How to get softer skin for spring & summer

How to get softer skin for spring & summer.

How to get soft skin all over

You've done a good job protecting your face from winter's freezing winds and cold temperatures. But what about the rest of your skin, hiding beneath bulky sweaters and warm pants all winter? Now that temperatures are rising, and hemlines and sleeve lengths are getting shorter, your neglected skin is going to be revealed one day soon. We talked to two leading dermatologists for tips on how to get your skin ready for its warm weather debut.

1. Exfoliate

Los Angeles-based dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu says the first step to getting soft skin all over is to exfoliate. “When dead skin builds up, it gets dry, rough, and flaky,” Wu says. The dead skin cells accumulate over time and can leave your skin feeling rough and dry, but exfoliation removes dead skin cells, dirt, and oil, prepping your skin for smoothness.

According to Wu, “some parts of the body—like the face—may respond better to exfoliating products, while others may respond better to mechanical exfoliation,” like scrubbing. For the really hard-to-treat areas like heels and elbows, Wu suggests a good soak in warm water first (excellent excuse for a bath!), followed by a scrub with a rougher surface like a loofah, exfoliating shower gloves, or a pumice stone.

Pair a vitamin-based scrub with your loofah/shower gloves/pumice stone to smooth your skin and give it a healthy glow, suggests Dr. Macrene Alexiades, a New York dermatologist.

A word of caution, however: While exfoliating can be great for the look and feel of your skin, be careful. Even exfoliants made for sensitive skin can be harsh if overused, so make sure to exfoliate only once a week (or once every two weeks if you have sensitive skin).

2. Moisturize

After exfoliating, the next step to maintaining that soft skin you’ve just uncovered is to moisturize. By applying moisturizer to freshly scrubbed skin, you hydrate and lock in the moisture that prevents dryness. Exfoliating cleans your skin, but moisturizer maintains the smooth, soft feeling you’re striving for.

Be aware that not all moisturizer is created equally: it’s important to read labels before applying cream or lotion. The products you use on your rough heels and elbows should not be the same as the ones you use on face and neck. So if you’re using one moisturizer for your entire body, stop!

For sensitive areas like the face, neck and chest, Wu suggests sticking to lighter serums and lotions, especially if those areas tend to be oily. “Heavy, oil-based creams can aggravate acne,” she says.

Dr. Alexiades recommends keeping body products to the body: “[These products] tend to be harsher, contain toxic or irritating ingredients that are poorly tolerated on the face or neck.”

So while you shouldn’t be slathering extra-strength foot cream on your face, use your own judgment. You don’t have to use a separate moisturizer for every part of your body—some can pull double duty. For example, if your arms and legs are exceptionally dry, Dr. Wu suggests using heel and elbow creams there too because the formula is already suited to deal with dry skin.

3. Transition

Just as you transition your wardrobe from heavy knit sweaters to sleeveless cotton sundresses, your skin regimen should shift to accommodate the changing weather as well. Spring's daily fluctuations in temperature and humidity levels provide a challenge for maintaining soft skin, Dr. Alexiades says. However, if you transition your skincare regimen along with the seasons, you are off to a good start.

Dr. Wu suggests switching to lighter products in the warmer months as heavy creams can be uncomfortable and overbearing when it’s warm and humid outside. "Use a lighter lotion or serum instead of a cream,” she says, to keep your skin soft and smooth without becoming oily.

The same goes for body moisturizer and exfoliant: the less harsh the temperature is outside, the less harsh your smoothing and moisturizing products need to be inside.

4. Regimen

While it's possible to achieve soft skin all over, maintaining it is another story. The key to keeping your skin soft throughout spring and summer—and even through next fall and winter—is to find a routine and stick to it. Once you’ve perfected your exfoliation technique and the kind of moisturizer that works best for each part of your body, make the routine a habit. Consistency is key to all-over soft skin and straying for even as little as two days can result in dry, scaly skin, Dr. Alexiades says.

5. Products

When it comes to specific products, you may have to try a few out before you find the ones that work for your skin, but Dr. Wu and Dr. Alexiades offer these guidelines on what ingredients to look for when shopping for products.
For the face:

    * alphahydroxy acid: helps remove dead skin cells if you have flakes or dry patches
    * hyaluronic acid: helps hold moisture in the skin without making it greasy or oily

For the chest and back:

    *  glycerin: in body lotions, glycerin helps hydrate skin without clogging pores

For arms and legs:

    * lactic acid: helps remove dead skin cells and soften dry, rough patches on elbows and knees
    * urea: helps soften bumps on the back of arms and legs knows as "chick skin"

For heels and elbows:

    * lactic acid, glycolic acid, urea: help to safely melt away dead skin that exfoliating alone can't eliminate

In general, Dr. Alexiades says to look for products that are non-comedogenic, meaning they won’t clog pores.

6. Secret weapon

Though it may sound unusual, a pair of cotton socks can go a long way when trying to smooth out the rough skin on your feet. After cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing, Dr. Wu says simply putting on a pair of socks will seal that newly created moisture in overnight. If you’re really adventurous, you can even don a pair of socks on your hands as well, just make sure you don’t wear them out of the house!