It’s nearing the end of our sunny holidays, (we still have until Wednesday, September 23rd until we actually meet the official last day of summer), and with so many hours spent enjoying the outdoors, skin can start to show signs of drying. Hot days in the sun, sunscreen use, warm wind and pool chlorine can all take their toll.
Here are five steps to take for a simple moisture revolution, to restore luster and radiance in time for fall.
1) Exfoliate
The first step to returning moisture to the skin is getting rid of the dry layers covering all the good, on top. An great, easy and economical way to do this is with regular sugar and cooking oil.
Combine:
1 part olive oil to one part sugar-brown or white,
(ie. ½ cup olive oil, ½ cup sugar) in a bowl.
Apply to face and any other areas you wish to exfoliate on the body.
Scrub and rinse!
2) Moisturize With a Natural Face Mask
Adding moisture to the skin can be done daily with a good quality moisturizer that contains added vitamins A, C and E that can help block the skin from environmental pollutants. For a deeper treatment, take a moment at the end of the day to first exfoliate and then apply a rejuvenating face mask.
A good mask can be made, again, from ingredients found in your kitchen.
Combine:
2 tablespoons of fresh mashed avocado
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of plain full-fat yogurt
1/2 a teaspoon of lemon juice
Refrigerate the mask for half an hour. When ready, smooth a thin layer over your face, avoiding the eye area. Close your eyes, lay back and relax for 10-20 minutes as nature does its work.
3) Exercise
Exercise is great for your skin. Aerobic activity and weight lifting both improve your circulation and blood flow, causing your body to sweat. Sweat is great for dry skin as it triggers the body to produce sebum, the skin’s natural moisturizer. Sweating also opens your pores to remove toxins, allowing for an overhaul of your body inside and out.
4) Reduce Stress
It may sound strange but emotional stress coming from work, family, friends, relationships and life events can also dry your skin out. Stress impairs lipid barrier function, causes inflammation and compromises the immune system, which can lead to dry skin conditions similar to those resulting from weather exposure.
Take some time each day to stretch, breath deeply, listen to favorite music or read a book. Your skin will thank you.
4) Moisturize at Night
After a hard day’s work- even if it was just sitting on the dock and counting the waves- it can do wonders over time to add in a nightly ritual of moisturizing.
For dry feet, moisturize and sleep with socks on.
For the face, try a quality store-bought moisturizer, or stir the juice of half a lemon with 1 cup of plain yogurt. Store in the refrigerator. Apply a thin layer of the natural mixture to your face each night, allowing it to seep into your skin for about 5 minutes. Rinse.
Keep at it and you should see the results of a soft, smooth complexion!
Photo credit: Tuzemka/Shutterstock
