How to Get Soft, Smooth, Healthy Skin and Keep it
You don't have to find the "best, new and latest" beauty products, to keep your skin looking and feeling soft and smooth.
Your local pharmacy has some great, and inexpensive items to achieve this at home.
Here's some things you will need:
- Body Lotion
- Cream
- Bath Loofah
- Moisturizing Soap or Body Wash
- Washcloth
- Petroleum Jelly
- Baby Oil or Body Oil
Daily
Taking a shower (or bath) is an important part of keeping your skin clean and healthy. Make sure the water isn't too hot, since this will dry your skin out, by removing the natural oils. A shower or bath should only last about 10 minutes, since staying under the water too long can harm your skin.
Use a body loofah to cleanse and exfoliate your skin with a good moisturizing body wash or cleanser. I love Dove and Oil of Olay cleansing products, since they make me feel clean, fresh but without any greasy feeling.
Use a light, body lotion every morning after you shower, from head to toe. This will keep your skin feeling smooth all day, no matter what you are doing. I prefer to use a lotion in the morning, since a cream will be a little too heavy and greasy.
DRINK LOTS OF WATER! Many people don't even think of this as part of their skin regimen, but it's a very important factor. Water hydrates your skin and keeps it looking young and healthy. It can be rather boring just chugging water all day, so try adding fruit, lemons or mint to flavor it.
Take your vitamins, every morning with breakfast or your morning coffee (that way you won't forget later in the day). The best vitamins for your skin are Vitamin A, B, C, and E. These keep your skin's elasticity, prevent it from over-drying, maintain good skin tone, prevent wrinkles and slow the aging process.
Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables will give you the good nutrients your skin needs. Plus they help maintain a healthy weight and healthy lifestyle. Nuts are full of good fats that our bodies need to reproduce healthy oils, for our skin, hair and nails.
Weekly
Once or twice a week you should exfoliate your skin, using a body scrub or any kind of moisturizing scrub.
Doing this will buff away any dead skin cells, keeping your newest and healthiest layer of skin touch-ably soft. Don't exfoliate too much or you may cause the reverse affect and irritate your skin.
Use a deep moisture body cream, at night before you go to bed. Depending on your skin type, you may only want to use a cream once or twice a week.
During the summer I tend to use a body cream less, than during the drier winter months. I also recommend only using a heavy cream at night, since it will intensely moisturize your skin, but it may leave it a little greasy feeling.
Take a little time during the week to just BREATH! If you exercise regularly then you are already getting this benefit. But even if you don't have time during the week to get to a gym, just take 10 minutes and lay on the floor, eyes closed and just breath.
This gets oxygen circulating in your body, helping to flush out toxins in the blood. Plus it makes you more relaxed and feeling energized.
Extras
Petroleum jelly is an intense moisturizer that can be used on your hands and feet. You can do this in the evenings while watching your favorite show or reading a book.
Just soak your hands or feet in a soaking tub or bowl, then dry with a clean washcloth. Lather yourself with the jelly as much or as little as you like.
This is a great tip to use during the summer months when our feet are exposed to the hot, dry weather. It's also great during the winter when we need that extra deep moisture to save our dry, cracked skin.
Baby oil or any massage body oil is a fantastic way to give your skin a burst of moisture. It can be pretty concentrated, unless you have a light oil, so use sparingly.
Massage into your skin nightly or weekly, in a circular motion, getting deep into your problem areas (knees, elbows, hands and feet). Giving yourself a little TLC will help relax and revive you, or if you have a partner to help, it can be lots of fun!
The most important thing about having soft, smooth, healthy skin is, just being consistent. Eat right, moisturize daily and create a good skin care regime.
