The Family Groove | TOUCHY SUBJECT | SEVEN WAYS TO SEXY WINTER SKIN

TOUCHY SUBJECT
LEADING SKIN SCIENCE EXPERT AND IN-DEMAND DERMATOLOGIST
DR. JEANNETTE GRAF’S SEVEN WAYS TO SEXY WINTER SKIN

Touchy Subject

Dull, dry, tight, itchy, scaly—words that sum up one thing: the current
state of your skin. So, are you just resigned to several rough months?
Of course not. If you want smooth, silky, sexy, glowing skin, all you
have to do is follow these 7 feel-good tips.

1. Keep showers short. Over-washing your skin, particularly with hot
water, will strip away your moisture-retaining lipid barrier quickly. The result is dry, dull, itchy skin. Think about the effect that rain has on your house over time—how it wears away the exterior paint and insulation. That’s why people with dry skin are always feeling chilly. Shower quickly and use lukewarm water.

2. Exfoliate the dead layers of skin. Exfoliating should be done gently with an effective exfoliator. There are so many to choose from—just take your pick. Microdermabrasion scrubs, exfoliating body washes and chemical peels are all effective options (as long as they’re used as directed) that will instantly make your skin feel soft and smooth.

3. Do not over-exfoliate. Overzealous scrubbing can result in irritation as well as disrupting the vital moisture-retaining lipid barrier. The result is dry, irritated, dull, itchy skin.
Touchy Subject 2

4. Choose a good body wash. The type of cleanser you use on your skin will influence the way your skin looks and feels. Using a bar of detergent alkaline deodorant soap will be extremely drying to your skin. Just as detergent can dissolve dirt and grease from your clothing, it can also dissolve and break down the moisture-retaining lipid layer of your skin. On the other hand, there are some excellent pH-balanced body washes that moisturize while they cleanse. Using a gentle puff in a circular motion to apply the wash will ensure soft, sexy, touchable skin.

5. Moisturize the right way. Here is the way to moisturize to get the softest, most touchable skin: Apply moisturizer within three minutes of stepping out of your shower to maximize the effects. My recommendation is to start with a humectant-containing moisturizer, such as one with lactic acid or urea. These are found in the skin’s NMF (natural moisturizing factor), which is our own humectant, made by our skin. This NMF, which draws moisture into our skin, is covered by a lipid layer, which prevents the moisture from evaporating.

6. Go for a satin finish. After applying a humectant-containing moisturizer, top it off with a rich lipid emollient (think: cocoa butter, shea butter, glycerin and the grand master, petrolatum). Doing this once a day is definitely a step in the smooth direction, but twice-a-day applications will give you the softest, sexiest, most supple skin you’ve ever touched. Bonus tip: If you’re in a hurry, use a dry oil satinizing body spray to cover your body quickly.

7. Stay silky. Keep a humidifier in your room to protect and serve your newly soft and dewy skin. Since air has a much lower relative humidity in winter than in other seasons, winter skin will naturally be drier. Keeping a humidifier in your room can make a big difference in the moisturization of your skin. Maximize the results of your smooth and hydrated skin by keeping a humidifier going whenever you’re home.

If you follow these simple tips, the winter dryness of your discontent will turn into soft, smooth, hydrated and touch-worthy skin in no time. Enjoy the results!

Dr. Jeannette Graf, MD, FAAD, is a leading skin science expert, board-certified, clinical and research dermatologist. A top industry expert, published author and National Institute of Health award winner, Dr. Graf combines minimally invasive office procedures with effective skincare products and nutrition and lifestyle counseling to elicit both an inner and outer beauty from each of her clients. To get your glow, go to www.askdrgraf.com.

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