Skin care is a necessity for the summer months. Find out how you should be caring for the skin that you are in!

I am to be healthier, flirtier, friendlier and downright irresistible; take up pole dancing and have abs of steel while I am at it. At least that is what my New Year resolutions list says. Every year I write them with an earnest heart and I tackle them with the eagerness and enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning, but somewhere along the line I fall off the wagon of good intentions, hard. In my defence though I can say I’ve always managed to stick to my vanity and actually followed through on skin care and never-drinking-wine-from-a-box resolutions. See, my vanity proves that I am not all that fickle.

Taking better care of my skin is my NY resolution evergreen, every year it’s there and relevant. My skin is for life until I kick the champagne bucket, so yeah, I’ve got’s to keep it fab & gorgeous until then. Skin is resilient yet so delicate, cold or hot it has us covered, literally. Scars, dark spots, stretch marks, calluses and discolouration happen to us all. If they do not affect your life, then I know a lot of women hating on you. Sadly, damaged skin does not grows back even in the best of fairy tales.

In my tireless effortsto keep up with the Kardashians, I seasonally (winter & summer) relook my beauty routines, cut lose the unnecessary products and stock up on the effective must-haves. The January is an opportunistic time to stocking up. Most beauty stores slash their prices even beyond the wallet popping 50% off mark, I go shopping mad without an ounce of guilt. So if you already have fabulous skin (or in the process of getting one) and you’re seeking effortless ways of keeping it so, then you’re at the right place. My beauty must have products might just have you more inspired on your path.

Embracing the skin:
Luxurious silk pillow covers are my No.1 obsession for 2013. Silk leaves no fabric marks, redness or wrinkles on that gorgeous facial skin come morning and the hair remains tangle free. A definite worthy investment and I see a second pair in my future.

• Facial cleansing wipes are those basic buys no woman should be without in my books. They keep a place of honour on my bedside stand and are life saver after a long night out. Good wipes need to be able to remove waterproof make-up, eye make-up and long-lasting lipstick whilst cleansing, toning and moisturising the skin. The beauty market offers so much variety; a girl has no excuse to go to lala-land with her party face on.
• BB creams are freaking amazing, think serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock in 1 convenient container. Brilliant invention, I tell ya. Get one or risk being left behind with the dinosaurs.
• Next up is the Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream skin protectant. This product has been a favourite of mine for 3 years and still counting. I love it to bits. I use it as a lip moisturiser, a lip gloss over my matte lipsticks, a soothing balm to my weather bitten cheeks and a hand cream in a pinch.
• For overall skin care, get some exfoliating body brushes to improve your skin’s overall blood circulation and appearance. Check out Pretty Please Charlie’s Guide to Dry Body Brushing blog on how to reveal your healthy glowing skin.
• Tissue oil is another must, must have for every woman, our bodies go through so much and these oils are right there to lend a helping hand. After bathing and before getting into bed, is the ideal time to heal and nourish your body. Go ahead, indulge. Sunscreen cream, lotions and/ or sticks are to be used religiously. Sun skin damage is no joke. Invest in body lotions with SPF of no less than 50, the African sun is not to be trifled with, protect your skin, obsessively.

Adoring the hands & feet:

• Appropriate hand gloves are a must when handling hair chemicals, house cleaning and garden chores. Invest in a pair, depending on your needs.
• Anti-bacterial hand wipes and/ or sanitizers have become a vital part of healthy living. Hands are everywhere without a conscious thought and are active in spreading bacteria. Remember that before you touch your face with the hands that just touched a door knob. Luckily grocery stores and pharmacies carry all kinds of hand cleansers to meet different needs and they are inexpensive.
• Use anti-aging hand moisturisers to protect and nurture your hands. Neglected hands will expose your age faster than the music you listen to.
• Foot files and/ or pumice stones are the most basic and cheap buys that are needed to have soft and callus free feet.
• Feet softening creams will maintain the filed feet softer for longer. Give them a try, they are very effective.

  

I hope this did indeed inspire you to keep up the good fight against dry skin, ashy hands and cracked heels. As our skin protects us, as our hands and feet enable us to climb mountains surely a little TLC in gratitude is no inconvenience at all.

Hope you will take your skin care as seriously as I am!

Article by: Ncomeka Mpofu http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/ncomeka-mpofu