Roundup: True Grit
Polished summer skin requires regular exfoliation.
By Anne Rasminsky
Photography by Carlo Mendoza
You lose between 30 and 40 thousand skin cells each minute while simultaneously regenerating about a million new ones. Sounds sci-fi, doesn’t it? But this process can slow down with age, making it crucial that you give it a boost by sloughing off the skin yourself.
“By taking off that first layer, you stimulate the cells beneath to form new collagen,” says Dr. Paul Cohen, a dermatologist at Toronto’s Rosedale Dermatology Centre. “Accelerating this process stimulates your own body to thicken the skin, making it look plumper and appear less wrinkled.” Seems a lot cheaper than a nip/tuck.
The other advantage to a good exfoliating session is that it allows products to penetrate better. “I think on areas like hands, feet and elbows, the skin is thick and goes through a lot of wear and tear,” says Cohen. “Mechanical exfoliators will give you quicker results in combination with a good moisturizing lotion.” That means softer skin and a smoother canvas for an even bronzing lotion application.
As for ingredients, anything grainy will get the job done. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be natural; it’s really about the texture,” adds Cohen. Tried-and-true standbys include raw sugar, sea salts and crushed nuts. But do take caution in the warmer months: “In the summer, you have to be careful with exfoliation because it can make you more sensitive to the sun. If you’re taking off some of the oils or the top [layer] of your skin, you have to be more conscious about sunburn.” Even more reason to be diligent with the sunblock.
Where to get it:
Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub ($38, at The Bay)
Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals Botanical Body Scrub ($30, at Crabtree & Evelyn)
Clé de Peau Smoothing Body Exfoliator ($90, delineation.ca)
L’Occitane Amande Delicious Paste ($44,
at L’Occitane)
Jaqua Maple Sugar Exfoliating Body Polish with Maple Extract ($26, beautymark.ca)
Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub ($44, at The Bay)
The Body Shop Grapeseed Body Scrub ($18, at The Body Shop)
The Healing Garden Organics Wild Honey Body Scrub ($12, at drugstores)
First published in FASHION Magazine June 2006
Comment on this article
Editor's note: This is a moderated forum, so your comments won't appear until approved by the moderator. Please help us foster a friendly environment by keeping your posts civil and on-point. We reserve the right to delete comments that include foul language, personal attacks on others, sales solicitations or any other inappropriate content. Posted comments reflect the opinions of the poster, not of Fashionmagazine.com. Read our privacy policy for more information.
Your comment