Get Prepped For Summer

After months at the mercy of biting winds, dehydrating central heating and a cold-induced tendency to bury ourselves beneath layers of knitwear (and festive pyjamas), come summer, our skin appears dry, flaky and not entirely unlike we’re ready to slither straight out of it.

So lose your cocoon and buff skin back to its beautiful best with these tips, tricks and accomplices.

Dry body brushing not only loosens dead cells but encourages circulation near the skin's surface, which in turn boosts its processes of repair and renewal. It also stimulates lymphatic drainage to eliminate toxins and gradually help the appearance of cellulite.

Tip - always brush towards the heart (wrist to shoulder/toe to bottom) to get the blood pumping and make you feel energised. It's a brilliant way to start the day - just a few minutes every other morning pre-shower (focussing on any problem areas) will soon have your skin feeling baby soft and smooth. Use firm strokes but remember, this isn't a punishment...

Get a Body scrub with tiny grains or exfoliating beads suspended in a nutritive base, a good scrub will reinvigorate sluggish skin to leave it velvety soft and looking luminous. Simultaneously smoothing and conditioning, choose your weapon by your skin type (and your body clock).

Shed your insulation and reclaim exposé-worthy, fuzz-free limbs. Whether you're a fan of waxing, epilation or a die-hard razorette, liberate legs (and eliminate ouches) with hair-removal must-haves. 

Tip - if you're susceptible to unsightly ingrowers, exfoliating 'acid' pads can be swept over legs once you've finished your face, to help prevent those little lumps and bumps. AND, they're laced with super-subtle tanning agents to bestow a streak-free hint of 'sunkissed' colour.

Do it at your desk - choose a moisturiser with exfoliating properties such a Ameliorate's {Transforming Body Lotion}, which contains lactic acid to smooth and soften skin, whilst sweet almond and vitamin E combine to hydrate, repair and strengthen. The same principle can be applied to your face - use a night cream with an alpha-hydroxy acid (such as glycolic) to gently resurface your skin as your slumber. Try Alpha-H's {Beauty Sleep Power Peel} but remember AHAs gradually strip your skin of its oldest, uppermost layer, so ALWAYS wear an SPF on any areas that may be exposed to the sun - even when it's cloudy, the sun is still up there... somewhere.

Article Source - By Verity, Cult Beauty