Prep for summer with these pre-exposure essentials
Woney: “Yes, why is it there are so many unmarried women in their thirties these days Bridget?”
Bridget: “Oh, I don’t know… I suppose it doesn’t help that underneath our clothes, our entire bodies are covered in scales.”
That said, Bridge may have a point (about scales, not marriage). We definitely witness her body-brushing her bottom like her life depends on it pre ‘Kafka’s Motorbike’ book launch, and it’s true that post-winter skin can oft be disturbingly reptilian… (including, but certainly not exclusive to, women in their thirties).
After months at the mercy of biting winds, dehydrating central heating and a cold-induced tendency to bury ourselves beneath layers of knitwear (and festive pyjamas), come summer, our skin appears dry, flaky and not entirely unlike we’re ready to slither straight out of it.
So lose your cocoon and buff skin back to its beautiful best with these tips, tricks and accomplices.
{Believe the hype} and invest in Mio's {Body Brush}. Dry body brushing not only loosens dead cells but encourages circulation near the skin's surface, which in turn boosts its processes of repair and renewal. It also stimulates lymphatic drainage to eliminate toxins and gradually help the appearance of cellulite.
{Tip!} always brush towards the heart (wrist to shoulder/toe to bottom) to get the blood pumping and make you feel energised. It's a brilliant way to start the day - just a few minutes every other morning pre-shower (focussing on any problem areas) will soon have your skin feeling baby soft and smooth. Use firm strokes but remember, this isn't a punishment...
If you need help to clear the night's cobwebs, Sol de Janeiro's {Brazilian Bod Buff Smoothing Scrub 'N Mask} is the skin-tingling equivalent of a holiday romance - or - if you struggle to unwind, envelop yourself in the soothing scent of REN's {Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish}, to banish post-work blues and carry you cloud-like into the land of nod.
And, if you're caught short before bikini season, Tria's brilliant {Hair Removal Laser Precision} acts a bit like weed killer for your lady garden... we'll leave it there.
{Tip!} if you're susceptible to unsightly ingrowers, exfoliating 'acid' pads - like Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare's {Alpha Beta Glow Pads} can be swept over legs once you've finished your face, to help prevent those little lumps and bumps. AND, they're laced with super-subtle tanning agents to bestow a streak-free hint of 'sunkissed' colour.
{Do it at your desk} choose a moisturiser with exfoliating properties such a Ameliorate's {Transforming Body Lotion}, which contains lactic acid to smooth and soften skin, whilst sweet almond and vitamin E combine to hydrate, repair and strengthen. The same principle can be applied to your face - use a night cream with an alpha-hydroxy acid (such as glycolic) to gently resurface your skin as your slumber. Try Alpha-H's {Beauty Sleep Power Peel}
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£21.00
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£235.00
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£24.50
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£14.50
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
