Body Buffers: Getting Smooth Skin

[michal_cohen]

We tend to neglect our skin from the neck down during the winter. We're covered in sweaters anyway, right? Well, spring has sprung now and that means soon you'll be baring a lot more. But before you break out the sundresses and shorts, you're going to need to get your skin ready.

Getting soft, smooth skin doesn't start with moisturizer. In order for lotions to be absorbed properly, you first have to exfoliate. Body scrubs or polishes slough off dead skin cells. Scrubs can be made with a variety of different substances, including rice powder and ground seeds or shells, but the most common ones are sugar and salt. Both are equally good at exfoliating, but sugar scrubs tend to be gentler.

How to Use

If you're using the scrub in the shower, take a bit of the product at a time and massage it into your skin, working from the chest down, concentrating on one section at a time: neck, chest, arms, and so on. If you apply it all over at once, most of the product will wash off in the water before you get to it. Spend a couple of minutes on each section in order to get the best results.

You can also do a "dry scrub," which essentially means you exfoliate before stepping into the shower. Stand on a towel and apply the scrub. If the product is too thick or dry, wet your hands a bit and then apply. Scrub from your neck down to your

feet for five to 10 minutes, then rinse off in the shower. Whichever method you choose, moisturize well after showering.

Suggested Products

Alba Sugar Cane Body Polish ($9.85, drugstore.com)

Bath & Body Works Purely Silk Salt Scrub ($18.50, bathandbodyworks.com)

Lush Buffy ($8.95, lush.com)

Philosophy The Gingerbread Man Scrub ($25, sephora.com)

Skindecent Bermuda Beach Smoother ($8.49, skindecent.com)

Totally Juicy Hot Apple Sugar Body Scrub ($3.79, drugstore.com)

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Scrub ($16, thebodyshop.com)

Victoria's Secret Spa Stimulating Body Scrub ($15, victoriassecret.com)

Tips & Tricks

• Shave after scrubbing. If you do it before, you risk irritating your freshly-shaved skin.
• Don't overdo it. The tougher the skin, the more tempting it is to scrub like crazy. Instead of one overly aggressive treatment, a more gentle daily (or every other day) scrub will show better results, and won't cause irritation or redness.
• If you have any cuts, avoid using salt scrubs — it will sting.
• Remember to pay extra attention to tougher spots like elbows and knees. You can use a pumice stone or foot file on heels.
• If you're on a tight budget, you can make your own body polish: combine three parts sugar and one part lime juice, or mix together equal parts sugar and olive oil for a more moisturizing treatment.
• One of the gentlest scrubs you can use is one made with brown sugar. It's less abrasive than salt or granulated sugar. The harshest scrubs tend to be made from ground shells.
• You can also opt to use exfoliating gloves or mitts (most drugstores or beauty shops carry them). Just make sure to rinse them well after each use and replace regularly

source:beautybrief

 

[Leony]

Cool tips! Thanks!