Get your winter skin glow on. . . Part 2!

This is Part 2 of my very mini series on how to get drab winter skin looking a bit perkier and hydrated! . . . So mini in fact, that this is actually the second and last part :p Yesterday I wrote about what I add to my skincare regime (face wise) once a week to refresh and brighten it, and today I'm going to share a few tips about winter body care. Of course as ever, I'd love to know any tips you girls might have also :)

When I was about 14 someone told me about the merits of dry body brushing. "Pshh, yeah okaay" were my thoughts about that! . . . But older and a little wiser as my 22 year old self, I can say with complete confidence how this age old technique works wonders. It particularly works great in the winter because you are stimulating the skin and blood flow. With continual use it can help to combat cellulite and tackle dry skin. I try and do this once a day before showering for a few minutes by taking my Boots Botanic body brush (a cheap option) and sweeping it upwards starting from my feet in light brisk movements. The direction of skin brushing should apparently always be towards the heart to encourage lymphatic flow. For sensitive skin I would definitely recommend using a brush with soft bristles.

Whilst we all know the merits of exfoliating with body scrubs, it's actually something many of us stop using in winter. But this is actually a time when you should keep up with this habit more regularly, to  keep your skin soft and supple, and ready for when spring comes around. I recommend to do this 1-2 a week, depending on what your skin requires. A little tip is that sugar scrubs have proven to be much better for sensitive skin, as salt can sometimes be too abrasive. A recent favourite of mine is Champney's Exotic Retreat Body Glow scrub which smells absolutely amazing! I can understand why they added on the back, "This is not a food" :p.

After some good ol' brushing and scrubbing, there's nothing better for your skin than body butter. This is an essential for me in the winter months when skin needs an extra rich moisturiser. However, this may be too rich for oily skins; using body butter on just elbows, knees and any particularly dry areas may be enough. My current, and actually all time favourite, is Soap and Glory's Big Butter Blueberry Thrill! The scent is absolutely gorgeous, like a creamy fruit sorbet, and the texture is very unique. I'd say it has a 'whipped' texture that's light and absorbs easily into the skin, but at the same time is very moisturising. Unfortunately though this now seems to have disappeared from stores :(

If your skin really is suffering, this additional step should do the trick. Before applying moisturiser and body butter, use a good body oil. This will really help dry areas, but also help tackle other problems, such as scaly or damaged skin, as well as smoothing the skin and leaving it feeling silky. My all time favourite body oil is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil, which smells lovely and does a great job on all skin types.

Hope you've enjoyed this two-part post :)

How do you deal with your winter skin?