Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, no matter the season…I’m scrubbing. The skin below my neck is not very smooth, so, I exfoliate at least twice per week to keep things in check…and sometimes it takes me more time to moisturize my body than it does to put on makeup. I know this is not the case for everyone. For a lot of people winter means razors get put away and body care goes on hibernation. While this is easy and convenient, it means that come spring and summer, you may have to go into overdrive to revive lackluster skin just to get ready to bare it all (Okay, not all…just most). The key to even toned skin this spring and beyond is to Exfoliate/Shave, Firm/Tone and Moisturize/Protect.
Exfoliate/Shave
I’ve never met a body scrub I didn’t like but some of my favorites go beyond just physical exfoliation and also deliver other skin loving benefits.
Clairvoyant Beauty Blue Green Algae Body Polish
Is a mix of sea salt, a host of nourishing butters and oils and blue green algae. It leaves skin smooth and very well moisturized. I like to use this after a quick shower or long soak in the tub. $43
Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Buffing Beads
This incorporates jojoba beads as an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and prepare skin to better receive the active ingredients: glycolic acid, salicylic acid and botanical brighteners. With continued use this product refines fine lines and improves skin’s texture. Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Buffing Beads is formulated for face and body so you can go crazy with it in the shower from head to toe. $36
H2O Plus Oasis Body Scrub
This is an oil free moisture rich body scrub formulated with marine crystals and black rice to gently exfoliate skin. It uses bioactive seawater, essential minerals, enzymes and antioxidants to replenish moisture levels in skin. $25
Venus plus Olay Razor
There are a couple of ways to temporarily rid legs of hair and I always choose a razor…the thought of waxing actually makes me very sad. While I loathe the idea of getting a wax I still want super smooth legs that will last a few days. The answer to this is Venus plus Olay razors. Each reusable cartridge has five blades surrounded by an Olay moisturizing bar that adds moisture to skin as it delivers a super smooth shave.
Firm/Tone
Nothing beats a proper diet and exercise to tone and firm skin. However, there are several products available that gives you an opportunity to fake it until you make it.
Jergens Natural Glow + FIRMING Daily Moisturizer
Jergens Natural Glow + FIRMING Daily Moisturizer gradually creates a natural subtle skin tanning in as little as seven days. This moisturizer uses an odor free tanning complex so that fake tan smell is completely eliminated. Skin will also appear more firm and even. I have very dark skin and saw an improvement in my skin after about 10 days. It is available in fair to medium to tan to dark. $8.79
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pads
If you know my skintone you are probably wondering why I need tanning products….but hear me out. A nice even complexion is less likely to show cellulite and other body imperfections (of which I have many,) so a quick application of these pads on freshly shaved legs significantly improves the look of my legs. The pads deliver “streak free color deep into skin to prevent fading through surface exfoliation. Alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids penetrate the skin to exfoliate, tighten pores, eliminate blackheads, and help fade existing sunspots for an even, streak-free glow.” $45
Moisturize/Protect
Finding the right body moisturizer is sometimes as difficult as find the right face moisturizer but I like the challenge. These days my body moisturizer has to do more than keep a ashiness at bay. I want something that will nourish, firm and/or even out my skin tone. There are even some days when I want something to help me get to sleep. Is all that too much to ask from a body care products? No…I don’t think so.
Eucerin Lotion with SPF 15
This is a light-weight lotion the quickly absorbs into the skin. It is fragrance free and provides broad spectrum SPF 15 protection. This is perfect for everyday use and pretty much good for the whole family. (Make that all the humans in the family.) $11.99
Aveda Stress Fix Body Créme
I wasn’t lying when I said I like a good multipurpose product….in addition to using sea algae, organic shea butter and sunflower oil to provide hydration for up to 24 hours, this body creme uses a unique blend of ingredients to provide a calming aroma that has been proven to reduce stress. After a long warm evening bath or shower, slather this on yourself from the neck down and you will sleep like a log. Bonus: you’ll wake up with moisturized skin and ready to take on the day. $50.00
Do you have great skin below the neck? Please share your secrets!
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