Body—Exfoliation & Moisturizing: all links so far

body—exfoliation & moisturizing

• A Body Hydration Quick Tip for Bathtime (new!)

• BODY: Moisturizing & Hydration

• BODY: The many ways to exfoliate

• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body?

• Dry Hands? A simple solution for happy, hydrated hands

• Petroleum as an ingredient in your face & body products—updated (new!)

• Returning to an old favorite—Exfoliation Gloves

• Winter Skin 101

Also see

• Body—Misc: all links so far

Petroleum as an ingredient in your face & body products

Is there any good, “healthy” use for petroleum*?

When the word petroleum is used, it is referring to petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly, sometimes listed as petrolatum on ingredient lists, is a thick gel-like substance that has absolutely no nutritive content. It is void of anything actively healing. In other words, it is inert. Although, due to its gel consistency, it can feel soothing and even hydrating.

Petroleum has a large molecular structure (especially the lower grade types) and is not a good ingredient in skin care products for the face. This large molecule prohibits absorption into the skin. Therefore, if you use a moisturizer with petroleum in it, it will just sit on the surface of your skin, potentially clog your pores, and perhaps even make your skin look shiny.

A very expensive petroleum face cream

If you ski, for instance, this might not be a bad thing. Under those types of harsh environmental conditions, having an occlusive covering over your skin may be just what you need. But day to day, under normal circumstances, you won’t want to have petroleum on your face.

Petroleum helps to lock in moisture, and it stays on the surface and helps to make skin feel smooth. This may sound like a favorable thing for your face, but because of the potential for congestion, I stand by my recommendation to avoid petroleum in your facial moisturizers.

If you go to the grocery store and look at the ingredient lists on products like Lubriderm and Vaseline Intensive Care, you will see that some of the first ingredients are petroleum and mineral oil. (Mineral oil is just another form of petroleum.) Both of these can really clog the pores on your face. But both of these make great ingredients in body products. I never recommend mineral oil-based products for the face, but as body creams they do a good job of keeping the skin on that large surface area softer and smoothed.

Is it OK to use body lotions that contain petroleum? I know in your book you say the molecule is very large so moisturizers with petroleum derivatives like mineral oil don’t penetrate very well. Do you opt for the natural, health food store body lotions? 

As mentioned, I don’t recommend using petroleum products on the face—or at least for skin that is normal or oily. These cheaper ingredients (like petroleum or mineral oil) have a large molecular structure, and the creams they are in tend to sit on the surface of the skin. For anything other than true-dry skin, this can cause congestion and possibly breakout.

When it comes to my body, I tend to use less expensive products than I do on my face. I actually use a health food store grapefruit body moisturizer that is under $10 for 12 ounces. (It doesn’t happen to contain petroleum.) It’s inexpensive and it’s actually a quality product. I only use body creams that have a pump in the bottle, so this one fits my needs in that regard as well.

I take lots of baths—especially in the winter—and every time I get out of the tub, I slather my entire body (except for my face and neck) with this moisturizer, therefore I go through a lot of product in a short time. I believe you don’t have to spend a lot of money on body moisturizers—unless you want to. Because the surface area is large compared to your face, you will go through a lot of product if you use it every time you take a bath or shower.

There are inexpensive brands of body lotions like Lubriderm® and Vaseline Intensive Care®. These products and many like them do contain petroleum derivatives. I wouldn’t use these products on my face, but my body’s skin is different and does very well with these cheaper creams. Regardless of the price, I am not against using mineral oil or petroleum as ingredients in moisturizers for the body.

Keeping the skin on your body (and face) soft and smooth comes from both exfoliation and moisturizing. Be sure to have both types of products available to keep your skin supple and hydrated all over.

For more information, see:

• Eye makeup removal with Vaseline question
• BODY: Moisturizing & Hydration
• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body?

A Body Hydration Quick Tip for Bathtime

Using an oil in the bathtub to hydrate dry, flaky skin on your body solves two things at one time. First, taking a bath is relaxing and, even if you have a hectic family life, you can breakaway into the bathroom—alone—taking a nice bath for a little while and let the world go on without you temporarily. The oil will help hydrate what might be dry and dehydrated skin on your body while you relax in the tub.

