Say Goodbye to Dry "Alligator" Skin

It's that time of year again...

Soaking up the sun is wonderfully therapeutic for both the soul and our bodies, but UV exposure, wind and water can give us that dreaded "alligator skin", especially on your legs.
 
The good news is that, with a little attention and a few minutes, you can get those legs (and the rest of your body) beautifully smooth again.
 
I've designed dozens of body treatments for spas over the last couple decades and have distilled my favorite skin smoothing treatments into a quick, easy at-home spa routine for you to revitalize even the roughest, driest skin. I thought I'd write an article on it for you, detailing the steps that I use to keep my own skin looking great all summer long.

HERE'S HOW TO DO IT:

The Key (and this is vital) is Double Exfoliation

Dead skin builds up faster as we age and with exposure to sun and wind. It takes a little work to remove it. Dead skin is a barrier that prevents the absorption of lotions, creams and oils, so if you keep moisturizing but don't really see much benefit, that's why- your products are just sitting on top of all that dead skin. I've found that scrubbing with a dry brush or sugar scrub does a lot of good, but still leaves some dead skin in place, thus, the double exfoliation.

How To Double Exfoliate

*Do this about once a week.*

1. Scrub

Use a dry brush or a salt or sugar scrub. I recommend starting at the toes and fingertips and working your way toward the heart so you get the benefit of moving lymph and stimulating circulation at the same time. Be more aggressive on thicker skin (think feet, knees, elbows, tops of the thighs) and more gentle with your more tender spots. My rule of thumb is - if it hurts, you're scrubbing too hard or too often. I switch back and forth between dry brushing and using our Detox Lemon Drop Sugar Scrub.

2. Immediately after scrubbing, use a chemical exfoliant

AHA's (alpha hydroxy acids) dissolve both your dead skin and the "glue" that holds it on. I've found that, after scrubbing away at the top layer of dead skin, an acid mask or cream does a great job of getting the last little bits off. Spas use our Coconut Lactic Peel - it's easy to brush or spread on with your fingertips. Leave it on 10-15 minutes and then remove with a scrubby washcloth. Now your skin is ready for some deep moisturization!

3. Massage in some moisture.

Without all that dead skin, you'll be a little more prone to moisture loss, so don't wait more than a few minutes to moisturize and when you do, use the richest butter or cream you have on hand. Our most intensive treatment (and the one I use when I want my skin to absolutely glow) is our Deep Tissue Massage Butter. Other creams we love are the Youth in Bloom Amber & Myrrh Firming Body Cream (my daily go-to), and the Blue Sapphire Illuminating Body Oil. I've listed all my favorite products below.

And that's it! It's not rocket science, but I guarantee that with a double exfoliation followed by spending a few minutes really massaging in a rich moisturizer, your skin will be mush smoother and will definitely look younger again. *Be sure to wear sunscreen every day, my friends. That's the number one key to aging beautifully!

PRODUCTS I RECOMMEND FOR SMOOTHER BODY SKIN:

STEP 1: SCRUB

Detox Lemon Drop Sugar Scrub

STEP 2: APPLY AN AHA (CHEMICAL) EXFOLIANT

Coconut Lactic Peel

STEP 3: MASSAGE IN MOISTURE

Deep Tissue Massage Butter

Youth in Bloom Amber & Myrrh Firming Body Cream

Blue Sapphire Illuminating Body Oil

Chamomile Dream Ultrarich Body Cream