The 5 things you are doing wrong when it comes to your body’s skin…
Are you a numbers person? Yes? Well, ok then, here are the top 5 things you are doing wrong when it comes to taking care of your body’s skin! These are in no particular order…they are all bad…
1. Not Exfoliating! Did you know that your body skin is thicker than that on the face, and has fewer pores? The skin on your feet for example, is the width of a pencil eraser, while the skin around our eyes is paper thin. What does this mean to you? The double whammy of thicker skin and an inability to shed the dead cells as quickly, means dryness and flakiness come your body’s way more quickly than on the face. That’s why you need to exfoliate regularly to slough off dead skin on the body. You can do this physically with a sloughing mitt, or you can do it with product, like a good exfoliating scrub. I like this one, and this one (especially because this one is approved for both face and body.)
2. Taking long, hot showers. Luckily a silver lining of California’s drought over the last decade, was that I learned how to take a very quick shower! But if that doesn’t describe you, you are very likely robbing your skin of moisture. Yup, hot water in long showers can actually pull moisture from your skin. So keep it short and medium temperature. Your water bill will love you for it too.
3. Swimming, a lot, in chlorinated pools. And not rinsing off afterwards. I know a lot of you love swimming as an exercise, but chlorine can do a real number on the skin and hair. Wearing a swimming cap can help the hair part (put some conditioner in your hair first before wearing the cap and you will get a “hair facial” while swimming…I like this one), but what about the body? Chlorine is known to compromise the skin’s natural protective sebum, causing moisture loss. You need a great body hydrator and you need to apply it directly after rinsing off from swimming.
4. Not wearing body SPF or UPF clothing. Did you know that the average t-shirt equivalent sun protection factor is SPF 2? The weave is too open to provide any real protection. UVA (think A for aging) and UVB (B for burning) rays can dry the skin of it’s natural oil. For the body, use UPF clothing (I like Bloquv as a website), hats, sunbrellas, and sunglasses. And of course, use a body SPF for skin that is not covered. And that leads us to the next terrible thing you are doing…
5. Not using enough SPF when going outside; not applying it correctly; and not re-applying. One ounce my friends. ONE OUNCE of SPF = a full body application. That’s the equivalent of a shot glass or ping-pong ball. So when you look at your sunscreen bottle and it says 5 ounces? That’s 5 full body applications. Ok, only covering your legs and arms and chest? I’ll give 10 applications per 5 oz. bottle. So you people who are using last summer’s SPF, or sharing one bottle for a month with your spouse or children: Nah! Nuh-uh! Just NO!
SO WHAT DO YOU DO? You must use a good hydrator for the skin. The one I like just came out. It’s called Body Replenish by Rodan and Fields and it’s hands-down one of the very best I have seen. The standout ingredients include 30% glycerin (think amazing sponge), peptides, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter. A hydrator is going to attract moisture to the skin and create a water reservoir on the surface of the skin, allowing it to take in hydration as needed. So turn the frown upside down and start exfoliating, protecting, and hydrating. Your skin will love you for it!