If you don’t have any bath oil, you can use a body oil in the tub. Just pore a small amount into the bath (a little goes a long way), hop in, and soak it up. You can also use baby oil or even an oil from your kitchen. Remember, oil is lighter than water so it will float on the surface of the bath water. Also keep in mind that whatever the oil that you’re using smells like is what will stay on your body long after the bath.

Be sure to smooth the oil on your body while in the bath—getting it on all your dry spots. If you are experiencing really dry, flaky skin on your body, this is sure to do the trick in hydrating all the dry skin.

Most importantly: you have oil on your body and possibly on the bottoms of your feet so please be careful when stepping out of the tub. Because of the slip factor, I highly recommend not putting any oil intentionally on the bottoms of your feet. Still, some oil may find its way there—so be careful exiting your tub.

When getting out of your bath, I wouldn’t rub a bath towel on your skin; instead I’d recommend simply patting dry any remaining water. If you rub, you will remove much of the oil you just got on your dry skin. If you find you have a lot of oil still on your skin, then get off what feels comfortable and massage the rest in with your hands, as if you were applying body moisturizer.

Using oil in the tub can really help, especially in the colder winter months, to keep the skin on your body free from flakes and cracking and feeling wonderfully hydrated and soft.

For more information, see:

• Bathtime Quick Tips (plus Do Not Disturb Me sign ideas)
• Are you a “Bath Person”?
• Petroleum as an ingredient in your face & body products—updated

BODY: Moisturizing & Hydration

Keeping the skin on your body soft and smooth comes from both exfoliation and moisturizing. If you exfoliate without moisturizing afterward, your skin won’t feel hydrated and may look dry. If you moisturize without exfoliating, you are applying cream over dead cell buildup, lessening the effectiveness of any cream.

There are many different ways to get rid of dead cells on your body, clearing the way for hydration. At the bottom of this article is a link to another post about the different ways you can exfoliate your body (BODY: The many ways to exfoliate). Be sure to read up and incorporate both exfoliating and moisturizing into your daily body care routine.

After exfoliating, the next step in keeping dry, flaky skin from taking over your body is moisturizing. And like I mentioned with scrubs, I use inexpensive lotions on my body as well. Why? Mainly because the area I’m covering is large (compared to my face and neck), so I’ll go through a lot of the product. Plus, the skin on the body is very different than that on the face, and therefore the quality of ingredients (which greatly affects the price) isn’t as important. You certainly can use expensive products, but I find the less expensive brands do a good job when it comes to moisturizing the skin on your body.

The key to keeping dry skin away is to use moisturizer daily after every bath or shower. Remember, tap water is filled with high levels of chlorine; chlorine is extremely drying to the skin (and hair too). In order to combat the drying effects of this chemical, you’ll want to moisturize your skin. This essential step is an easy habit to get into. Once you start remembering to use body cream or oil, your skin will get used to feeling moisturized and you won’t forget to cover it with products.

Body lotions and body oils. Body lotions or creams (I use these two terms interchangeably) are the most common way to keep the skin on your entire body well hydrated. I recommend using a different type of moisturizer for different climates and seasons of the year. In the summer or if you live in a continually warm climate, moisturizing lotions or creams are best. Lotions are usually light in texture and add just enough moisture to the skin without feeling heavy.

In the winter or in cold, drier climates I recommend using body oils. They will be a lot more hydrating, and in cold or dry climates this added layer of oil will most likely be needed. You can use body oils in the summer and creams in the winter, but I find creams aren’t hydrating enough in cold weather, and oils are too heavy in hot weather. Another suggestion is to combine a lotion or cream with an oil and smooth this mixture all over your body. If one alone doesn’t feel right, experiment and come up with what works best for you.

Sometimes you’re told to apply body products on semi-wet skin. The theory is that lotion will lock in any water left on the surface of your skin. However, I find this technique thins out the moisturizer, making it less hydrating. I prefer to towel off completely and apply cream over my dry skin. I do find using body oil on my damp skin is helpful. The oil is thick, and the water droplets help to spread the oil evenly over my skin.

Bath oils. These products are another way to help keep your skin moisturized. After soaking in a tub where you’ve added bath oil, your skin will feel very smooth and well hydrated. They are usually aromatic delights as well—more incense for your home. Simply pour some of the product in your bath water, climb in the tub, and your skin will soak up the oil. As long as they don’t cause irritation due to ingredients that your skin can’t tolerate, bath oils are a good way to lubricate rough, dry skin.

