah sponge or soft bristled brush will do.  It’s always good to use a gentle, all natural body wash, while gently massaging your skin in small, smooth circles, until you’ve worked on every part of your body you can reach.  This is when a washcloth or gentle back-scrubbing brush can come in handy.  Even if you’re limber enough to reach the middle of your back, you can’t always manage to actually wash it! J

For your face, there are special gentle buffers you can purchase in the cosmetics aisle, or you can use an old, soft, clean washcloth.  Be gentle, as the skin on your face is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body. 

As long as you’re at it, you can scrub your cuticles with a cuticle or nail brush, and possibly a gentle go-over of your heels with a pumice stone.  Be careful!  Your feet will be very soft and sensitive after a winter inside socks and shoes, but they may need more attention at the end of the summer when sandal-wearing and bare-footing it have left their marks on your feet!

Just remember: BE GENTLE!  You don’t have to see big flakes of skin peeling away to know that it’s working!  Just following these simple tips once every week or two will keep your skin fresh and glowing!