3 Tips for Glowing Spring Skin

 

Posted by Healthy Bitch Daily on Mar 13, 2013

Spring has nearly sprung, bitches.

You know what that means—time to dust off those sundresses hanging in the closet and prepare your white-ass legs for exposure to that big glowing globe in the sky.

I know you've been taking care of your skin all winter like a good girl, slathering on heavy creams to battle the wretched cold air. Even those in warmer climates should have been caring for their skin (lookin' at you, LA).

With winter, our routine changed. We've been eating heavier, drinking less water (probably half the amount we drink in the summer) and—admit it—skimping on the exercise a tad. That makes a huge difference on the inside and out, and now it's time to start prepping to shed your clothes again. Fuck.

Calm down sisters. Good skin prep and proper diet will have you and your skin fabulous in no time.
 
Get Scrubbing
 
Hopefully you've been exfoliating at least once a month during the winter. But if not, don’t fret; now is a good time to start. And no matter how often you do it, your skin will always thank you. Once a month, do a good, thorough, deep scrub with a sugar or salt scrub. And if you don’t want to spend money on a fancy-schmancy one, just make it at home. For a good scrub, I mix in sugar with my regular body wash. Do NOT use any kind of scrub that will damage your precious bod (see our article on that subject here). Synthetic scrubs have jagged angles and sharp edges that are terrible for skin—they will do nothing but scratch the shit out of you. Sugar or salt always has perfect edges and will exfoliate as opposed to scratching, and will eventually dissolve, leaving your skin clean, glowing and able to breathe and renew itself. Ahhhh...

To keep skin glowing the other 29 days of the month, use a lighter scrubbing method like a pouf, which will keep skin soft and radiant and is gentle enough for every day. The last thing you want is to look like an alligator, right?
 
 
You're Gonna Want to Touch Yourself
 
If you moisturize properly after all that scrubbing, you won’t be able to keep your hands off yourself. Seriously. After an awesome scrub, I use sesame oil while my skin is still wet. Then I let it mostly air dry to let my skin soak it all in—never moisturize when skin is dry—skin is the most prepared to soak in moisturizers while it is still damp. This includes face too. Then I pat dry any leftover moisture, and I apply a moisturizer. The oil is light enough that you won’t end up dripping with goo like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

If you're headed out after your shower, use a lighter moisturizer. But if you're in for the night, lay it on thick. Use a body butter. Trader Joe’s Coconut Body Butter is my favorite. It will be like an orgasm for your skin. Not kidding at all. Another great oil to use is unrefined coconut oil. It can get costly, but a little goes a long way, and it truly is the best thing you can use on your skin. If you are not a lazy bitch like me, you can make a great body butter at home.
 
 
Inside Out
 
Don’t forget that what happens to your skin largely depends on what you put into it. So put down the fucking chips and start guzzling some water. During the summer, most of us probably drink up to 4 liters of water per day (that’s up to 16 cups!). True, they say 8 is all you need, but "they" don't know shit. Double it. And don’t talk back to me while you're sucking down your stupid flavored latte. Nothing but good comes from drinking water. So put down that dehydrating coffee, stop drinking that chemical-ridden soda and drink water. The next best thing you can do for your skin is eat cleansing, antioxidant-rich foods. Blueberries, citrus—pretty much any fruit will do. They're not only packed with nutrients that are so important for your skin, but many of them, like watermelon and grapefruit, are hydrating. And getting started now will ensure that your skin is ready when it is time to take it all off. Here is a great list of hydrating foods. Eating these foods and drinking 3-4 liters of water will not only keep your skin in perfect shape and keep you looking younger, but those extra pounds will melt away too. It’s a win-win-win.

Image courtesy of Ambro/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Emily Harrison, Guest BloggerEmily Harrison holds a B.A. in English Literature from Roger Williams University, and is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Holistic Nutrition with the University of Natural Health. Originally from Rhode Island, Emily currently calls St. Louis home where she spends her time playing with her three rescue dogs and writing screenplays. She is, however, making her way to Austin, Texas where she will start her business as a holistic sports nutrition consultant, continue writing screenplays and of course, write for HBD.