Three Short Cuts To Softer Skin
Winter's over. On paper anyway. Before you know it (fingers crossed), shorts and t-shirt weather will be here. With that in mind, here are three easy and affordable ways to undo the damage done to your skin from hot baths or showers, dry heat and dehydration (You're definitely maybe NOT drinking enough water.) over the past few months.
1. Co-opt From Norma Kamali
Last year, I stumbled across a bunch of profiles about legendary designer and fashion icon Norma Kamali. (Kamali rose to superstardom during the 1970's and 80's for designing, among other things, the most stylish puffer coats the world had ever seen. I may have even owned a knock-off version at some point.) Long story short: Turns out she looks fantastic these days. I mean she is close to 70. And why? She swears it's the olive oil. After all, she uses it for everything - she baths with soap made from olive oil (from her own line of products) and takes a spoonful at night before bed to help keep her body and her skin balanced. Now, if your skin is feeling itchy and irritated right now, this is a fantastic way to help fix it. And forgive me Norma, but you don't necessarily need to buy her oil (but you can if you're so inclined!). I use the 100% Californian Unfiltered* from the Whole Foods' 365 line myself.
*In case you're wondering, I've been buying up this particular oil since I saw it included on a list of those that had been tested (however that's done) and verified as 'real' olive oil during the big brouhaha over real vs. fake oils a few years ago.
2. Juliette Can't Be Wrong...About This Anyway.
Juliette Lewis was profiled in last weeks NY Times' Style section (I know this because a friend posted it to my FB timeline.) and one of her biggest beauty secrets? Coconut oil. Nothing new there, right? I mean I'm already a fan, having used it for oil pulling (See the blog about that by clicking here.) and (on the advice of a friend) an upset stomach cure. There is, however, something very unappealing to me about scooping raw coconut oil out of a glass jar and using it to moisturize my skin. #NotGlam Enter this travel size of coconut oil in a spray from CapriClear. I was beyond thrilled when I spied it last week at my local CVS. It's the best way to get all the benefits of coconut oil without all the mess. Brilliant!
3. Coffee, Yes Coffee!
True confession: I always, always make time for coffee, but over the last few months, I've gotten pretty lazy about using my coffee based body scrubs. (One of my favorites is the Coffee Bean And Raw Sugar Body Scrub from RI's own Java Skin Care. For starters, it smells just like a phenomenally great cuppa coffee. If you're feeling ambitious, you can make your own scrub at home. Get a DIY recipe by clicking here.) Big mistake. After all, exfoliating is key to keeping your skin smooth, glow-y and irritation free. Let's just say I won't be doing that again.
*Speaking of coffee, I am kind of obsessed with this t-shirt I found on Pinterest the other night: