In my last post I spoke about the polishing effects of at home microdermabrasion kits. These kits can do wonders for your face, but the rest of your skin needs exfoliating too. Now, I would never suggest that you waste your hard earned money covering your body in microdermabrasion creams, although if you've recently won a lottery or find your have too much money, I say go for it, give it a try and let me know how it works for you, I'd be willing to bet you'd be the proud owner of some amazingly smooth skin. However, you can achieve a similar result for much less money by using body scrubs and specialized hand and feet sets.
Lets start with the body exfoliating scrubs. Coming into the summer months exfoliating your body is even more important than simply giving you smoother skin. Exfoliating will also help you to get a closer shave, giving you extra smooth legs, and if you use self tanners exfoliating before application is a must, otherwise you'll end up with a very uneven tan.
There are plenty of body washes that claim to include gentle exfoliating beads of some sort. I'm of the opinion that my dry, dead, flaky skin needs something a little stronger than a gentle coaxing to jump ship from my arms and legs. And so, I like to use the more intense exfoliating powers of the St. Ives Apricot scrub. You simply rub it on in cricular motions (no need to be too gentle here, you limbs are tough, they can take it) before hopping in the shower, and then rinse it off under the warm water. In less than five minutes, and under 10 dollars, you'll have amazingly smooth skin. Afterwards be sure to apply a moisturizer all over to maintain your smoothness. Repeat once or twice a week as needed.
As for your hands a feet, a slightly more specialized product may be in order. My two favs are the Mary Kay Satin Hands set, and the Crabtree & Evelyn 60-Second Fix Manicure Set for Hands. Both sets work similarly as with an exfoliating scrub and a soothing moisturizing cream. The Mary Kay one also comes with a bonus night time cream to help keep the smooth feeling longer. Both sets work amazingly well to scrub away dry brittle skin on your hands or feet, and the keep them smooth and supple for days. As with anything these sets aren't one time use miracles, they do need to be used on a regular basis, but they do work. They're extremely helpful with dry cracked hands in the winter, and with getting beautiful sandal ready feet in he summer. Although they aren't the cheapest cheapest products in the world, they are a fair bit cheaper than a regular mani/pedi appointment.
June 1, 2009
Microdermabrasion: Not Nearly as Scary as it Seems
For years I was terrified of those scary sounding nonsurgical but next best thing products. I always assumed that microdermabrasion kits were, well, insane. I like my skin attached to my face thank you very much, not scrubbed off by some futuristic sounding micro-things. Clearly I was a bit misinformed in addition to being overly immaginative.
A few years ago I was given a free sample of a L'Oreal at home microdermabrasion kit. This full sized free product was part of my spoils from the ever popular Women's Show, which I suggest every last one of you go to in your own city if at all possible, if there is not one in your home town, then I would suggest looking into traveling to get to one.
Anyway, this at home kit, aside from being free, is also, as it turns out, a miracle. Not only does it not scrub the skin from your face, it actually leaves your skin feeling smooth and polished, just like it says it will. Imagine that a product that actually does what it claims, incredible.
The L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift Micro-Dermabrasion kit includes a derm-abrasing cream with lots of micro scrubbies, and then a super duper moisturizor. You apply the scrubby cream in a lught circular motion. The key here is to make sure you use light pressurse. Press too hard and the scrub will irritate your skin, but a light pressure will gently exfoliate your skin. After you give your face a gentle scrub you rinse off the scrubbing cream and apply the moisturizor.
It works well and I think it's really worth the effort. Now, if you, like me, use a light scrub on a regular basis, you may not immediatly see the need for a more intense scrub. However, I find it really does make a difference. There's all sorts of facts and numbers about the rate of skin cell renewal and the slothing off of dead skin cells and so on, but it leaves my skin looking smooth and polished, much more so than when I don't use it, so for me, that's all I need to know.
In addition to the L'Oreal kit, there a several other at home kits available. I have also tried and liked the Mary Kay TimeWise Microdermabrasion set, which works similarly with a scrub and a moisturizor. If you decide to try out either of the sets, be sure to go gently, and use the system once or twice a week. I think you'll be really happy you took the chance.
A few years ago I was given a free sample of a L'Oreal at home microdermabrasion kit. This full sized free product was part of my spoils from the ever popular Women's Show, which I suggest every last one of you go to in your own city if at all possible, if there is not one in your home town, then I would suggest looking into traveling to get to one.
Anyway, this at home kit, aside from being free, is also, as it turns out, a miracle. Not only does it not scrub the skin from your face, it actually leaves your skin feeling smooth and polished, just like it says it will. Imagine that a product that actually does what it claims, incredible.
The L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift Micro-Dermabrasion kit includes a derm-abrasing cream with lots of micro scrubbies, and then a super duper moisturizor. You apply the scrubby cream in a lught circular motion. The key here is to make sure you use light pressurse. Press too hard and the scrub will irritate your skin, but a light pressure will gently exfoliate your skin. After you give your face a gentle scrub you rinse off the scrubbing cream and apply the moisturizor.
It works well and I think it's really worth the effort. Now, if you, like me, use a light scrub on a regular basis, you may not immediatly see the need for a more intense scrub. However, I find it really does make a difference. There's all sorts of facts and numbers about the rate of skin cell renewal and the slothing off of dead skin cells and so on, but it leaves my skin looking smooth and polished, much more so than when I don't use it, so for me, that's all I need to know.
In addition to the L'Oreal kit, there a several other at home kits available. I have also tried and liked the Mary Kay TimeWise Microdermabrasion set, which works similarly with a scrub and a moisturizor. If you decide to try out either of the sets, be sure to go gently, and use the system once or twice a week. I think you'll be really happy you took the chance.
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