When using bath oils, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• First and most important, the oil will make the porcelain slippery, so be very careful when you’re getting in and out of the tub. 
• Then when the water drains out, since some of the oil will be left behind, wipe off any existing oil so an accident doesn’t occur. 
• Also, any leftover oil will cause an oily bathtub ring. 
• Because oil floats on the surface of water, you’ll need to splash the parts of your body that aren’t submerged in the bath water. This will ensure that your entire body receives the benefits of the hydrating oil.

Humidifiers. A humidifier helps keep dehydrated and dry skin away. Sleeping with a humidifier lets water vapor permeate the air for as long as you are sleeping. It’s a painless way to get moisture in the air, which will have a positive effect on your skin—all over. You can find these machines just about anywhere: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and big box stores, too.

Moisturizing your body doesn’t take much time, it’s simply a matter of incorporating this step into your daily routine. Once you see the results, the few extra minutes you spend taking care of your body will be time well spent.

Quick Tip:

If you don’t have any bath oil, you can use a body oil in the tub instead. Just pour a small amount into the bath (a little goes a long way), hop in, and soak it up. You can also use baby oil or even an oil from your kitchen.

For more information, see:

• BODY: The many ways to exfoliate  
• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body?
• Winter Skin 101

Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body?

Below is the case of a woman with dry skin due to hormone changes, but the information provided can help anyone with dry, itchy skin.

I had my ovaries removed 3 months ago and my skin on my entire body is so dry, it’s driving me crazy. I can literally scrape the dead skin off!

I am on estrogen medication, and when I asked my doctor what I could do, he said the dry skin is part of “the change” and that maybe in 6 months or so it will get better.

I live in Florida, so dry skin shouldn’t be such a problem in my life. Is there anything I can do to keep my skin from itching and get rid of all this dry skin?

This is a common problem for women who are going through perimenopause or really anyone living in a dry climate. To add to that, this client also had her estrogen-producing ovaries removed, so her skin just doesn’t have much of a chance to lubricate itself. Although, as the doctor said, there may not be any cures for the dry skin, I do believe there are things you can do to help the dryness from driving you crazy.

I asked this client if she had ever used body oils. Her answer was no. I asked if she had oil she used in her kitchen, she said yes. I told her to pour out about 1/4 cup of the oil into a container she could take into her shower with her. Here are the instructions I gave her:

• After she had done everything in the shower,  keep the shower water running and take some of the oil and start spreading it over her body.
• Start with the legs, but don’t put oil on the bottoms of your feet! Otherwise you might slip and fall in the tub.
• Apply the oil in a medium layer to your entire body, back, front, up and down.
• Massage the oil in to the skin, then let the water rinse any oil off that will come off.
• Once you are out of the shower, don’t rub with your towel, but pat dry. This way the oil will have a better chance of staying on your skin.
• You can apply an oil after you have gotten out of the shower or bathtub, but don’t dry your skin off first; apply any oil to wet skin, massage in and let it have it time to soak in.

You can also use this oil method in a bathtub, also being careful not to get oil on the bottoms of your feet, so when you’re exiting the tub you don’t slip and fall. Pour some oil into the bath water and while you’re there, smooth the oily water over all of your dry spots. Since oil is lighter than water, it will stay on the surface so be sure to massage any oil in where the water line was once you’re out of the tub.

An alternative to using plain oil from your kitchen is a get a manufactured product made specifically for (body) skin. Yonka has several body oils in its lineup and there are many other product lines that do as well. These will be more expensive, obviously, than a kitchen oil but look around and find one you like and one that has an aromatic that is pleasing since this scent will remain on you for a while after its application.

I wouldn’t put clothes on immediately—or at least I wouldn’t dress up. Bed or house clothes won’t matter as much if any oil residue gets on them. The more you massage the oil into your skin, the less it will affect any clothing you put on after the shower. You also get the benefit of blood circulation from the massage (as well as from the heat from the shower you just took).

Although I’m not a fan of mineral oil products for the face, when it comes to dry, itchy skin on the body these heavier, non-penetrating oils may be just the ticket to help with true-dry skin. Body lotions with mineral oil as a top ingredient are easy to obtain in most any kind of store that caries body products. You will probably find that these types of lotions will go far to helping your dry skin.

