Show off
your skin with confidence this summer! Read our tips on beating acne, shaving
and waxing without irritation, faking a healthy tan, and more.
Scheduling vacation plans and buying a new swimsuit
will mentally prepare you for summer, but your skin may need some help getting
ready, too. For gorgeous, smooth skin you'll feel ready to bare, you need to
take a few simple steps. Try this head-to-toe refresher to take your skin out
of hibernation.
1. Reveal Glowing Skin
Regular exfoliation can be a part of a healthy skin
regimen no matter the season; as long as your skin is not sensitive,
exfoliation can help you achieve smooth, healthy-looking skin that makes you
look more glowing and youthful. “But it must be done with care,” says Doris
Day, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. “The goal is to lift off the outer
layer of skin cells that are ready to be sloughed off without stripping the
skin.”
Brushes, polishing cloths, and scrubs offer easy
ways to smooth away rough spots. Rotating cleansing brushes work by physically
buffing off the dead skin cells. Exfoliating cloths, microdermabrasion kits,
and scrubs with granular ingredients also operate the same way. “For the body,
look for a scrub that contains coarse particles that dissolve over time, like
sugar, so you don’t irritate the skin,” says Dr. Day.
Products that chemically exfoliate the skin contain
ingredients such as glycolic, salicylic, or polyhydroxy acids that cause the
skin to shed its outer layer and reveal the newer layer.
2. Remove Hair Without Irritation
If your summer forecast calls for sunny days at the
beach or poolside, you may be putting some effort into removing unwanted hair.
But once you rip off the wax strip, it’s also important to care for the skin
that’s newly exposed to the elements.
Give your skin some time to recover before rolling
out your beach towel or getting active outdoors. “I advise clients to stay out
of the sun or heat for at least 48 hours after any hair-removal process,” says
Cindy Barshop, owner of Completely Bare spas. “Follicles are vulnerable to
irritation, and skin may be sensitive due to any heat or friction from lasers,
waxing, or shaving.”
Since most of us don’t plan our hair removal that
far in advance, buffer your tender skin with an oil-free sunscreen, wait for it
to dry (about 5 minutes), and dust on some talc-free baby powder, says Barshop.
To prevent ingrown hairs, it’s helpful to wear loose-fitting clothing and use
an after-waxing product that contains glycolic and salicylic acids, which team
up to prevent dead skin cells from causing bothersome bumps.
3. Fight UV Rays With Food
All the work you put into making your skin look good
won’t be worth it unless you guard it from the sun’s damaging rays, which are
strongest during the summer. Surprisingly, you can protect yourself from the
inside, too. “In addition to using sunscreen, eat cooked tomatoes every day if
you know you’re going to be in the sun,” says Jessica Wu, MD, assistant
clinical professor of dermatology at USC Medical School. According to research,
cooked tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that helps fight the
effects of UV rays such as redness, swelling, and blistering from sunburn. If
you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, you may benefit from consuming tomato
sauce, grilled tomatoes, or even Bloody Marys. “This doesn’t replace sunscreen,
but the habit could give you additional protection if you can’t reach your back
and miss a spot,” Dr. Wu adds.
4. Clear Up Body Breakouts
It’s no better to have acne on your body than on the
face, especially in the heat, when hiding and covering up isn’t an option. The
approach to treating acne on the back, chest, and elsewhere on the body is the
same as treating facial acne: “Exfoliate regularly, don’t pick, and treat with
effective ingredients,” says Day.
Washing with products that contain salicylic acid
helps slough off the dead skin cells; a treatment product with micronized
benzoyl peroxide can also help by penetrating the skin and killing off the
bacteria that cause acne.
If your skin is sensitive, investing in an
acne-treating blue light tool may be worth the cost. “You simply wave the light
wand over skin for five minutes daily and it helps kill bacteria,” says Leslie
Baumann, MD, a dermatologist in Miami. If you have severe body acne, see a
dermatologist.
5. Erase Cellulite
First, the good news: Some products may be able to
smooth out the undesirable dimples and unevenness of cellulite. The bad news:
They won’t get rid of cellulite forever. The smoothing and toning effect, like
many good things in life, is fleeting. Still, it may be worth slathering on a
toning body lotion to make your skin look and feel tighter for a day at the beach
or a special event.
“Products that contain caffeine and theophylline temporarily
dehydrate fat cells,” says Dr. Baumann. “However, it’s the massage and the
application of the cream that does the work.” The best course of action
long-term is to exercise regularly, coupled with targeted massage, suggests
Baumann.
Another way to hide cellulite is to apply a fake
tan. Take advantage of the newest self-tanners, which have come a long way from
the strong-smelling streaky creams or sprays of yesteryear. “There has been so
much progress in the formulations — the colors are natural, there’s no
streaking, and the scent is so much better,” says Day.
6. Treat Your Feet
If you’ve stuffed your feet inside boots all winter,
they probably could use a little TLC for sandal weather. Jump-start your
program with a salon pedicure, or if you’re short on time, you can heed Day’s
DIY tip, which will help soften feet while you sleep. First, remove thicker
skin with a foot file. Apply a rich emollient cream or ointment, then cover the
feet in plastic wrap and cotton socks. Leave on overnight. Repeat every day
until you achieve smooth skin, then once a week to maintain soft skin.
Author Bio: Linda is a freelance writer and college
English teacher. She writes on saving money and healthy, fashion and more. For
more of her helpful blog posts, please go to coupon4share.com or G+
to see useful tips on various topics
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