Easy Breezy Lemon Squeezy
Living in California definitely has its advantages. The warm weather is one of them. Because of our warm climate many of us Cali girls tend to be sun worshipers. It’s not by choice. It’s almost an innate occurrence that we have little or no control over. It just happens. And no matter how much liquid armor we can slather on our outer layer to shield us from the rays of the Sun God, our skin still suffers. We can manage to dodge the blistering bullets of a sun burn but we cannot escape the aftermath of clogged pores as a result of all the chemical blocks we’ve used to protect our skin.
When your pores are clogged your skin can’t breathe. Yup. Our skin breathes. The process of agents being absorbed into our skin then our skin releasing toxins (sebum, sweat) is called micro-circulation. Our skin’s micro-circulation becomes inhibited from all the sunblock (& other agents) that we’ve rubbed onto our skin for months on end. So, our skin (which happens to be our largest organ) just needs a little help along the way.
Properly exfoliating will liberate your skin of pore hoarders without stripping it of essential nutrients it needs to maintain its youthful glow. Avoid using products that are too harsh and could possibly do more harm than good.
- Loofah – aka “Old Faithful”. Operative word here is “old”. Who doesn’t have an old loofah in their shower that should have been retired many a bath ago? Loofahs of all kinds are germ factories after just a couple uses. Ewwww.
- Apricot Scrub – This is a shout out to all the ladies of the 80′s. I admit, I was a lover of all things St. Ives. But we now know better than to use ground pits on our faces (right???) but did you know that your body would appreciate a less invasive scrub down as well? Save the rough stuff for your feet. The sharp edges of ground pits literally lacerate your skin, doing more damage and irritating your skin in the long run.
- Salt Scrub – Can you say “ouch!”?? Nothing like trying to get more out of your shave with freshly exfoliated legs. That is until you rub salt into your pores. The salts in most body scrubs are less therapeutic and more drying and irritating to your skin. To get the most out of a salt scrub, make sure not to use the large, course rock salts. Those do the most damage and the worst job of exfoliating your skin evenly. You’ll find more chunks of salt & blobs of oil on your shower floor than you will on your body. But you can still get a good, even and more gentle scrub if you use a fine ground salt. If you’re thick skinned then a quality salt scrub can work for you. But if you have sensitive skin, steer clear. And always avoid scrubs with mineral oil!
- Sugar Scrub – Aaahhhhh. Instant bliss. I love nothing more than a thick sugar scrub massaged from shoulder to toes. Well, maybe how I feel after I rinse it off. Paired with some wine and chocolate….. If you have sensitive skin (like I do) , then a sugar scrub is the way to go. You still need to use avoid the large, coarse turbinado types of sugar scrubs. Quality scrub makers will take the time to produce products with fine granules as they cling to your skin better for an even exfoliation. Look for scrubs that have good carrier oils like coconut oil, almond oil, shea butter, etc. Of course I recommend you try my Sugar Whip! Sugar Scrub but you can certainly make your own at home!
Now it’s time for the rub down. Your skin is now exfoliated, pores are clear and happy so oils will absorb more readily. That means that not only will your skin have a beautiful, even glow but your moisturizing product will go a long way. Quality salt & sugar scrubs are in a botanical oil base and these oils are beneficial for your skin. They will not clog your pores, rather promote skin health. You’ll use less moisturizer and your skin will look great! Also, sugar scrubs are a fabulous way to prep your skin for a self tanning treatment! Easy breezy lemon squeezy DIY spa-ing!
Happy Scrubbing!
~Christine