Exfoliation gloves make an excellent choice for getting rid of the dead skin on your body. You simply slip the gloves on, apply a bath gel, and go over all parts of your body. These gloves are easily rinsed out and can make exfoliating not only easy but fun as well. Be sure not to rub too hard, lest you cause skin irritation. And do be sure to thoroughly rinse the gloves before hanging them on the towel rack to dry, or throw them in the washing machine. More information on this exfoliation process can be found in the link below.

You may not be going through menopause, but perhaps you live in a cold and/or dry environment. The same oil application can help you too. During winter here in Colorado (and I know in Chicago), if the cold air doesn’t get you, the heat inside the buildings will! Using oil on your body with truly dried out skin is the most effective way to get rid of that dry feeling.

For more information, see:

• BODY: The many ways to exfoliate This, too, is an important step to get the skin on your body feeling less dried out!
• Returning to an old favorite—Exfoliation Gloves
• Dry hands? A simple solution for happy, hydrated hands

BODY: The many ways to exfoliate

Exfoliation is the best way to rid your body of dry, flaky skin. There are many ways to accomplish this. Whether using scrubs, gloves, or a brush, exfoliating the dead sometimes flaky skin on your body will go a long way in keeping the alligator look away.

Body scrubs. This is my favorite way to exfoliate the body. Because this product isn’t used on the delicate and sensitive facial skin, you may want to get a large tub or tube of inexpensive scrub at the grocery store. Once you are wet in the shower, put some of the product in your hands and scrub-a-dub-dub over your entire body.

Use a body scrub after a long workout session, or whenever you’ve gotten really sweaty from being outside. If you have been outside, you’ll have a mixture of sweat and sunscreen that needs to come off—thoroughly.

Using a body scrub in the shower really does the trick as far as exfoliating dead cells and helping your skin to feel smooth all over. Always use scrubs, whether for your face or your body, on wet skin only.

Exfoliation gloves. These are gloves made of a rough, stretchy material that are great to use in the shower. They are better than a loofah because formfitting gloves can get to all the hard to reach areas of your body. Simply wet the gloves, put your favorite body wash on them, and gently give yourself a rubdown. Do not use the gloves on your neck and definitely not on your face. They are much too rough for these areas and may cause irritation. After you are through washing, be sure to rinse the gloves thoroughly and hang them to dry.

You can find exfoliation gloves at most stores that carry bath and body products. They make a great gift or stocking stuffer. 

Dry-brush massage. Although this kind of exfoliation is a little more involved than just using a product in the shower, it is well worth it. Whenever clients come to me with really dry skin on their bodies, I recommend a dry-brush massage.

This procedure involves purchasing a natural-bristle brush. You can find them at most larger health food stores. Experiment with several brushes and choose one that feels just right on your skin. You want a brush with bristles that are stiff enough to stimulate your circulation and exfoliate dead skin cells, but not so rough that it hurts to use it. Conversely, don’t choose a brush so soft you can barely feel it massaging your skin.


On dry skin, before you hop in the shower

• Take the bristle brush and go over your entire body using brisk movements. (Do not use the brush on your face and neck.) You are brushing off tiny particles of dead skin, and this needs to be done on dry skin. If your skin is wet, you will lose the effectiveness of the dry brush
• I’ve always heard to brush in the direction of your heart to assist circulation. Whether there is a significant difference between stroking toward or away from the heart is uncertain
• I wouldn’t worry about the direction your brush is moving as much as concentrating on removing dead cells. It should be a sweeping, almost a flicking motion on your skin
• Once you have brushed your entire body, hop in the shower and rinse off

You won’t necessarily see dead skin actually coming off your body. Some of it will get trapped in the brush, and some particles are just too small to see. You want to clean your brush after each use by stroking your hand back and forth over the bristles to help release the dead skin inside, but do not get the brush wet. Depending on how much you use it, every so often thoroughly clean your brush to remove any debris that may have accumulated. Now you do get it wet by soaping it up with body wash, then hang it to dry (thoroughly) before using it again.

Your skin should feel invigorated and alive. Dry-brush massage literally wakes you up. It is great for stimulating your circulation, like a cup of coffee for the body. After your shower, use a good moisturizer or body oil. If done on a regular basis, dry-brush massage can help your skin look and feel smooth, making dried-out, flaky skin a thing of the past.

