ts
Smooth Over
After months of hiding behind sweaters, pants and leggings, spring has sprung and it's time to peel off the layers. Oh, wait, right: There's dry, moisture-drained skin to contend with first—thanks, winter. Don't fret. We've got some expert tips that will have you flaunting smooth skin from head to toe before you can say "summer ready." Bring on the short shorts!
Don't Like It Hot
As much as you might enjoy a hot shower—especially during winter months—smooth skin doesn't. "Hot water will remove natural skin oils and cause the vessels in your skin to dilate, leaving it dry and pink," says Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills and a clinical instructor at the University of Southern California. Instead, get in the habit of taking lukewarm showers to help your skin stay more supple.
The Moisturizing Trio
Another shower-related tip: Make sure the ingredients in whatever soap you're using are doing more than just cleaning. To get smoother skin, you'll also want ingredients that will help seal in the moisture from the water, says Dr. Shainhouse. A few key ones to be using daily are coconut oil, Shea butter or almond oil.
Easy Does It
While it may sound more appealing to give your skin a deep-clean scrub as opposed to a light wash (especially when acne or clogged pores are involved), harsh cleaning will only irritate your skin and minimize smoothness, says Dr. Shainhouse. Yes, you want to make sure that you have completely removed your makeup and the rest of the oxidizing and pore-clogging dirt from your day, but do it gently," she says. "Avoid harsh scrubs and drying soaps which can cause skin irritation, tiny tears and leave your skin tight, red and flaky."
Serum Smartly
After washing your face, apply a serum to give your skin some concentrated nutrients, suggests Dr. Shainhouse. "Look for products with vitamin C, vitamin B and resveratrol that have strong antioxidant effects," she says. "Also, serums in a dimethicone base will smooth the appearance of the skin and help create a 'poreless' base for your foundation," she says. Her top serum picks include Skinceuticals Phloretin CF or CE Ferulic.
Wrinkle Reversal
Retinoids are another key term when seeking out skin-smoothing solutions. "These vitamin A derivatives are scientifically shown to stimulate collagen growth and normalize skin cell turnover," explains Dr. Shainhouse. She recommends Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair and advises applying it a few nights a week.
Acid Activation
While smoother skin may not happen overnight, a fruit acid lotion containing alpha hydroxyacids will help it get there faster. "Alpha hydroxyacids can act as mild exfoliants that facilitate cell turnover, leaving it shiny and glowing," explains Dr. Shainhouse. Results are most effective when it's applied daily, so make sure it's gentle on your skin and seek out ingredients like glycolic acid and lactic acid.
Spring Exfoliation
Particularly when transitioning from winter to spring, using an exfoliating scrub will help slough away the dry, flaky skin and give way to new smoother skin. For the face, Dr. Shainhouse recommends looking for enzyme-based exfoliating masks that contain ingredients like pumpkin, papaya or pineapple. For full body exfoliation, she suggests looking for lotions with ammonium lactate to help smooth the skin. And, like your face wash, Dr. Shainhouse cautions against using exfoliating products that are too harsh. "Be careful using scrubs that contain rough granules, which can cause tiny tears in the skin," she says. "Limit them to once a week and focus on tougher skin areas of the body like your elbows, knees and feet."
A Smoother Shave
As the weather starts to heat up, those bare legs get shown a lot more often, which means shaving becomes an almost daily activity (or at least it feels that way). And it requires some due diligence to ensure your skin remains free of razor burn, bumps or ingrown hairs. Dr. Shainhouse advises saving your shave after you've been in the shower for five minutes, which will ensure your skin is soft and reduce the likelihood of tugging or irritating the hair follicles. Dr. Shainhouse also stresses the importance of using a thin layer of shaving cream or even hair conditioner and a multi-blade razor and then shaving in one clean swoop in the direction of hair growth. "If you do develop any ingrown hairs, don't pick!" she says. "Instead, apply a salicylic acid gel like Tend Skin to help peel the overlying skin so that the hair can pop out."
Miscellaneous Acne
The good news is that as humidity begins to rise in the spring, your skin will naturally become less dry. The bad news is that it may get greasier, especially as your activity level outdoors increases. And greasy skin can lead to acne in places other than your face, such as on your chest or back. To prevent this, Dr. Shainhouse advises switching to "lighter" skin care products in the spring. "Look for oil-free face lotions and serums with hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated enough to reduce excess oil production,"she says. "Also, try body washes with 1 to 2 percent salicylic acid to prevent acne on the chest and back."
