Your skin is your body's largest organ but do you give it the same TLC as your face? Start with proper hydration, one of the simplest (and best) skin solutions.
Why so dry?
"In most cases, this dryness is in fact, dehydration," explains skin therapist, Cathy Gee. It's important to know the difference between dryness and actual skin dehydration. "Dryness is a lack of oil, dehydration is lack of water which results in a tight, uncomfortable skin," says Gee.
Dry spots
Faces, hands and necks are obvious areas that tend to get drier during the colder months. The areas that are less likely to be pampered take the worst beating such as the elbows, knees, buttocks, heels and back. Cold weather warmers such as snug clothes, long soaks in hot bath and heaters will lead to dehydrated skin.
A simple plan
Here are three simple things you can do now to help quench thirsty skin:
1. Daily exfoliation is best
"When dead skin cells are lifted off the top layer of the skin through exfoliation, new cells are formed in the underlying layers," explains Gee. These cells are filled with 80 percent moisture, hydrating and plumping the skin.
For your body, a body scrub is the easiest to use. Also invest in a buffing tool that can help to gently exfoliate as you cleanse. Once you've completed a gentle body scrub, apply your body lotion to damp skin (don't towel-dry completely after your bath) so the moisture absorbs easily.
2. Dose with olive oil
"Olive oil is a secret SOS weapon in skincare," says Gee. It's fantastic for most skin complaints, is multifunctional and works immediately. Here are her suggestions on how to use it:
- Add it to your bath during hot soaks, apply as a body moisturiser
- Add a few drops of rose or lemon essential oil for an enriching face oil for evenings
- Soak feet in warmed olive oil, rub in and leave overnight for soft feet
- Massage into cuticles, onto elbows, especially after a home scrub mix of salt or sugar and lemon.
3. Rethink your diet
The knee-jerk reaction to rehydrate skin is to gulp down loads of water, but Gee warns against thinking that eight glasses a day will solve your problem. "There's no clinical evidence to support that drinking copious amounts of water will keep skin hydrated," she says.
In fact, most professional athletes who have serious regimes of water and supplement intake still have dehydrated skin, Gee reports. So, while drinking enough H20 is vital to your overall health, look at what's potentially dehydrating you. "Alcohol, coffee and tea can dehydrate the skin, and diets that concentrate on low-fat foods have the ability to age skin quickly and increase dryness," says Gee.
She suggests that you focus on the right kinds of supplements, which over a period of time, will help with dry skin conditions. "Omegas, vitamin B, fish and oils such as avocado, olive and grapeseed are great additions to any diet and green leafy vegetables, lean proteins and low GI fruit will boost the health of the skin," she explains.
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