One note of caution: you may feel a slight irritation the first few times you brush your skin. Be gentle, not aggressive, as your skin acclimates to the stimulation of the bristles. After your skin has adapted, it will feel more invigorating and more comfortable to do a dry-brush massage.

After exfoliating, however you accomplish this, be sure to use a body moisturizing cream as well. Without this step you won’t truly have the soft-feeling body skin you are looking for.

By keeping your whole body well-exfoliated, you can achieve softer skin—always! You’ll be surprised at the results; your skin may start feeling like a newborn baby’s!

For more information, see:

• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body? 
• Returning to an old favorite—Exfoliation Gloves
• Hydrating Body Q & A—petroleum

Dry Hands? A simple solution for happy, hydrated hands

Years ago I came to a place in my life where I could not stand to have dry, scaly hands anymore! Getting through a Chicago or Colorado winter is really challenging unless you have a plan. My hands are in water a lot because of my profession; during each facial my hands are in water or liquids many times. When I’m home, the last thing I want to do is compound my already dry hands with more hard water. So at home I have succumbed to wearing rubber gloves. I wear them to do the dishes, I wear them to clean the house, I wear rubber gloves whenever I want to keep water—especially hot water—off my hands.

At first, I felt silly and confined. But I bought rubber gloves that really fit my hands, and therefore my dexterity is improved over when I was wearing more oversized gloves. I can feel through the gloves, and my hands don’t suffer with exposure to water or cleaning supplies. Putting a little talc, like baby powder, inside the gloves will help your hands get in and out of them easier.

Wearing rubber gloves may sound like an obvious solution, but I have asked many people who have problems with dry hands, and most have not yet discovered the benefits of wearing them. I noticed an immediate difference in the level of dryness of my hands once I started to use rubber gloves. I didn’t have to apply lotion as frequently, and my skin just felt better in general. I don’t do special hand treatments, like paraffin or warm oil with gloves. These would be wonderful, but I just don’t have the time or inclination to do any more than I have to do to have smooth-feeling skin on my hands. Give rubber gloves a try!

For more information to help your hands, see:

• Forgotten Places: The Hands
• Pigmentation is so one-sided 
• Nails: Help for Hangnails  
• Yonka’s CREME MAINS: Repairing Hand Cream

I don’t personally use these, but why not? Have fun!!

Winter Skin 101

Since almost the entire country is experiencing cold, in fact freezing or below freezing temperatures (like we are in Colorado), I wanted to post several ideas to help you save your skin this winter. Hopefully most of the following information you already know, but I thought it was a good time to give a refresher course in Winter Skin 101. I’m starting from the bottom (feet) up.

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BEST FOOT FORWARD (heels)

I don’t know about you, but my heels get deep cracks in them once the weather turns permanently cold. Not only is it unsightly with the skin getting rough and flaky, but those cracks can really deepen and even become infected—Ouch! If this tends to happen to you, start now to keep that skin soft, supple, well-exfoliated, and of course crack-free.

First, purchase a heel buffer, like what a technician uses in a pedicure. Each night before you go to bed and every time before you get in the shower (or bath), buff away at those heels. You want to use this buffer on dry skin. If your skin is moist, the cells stick to the surface and are harder to eliminate. Then after your bath or shower or before you turn in for the night, be sure to moisturize the heels as well. This will help keep the skin from getting too rough, hopefully mitigating any neglect that caused the dry heel problem in the first place.

For a more intensive treatment: while you’re home for at least an hour or so (perhaps before you go to bed at night), put an intensive treatment cream on your heels. I’m a fan of balms because they are thicker than creams and have a better healing ability. (I have a Shea butter balm that I love.) You can find these types of products at expensive department stores or stores like Target and Walgreens. Check in the skin care aisle and you should be able to find something that fits your budget. There is even a product available that treats dry, cracked and chapped cow udders (yes, you read correctly!)—called Bag Balm—that can help with your dry, cracked heels. When I was a little girl my mom introduced me to Bag Balm and it really does really; it’s also fairly inexpensive. No matter what you end up purchasing, these heavier creams or balms are what you’ll want to use on your dry, cracked heels—often.

