HOW TO KEEP SKIN HYDRATED DURING SUMMER

To maintain hydrated, smooth, and glowing skin on the body, I recommend the following:

Do not bathe or shower in very hot water.

When bathing or showering, make sure that the temperature of the water is not too high. Very warm or hot water can exacerbate a dry skin condition. Try to limit the amount of time in the bath or shower, too, in order to further prevent more drying (in addition to saving water with shorter showers!). Similarly, soaking in a jacuzzi may be a relaxing experience, but it can compound a dry skin condition.

Insider Tip: Chlorine and salt water can have a deleterious effect on the skin, so be certain to rinse and moisturize skin as soon as possible after exiting the pool or ocean! Sun exposure is one of the biggest culprits of dry skin, so try to avoid being out of doors when possible, especially during peak hours between 10 am – 2 pm, when rays are strongest.

Choose gentle, hydrating body cleansers.

Traditional soaps tend to be very drying to the skin and can leave behind a sticky residue. In general, body cleansers that foam or lather excessively tend to be more drying due to the surfactants used in the preparation. Opt instead for body cleansers formulated with gentle ingredients such as glycerin, aloe vera, herbal extracts, and nourishing oils to help moisturize the skin while removing dirt and debris. Please know, too, that while they may provide a pleasant experience while bathing or showering, body cleansers that are perfumed or artificially scented can cause or aggravate already dry skin.

Insider Tip: When travelling, I pack lightly and use our avocado oil enriched Luminous Cleansing Elixir on both my face and body. If a cleanser is gentle enough for one’s face, it is gentle enough for one’s body.

Select an oil-based body moisturizer.

When considering a body moisturizer, look for one that contains humectants, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid – a powerful triumvirate of high-performance ingredients!

Humectants such as glycerin attract water from the atmosphere and draw it to the skin, which is very useful in the fight against dryness. Ceramides are natural lipids that are a vital component of the skin’s surface – they act as an “adhesive” that binds cells together, helping to keep skin infused with moisture. Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, and, as such, it has the ability to create a beneficial hydration storage system for the skin.

Insider Tip: As with body cleansers, perfumed body moisturizers do not allow for optimal hydration. Further, avoid the fragranced body sprays on the market that purport to have a cooling benefit. This cooling sensation is most often the result of alcohol, which can create an unwanted dry skin condition.

Insider Tip: After applying facial moisturizer to the skin of the face, neck, and décolletage/upper chest area, smooth any excess moisturizer that one may have pumped out but doesn’t want to use on the face onto the thin and oft-challenged skin on the back of the hands. Our Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer is very effective as a spot treatment for dry areas on the face and may always be used on the body for this purpose as well!

Apply oil or moisturizer immediately after bathing.

After bathing, showering, or exfoliating, the pores are open and primed, and therefore in an optimal condition to absorb and seal in the surface layer of moisture.

Shortly after bathing and while the skin is still damp, apply a generous amount of oil or moisturizer to the skin, such as our Baume Ultime Body Oil. Made with the oil pressed from the luscious avocados grown using permaculture technology on our family ranch in Malibu, Baume Ultime will be absorbed into the skin for a more hydrated, youthful, glowing skin appearance. With key antioxidants and vitamins proven for their beneficial qualities to the skin, Baume Ultime is our answer to protective maintenance and to aid in the prevention of dry or chapped skin on the body. (Be careful not to slip on the oil in the bath, shower, or on the floor!)

Insider Tip: Due to its unique balm-like texture, please note that it may be necessary to wait 10 -15 minutes for our Baume Ultime to be absorbed by the skin before dressing. Should you be in a rush to dress, however, make sure to pat off thoroughly with a dry towel any excess product that has not yet been absorbed, so as not to stain clothing, particularly silk.

If you do not notice improvements in the condition of your skin with the routine above, please seek the counsel of your doctor or a dermatologist for further evaluation and medical recommendation.