Even though winter has come and gone, so many of us still deal with dry flaky skin throughout the warmer months as well (totally unfair!) And, not only is dry skin all year round a total pain, but it can become even more of an inconvenience when the weather gets warmer and we want to put our shorts on or wear our cute sundress to the beach.
Girl, we hear the frustration-so, if you’re the type of gal who seems to suffer from dry skin no matter what time of year it is, it’s time to take exfoliating seriously, and we’re going to tell you why.
Read on to learn how to exfoliate, and more importantly, how to exfoliate for smooth skin.
Why Bother Exfoliating?
First things first, and that’s to talk about why we should even bother exfoliating in the first place. It’s basically a secret weapon again getting rid of dry, rough, and flaky patches of the skin (yay!) This is exactly what you want when your skin still seems dry after the colder months, it may just need a little exfoliating boost to brush away those dry patches. By getting rid of those dry skin cells that tend to just sit at the top of your skin, you can let your new skin cells shine through.
The result? Smoother and more radiant looking skin (win!)
Another big benefit-you can actually make your skin care products work better. Huh? How the heck does this work? Think about the last time you used tanning lotion-was it a total disaster that lead to orange streaks on your legs and feet? Well, if you didn’t exfoliate beforehand, that could be why. Exfoliating can help make applying that much-needed initial tanning lotion application after a long sunless winter look just a little more natural.
Exfoliating before applying your moisturizer can also be beneficial as you are getting rid of the built-up dry skin debris and making room for the moisturizer to really get into the healthy skin cells and go to work.
So, basically, the bottom line here is that if you aren’t exfoliating, you should be. It may be exactly what your skin needs for that radiant and smooth-looking glow.
How to Exfoliate for Smooth Skin
Ok, so we know that exfoliating can help boost the appearance of our skin, and may even make our skincare products work better, but how do you exfoliate?
Here’s a quick guide on how to get started.
How to Exfoliate Your Body
To exfoliate your body, you will need a loofah, an exfoliating washcloth or mit, or a bath sponge. When you are in the shower, use your loofah, or whatever you are exfoliating with, and massage it in a circular motion over your skin with a natural exfoliating wash (read below for our top picks.) Rinse and moisturize when you get out of the shower for perfectly smooth skin!
How to Exfoliate Your Face
To exfoliate your face, start with a clean face and then using your facial scrub (see our fav options below,) rub it into your skin using a circular motion. Rinse and then pat dry with a soft towel. Moisturize with your fav facial moisturizer for radiant and smooth skin.
Ditch the Store-bought Products
In addition to a loofah, or bath sponge, you will also need some sort of product to help exfoliate your skin. You can either purchase a natural exfoliating wash or scrub, or you can make your own with just a handful of ingredients. Making your own means you avoid any unnecessary exposure to chemicals and harsh fragrance.
Here’s our favorite way to whip up a batch of exfoliating scrub.
DIY Exfoliating Scrub
What You Need
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
- 2 Tbsp. raw sugar
- 2 drops of pure-grade lavender essential oil (Young Living or DoTERRA are great picks)
How to Make
Add your ingredients to a glass jar and mix well.
Store in the fridge to prevent the coconut oil from melting.
Natural Store-Bought Exfoliating Scrubs
It really can’t get much easier to make your own exfoliating scrub (it also smells amazing) but, if you are into the idea of buying one from the store, here are our top store-bought natural options.
The Bottom Line
If you suffer from dry, rough, or flaky skin that no matter how much you moisturize still seems to give you issues even during the warmer months, it’s time to add exfoliating to the mix. By smoothing away rough and dry skin cells, you will be amazed at how much healthier and smooth your skin looks. So, go out and get yourself a loofah, and whip up a batch of some homemade scrub. We promise you’ll thank us later when your legs look amazingly radiant in that bikini or beach dress this summer.