After applying your treatment product liberally to your heels, put on socks. It’s best if you don’t have to do much walking around so the cream has a better chance of staying on your skin vs. absorbing into the socks. I like to keep the balm on my nightstand and put it on my heels before I get into bed. If you read or watch TV at night, this foot treatment would be a good thing to do during that time.

I have found my heels don’t even start to crack if I plan ahead and start doing these foot treatments before it gets too cold, then continue treating them throughout the winter. Hopefully you will find relief, too, and you’ll have happy feet all winter long.

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ALLIGATOR SKIN ANYONE?

Exfoliation is step number one for softer, more hydrated skin—whether on your face (see below) or your body. There are several different products and procedures you can use to get rid of dead skin cells. Just remember: always exfoliate first, them moisturize.

If you are not currently moisturizing your entire body every time you get out of the shower or bath, you need to start now—before your skin starts to look and feel like an alligator’s! I can’t go even once without slathering my whole body with lotion after a shower or bath. I admit this is a habit I had to force myself to get into, but now, years later, it is just that—a habit. I haven’t always applied body creams, but once I experienced the hard, cold winters in Chicago (and now Colorado), it became an absolute must. Since it only takes a few seconds to apply, I highly recommend starting this practice each and every time you come out of water. It will do your skin a world of good.

Because there is a lot of surface area to cover, I tend to use inexpensive creams on my body. I am in and out of water frequently (I take lots of baths in the wintertime), so I’ll go through a lot of product. Also, my body lotion must have a pump dispenser. As silly as it might sound, I don’t like having to pick up the bottle, open the top, and shake or squeeze a cream out. Body lotion with a pump dispenser is the solution for me.

Start now to get your whole body exfoliated and moisturized, and keep that alligator skin away. You’ll save yourself a lot of uncomfortable moments once the really cold weather comes to stay for another winter.

For more details, see BODY: The many ways to exfoliate. 

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LEND ME A HAND

Recently a Boulder client was complaining about the fact that her hands get so dry during the winter, and actually somewhat all year round. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Colorado, the air is very dry causing all kinds of dry skin problems—head (including hair!) to toe. Add to the dry air cold winter temperatures and your skin—everyone’s skin here—is in sometimes desperate need of hydration.

My recommendation for this client was to do something similar to what I’m having you do to your dry, cracked heels. For an effective intensive hand treatment:

• Buy thin, surgical gloves (found at stores like Target and possibly your local grocery store)
• Choose a time where you will be home for at least an hour or so and your hands won’t need to be in water (and out of these gloves)
• Liberally apply your foot balm or any other moisturizer (even a simple body lotion will do)
• Then slip your hands into these gloves. They will create an environment where the cream can have a deep moisturizing effect

If you can sleep with the gloves on (or socks for that matter, conditioning your heels) that would be a good way to treat your dry hands all night long. Personally, I can’t have anything on my hands or feet while sleeping, but if you can—do!

Obviously, keeping lotion on your hands whenever possible is a good idea. My hands are in and out of water all day when I’m working, so having lotion on them in between treatments keeps them from getting dried out. I have hand lotion on my nightstand, and also on my coffee table at home. I don’t have to reach far to put some soothing hydrating cream on my hands wherever I am, home or work. Also see:

• Dry Hands? A simple solution for happy, hydrated hands   
• Yonka’s CREME MAINS: Repairing Hand Cream

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FACE IT—YOU HAVE TO EXFOLIATE!

We’ve now arrived at your face. How many times have I discussed exfoliation? A lot! And why is that? Because it is so important!—especially during the winter months when our skin gets exposed to the extreme elements. Heat from inside our homes and other buildings (including our cars), which takes water out of the air, along with the cold air outside causes dehydration, plain and simple. The best way to treat dehydration is exfoliation.

Please, no hard brushes on the face!

One of the key characteristics of dehydrated skin is an over-accumulation of dried out skin cells. This can make your skin feel rough to the touch and look somewhat sallow or lacking color. Removing some of those dead cells on a regular basis makes your skin feel smooth and soft along with helping to keep it well-hydrated.

You know my favorite way to exfoliate is Yonka’s Gommage. You could also use more common exfoliators, like facial scrubs and AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) products. Whatever you choose to use, exfoliate at least once a week, more often if you’re feeling dried out or flaky. Don’t skip this step! It is essential to helping your facial skin get through the rough winter months.

