Summer is that time of year when just about everyone is out enjoying the weather. Most of us are all about showing skin to get that tan going. But what most people don’t know is that in order to look good you’ll have to take some time to ready your skin and reverse the signs of neglect your skin gained during the colder months.
Shave the Right Way
During those cold winter months, what is the point of keeping your legs religiously shaved when you know your legs will never see the light of day? Find a good solid razor that won’t cause razor burn. When picking out a shaving cream, opt for shaving lotion as it’s much better for your skin due to the fact that it hydrates your skin cells. If you’re in a pinch use conditioner for a moisturizing shaving cream.
Exfoliate
It’s incredibly important to exfoliate your skin. The reason being is that your body sheds skin cells at an amazing rate every minute of every day. If you don’t get rid of them they just sit on your skin, making it look dull and dry. It doesn’t matter how much lotion you use, you’ll never have glowing skin if you don’t exfoliate. So take a body scrub and hit the shower, rub your exfoliator in circular movements on your entire body from the shoulders down, and rinse clean. Continue to do this 2-3 times a week for year round beautiful skin. Do this also for your face and neck. However, you will most likely want a facial exfoliator for that part of your body.
Hydrate
Find a lotion that you won’t forget to put on. You can store away the lotion you’ve been using for the harsh cold months and choose a lighter one. You won’t have time to wait for your lotion to sink into your skin. If you don’t know what will work fast, gels and purees are perfect fast absorbers. Always make sure that you apply the lotion right after you dry off from a shower so you seal in the moisture your body just soaked in.
Getting a safe summer glow
We now have so many choices when it comes to adding a summer tint to your skin. Tanning beds should not be one of them. Try using a sunless tanner. It will give your skin a nice start to the summer. If you alternate your facial moisturizer with one that builds a bit of color, you’ll create a healthy glow that will give the appearance that you’ve just come back from the beach. Most facial tanners build color gradually, but by alternating with your regular moisturizer, you’ll keep a lighter appearance and prevent yourself from getting too dark.
Get a new sunscreen
Throw away your old unused sunscreen from last year, it’s time for a new bottle. Sunscreens do not last forever, so be safe and pick up a new one, and use it. Not sure how much you should apply? Ideally, you should be using a shot-glass full for your body and about a full teaspoon just on your face. Make sure you reapply it every 1-2 hours that you’re in the sun.
