Dry Skin Workshop (Day 2): 3 Steps. 5 Ingredients. Soft, Silky Skin.

OK, now that we've covered some of the basics yesterday for preventing and treating dry skin, it's time to get down to business! Today we will be doing a full body scrub treatment to tackle itchy, dry skin all over.

When it comes to skin on the body (when I say "body" I mean everything other than your face - not that your face isn't part of your body, but, well, anyway, for purposes of this treatment, I just mean everything below your neck) there is a simple 3-step formula that I use for getting soft:

EXFOLIATE + HYDRATE + PROTECT = SOFT

By exfoliating, then layering hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, you will transform skin to a silky butterfly wing!

A soft, silky visitor to last summer's garden.

You can follow this formula using different techniques and ingredients. For today this is what we will be using:

1. EXFOLIATE:

• A soft to medium bristled body brush (you could also use a loofah or exfoliating hand mitts, which you can usually find at your local drug store)
• 1/2 cup sugar (white or brown - I used brown because I discovered I ran out of regular! LOL!)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil

2. HYDRATE:

• 2  teaspoons vegetable glycerin
• 1 teaspoon aloe juice or gel

3. PROTECT:

• Your favorite packaged body butter (or a single butter, such as shea, cocoa, avocado or mango)

Personally, I like to do body scrubs at the end of the day, so I have time to relax, but you can rock this simple treatment even on a busy morning in just a few minutes! It's so easy and just three simple steps!

Treat yourself to this scrub once a week, in addition to also applying body butter or lotion daily, for maximum results.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have acne on the body, abrasions or open wounds, rashes, chronic skin conditions, sunburn or any other skin irritation  please avoid this treatment as it can irritate these conditions.

5-Ingredient Body Scrub Treatment

1. EXFOLIATE

• Use your body brush (or loofah or exfoliating mitts) to gently exfoliate your skin WHILE IT IS DRY, moving with long, GENTLE strokes along the body toward the direction of the heart. This technique is called "dry brushing" and it has a myriad of benefits (helps minimize cellulite, detoxes body, etc.), but for this treatment we are looking simply for initial exfoliation of dry, flaky surface skin. Be gentle and loving on sensitive areas, such as tummy and breasts. For a nice visual, here is a lovely video from the folks at Bliss Spa showing a dry brushing treatment...

• Mix your coconut oil and sugar to make a scrub paste (you can add more or less of either ingredient to make the paste to your liking). While standing on a towel (you will make a mess, which is part of the fun!), apply the scrub in gentle circular motions all over your entire dry body. Give extra attention to hands and feet, as these tend to be the driest areas on the body. Be sure to save a tiny bit of the scrub, because you will need it for tomorrow. 
• Rinse the scrub off in a warm (not hot) shower, taking care as the bottom of the shower might be slippery from the coconut oil.
• Pat skin dry with a towel.

2. HYDRATE

Your skin should already feel softer from the coconut oil and this next step helps to "seal the deal"!

• Mix the vegetable glycerin and aloe juice (or gel) in a small bowl and, while skin is still damp, apply it to your body as you would a lotion. You can also apply using a spray bottle, but that is just an extra step and I'm too lazy. :)

3. PROTECT

This final step gives the extra layer of love your skin needs and helps prevent losing the moisture that you've already locked in.

• Apply your body butter from neck to toe. Lie back and feel your softness!

If that weren't luxurious enough, here are a few things you can do to enhance this treatment...

Luxurious Additions

There is no bad day that heated booties can't make better...

• Add 1-2 drops of your favorite essential oil to each step for a little aromatherapy action.
• Use a pumice stone or pedi-wand along with the scrub to give the bottoms of feet additional exfoliation.
• When applying body butter, slather a little extra on to hands and feet, slip them into cotton gloves/socks, then into heated hand mitts and heated foot booties. 
• Kick back afterward and enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine.
• Have a partner perform this body scrub on you, then you can return the favor!

Ahhh. Feelin' softer? I know I am!

Wow! We are halfway through the workshop! Do you have any questions???

Tomorrow we will get a little lippy (hint, hint!)! See ya then!