If you’re not quite clear about what exfoliation is or why you want to exfoliate, see All About Exfoliation to get the full scoop.

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IT ALL ADDS UP

In several of the articles I’ve written concerning dehydration, I’ve included information about adding hydration helpers into your moisturizers to help make them more emollient. Yonka’s Hydra+ (formerly Hydralia) is one such product. Hydra+ is a glycerin-based elixir that adds extra moisture to your skin without adding additional oil. Glycerin is a humectant; it attracts moisture to itself. It makes for an overall good hydrating ingredient in moisturizers and concentrates such as Hydra+. There are, of course, alternatives to using a Yonka product specifically. You could go to the store (Target or Walgreens, for instance) and get a glycerin product. In the past I have found glycerin with rose water, and recently I found straight glycerin (99.5%).

You’ll want to add 4-6 drops of your hydrating elixir into your day and/or night cream, basically mixing your cream and the elixir together in your hands then applying to your face and neck. The same application goes for Hydra+—you’d put 1-2 squirts into your creme, mix, and apply. If you feel you need to add a few more drops, go right ahead. Glycerin is not an oil, so it shouldn’t make your skin feel oily—just hydrated.

Adding glycerin to your creams is a small step that will do an amazing job of super-hydrating your skin. You’ll want to use hydration helpers day and night throughout the winter until it starts warming up or until you don’t feel like you need the extra moisture anymore. If you have true-dry (oil-dry) skin, you might want to or need to use extra hydration all year round.

Finally, I will mention Yonka’s Advanced Optimizer Serum (formerly Optimizer Fluid). This is my all-time favorite product. It has made a huge difference in the hydration level of my skin (especially after moving to Colorado) and has helped many of my clients as well. You’ll want to apply Optimizer Serum under your moisturizer vs. adding it to your creams like you would Hydra+. It, too, adds moisture without adding oil, which makes it perfect for all skin types—even oilier skin.

To read an article explaining the difference between Hydra+ (formerly Hydralia) and Optimizer Serum, click here.

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Last but not least, if you want to add extra moisture to the air inside your home, try using a humidifier. Used in your bedroom while you sleep, it will add much needed moisture into the air (and your lungs) and help to keep your skin from drying out. If you think about it, while you are lying in bed sleeping, the heat in your home is taking moisture out of the air—and of course, your skin too. Using a humidifier can really make a big difference in the hydration level of your skin, both face and body. However, set it up away from furniture to keep any wood from warping.

I hope you can use some of these tools to get you through another winter without having dry skin issues!

For more information, see:

• Forgotten Places: The Hands
• Exfoliation Quick Tips for Facial Scrubs 
• Dry vs. Dehydrated Skin

Me & a few friends on the Mt. Sanitas Trail in Boulder CO

Returning to an old favorite—Exfoliation Gloves

Have you ever used exfoliation gloves? They are 100% nylon, kind of rough to the touch, and they look—just like gloves! I recently purchased a pair (these came from Target and were under $5) and started using them again. I had forgotten how much I loved exfoliating my body with them and how good they make my skin feel.
These gloves are simple to use: Just put them in the shower and use them to exfoliate your whole body. Please do not use these gloves on your face (or neck). Why not? They are simply too rough to use on your delicate facial skin. Just like a loofah sponge, these gloves are meant for your body not your face. 

• Simply wet the gloves
• Slather them with liquid soap or lather your bar soap while wearing the gloves
• Go over your body—head to toe, minus your face and neck
• Enjoy smoother, softer skin!

Be aware: These gloves are meant to slough off dead, dry skin, and they are rough, so use caution when going over sensitive areas. Feel free to use them all over (not your face and neck), but just be aware of how much pressure you’re using. You will know if you’re going at it too hard: your skin will feel sensitive and it will hurt! Be sure to slather your skin with body moisturizer after the shower. The glove exfoliation + moisturizing = soft, subtle skin.

Enjoy using these exfoliation gloves. They are inexpensive and fun to use. One year I gave them as Christmas presents to all my girlfriends—so they make great gifts, too!

For more information, see:

• BODY: The many ways to exfoliate
• Do you have dry, itchy skin on your body? 
• Dry Hands? A simple solution for happy, hydrated hands