A healing recipe for burnt bods

Dear Rissa,

I just came from the beach and my skin got really burnt! It feels sore all over and I’m as red as a lobster! I guess I enjoyed myself under the sun too much. How can I go through this as painlessly as possible? What products would you recommend to help heal my skin? Thanks a million! – Lobster Girl

Dear Lobster Girl,

Looks like this beach babe broke Rule Number 1: Never skip sunblock! You may be a bronze goddess after endless fun in the sun but you’re bronze AND BURNT, too! Never skip sun protection. What you’ve got is a bad case of sunburn.

You have to first cool down the burn to prevent it from further penetrating into the skin. Here’s a healing recipe you can easily try at home. Sponge the burnt areas repeatedly with either natural yogurt or a solution of milk and water. Or you can relax yourself in a chamomile-infused bath for at least 15 minutes. The burns will feel immediately less sore after the heat dissipates. Don’t apply creams to the skin until it is completely cool because they will hold in the heat.

When it’s cool, apply moisturizer preferably containing a healing substance like aloe vera, chamomile or honey. Get some after-sun relief and try Kiss My Face After Sun Aloe Soother from the Beauty Bar; it’s fragrance-free and contains 95 percent aloe. You can also try L’Occitane Reparative After Sun Balm (available at Rustan’s) with shea butter and sunflower – great moisturizers for dry skin. These products will help relieve and heal your skin and bring it back to normal.

And no matter how tempting, do resist the urge to peel your skin! Doing so will harm rather than heal.

Skin Smarts For The Working Girl

Dear Rissa,

I just started working in an office two months ago. It may sound weird but I feel my skin has gotten intensely dry because of the air-conditioning system at the office. Even if I repeatedly put lotion, my skin feels rough and looks unhealthy. Am I using the wrong body lotion? What should I do to improve my skin? Also, ever since I started working 9-to-5, I don’t really have time for manicures anymore. With all the typing and paperwork, my hands are so abused. Is there something I can do to make my hands look and feel nice even without a manicure? I appreciate your advice. – Lanie

Dear Lanie,

Our skin grows new cells and casts off the old. These dead cells tend to accumulate and the skin has trouble breathing. Dead cells also make the skin’s surface look dull and grey or even rough. Exfoliation is a mild form of peeling to remove these flaking cells, revealing the clearer, softer skin tissue beneath and boosting circulation. Skin creams and moisturizers can penetrate through the new layer faster and more effectively.

The simplest form of exfoliation is to rub the face or body with water and a coarse textured sponge. Body skin benefits from exfoliation once a month or more using a sponge, loofah, brush or commercial exfoliation product.

Since you hardly have time because of your work, here’s something you can do at night when you get home from work. I highly recommend using L’Oreal Exfotonic Skin Revealing Exfoliator from their new Body Expertise line (P465 for 200ml, available in department stores in key cities and provinces). It contains microbeads which smooth rough areas by physically eliminating dead skin cells. This magic potion also contains AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) which is known to encourage cell renewal. The result is skin that is 90 percent smoother and softer, is toned up and feels like new. More reasons to love this: The fresh and translu- cent gel tones up and revives the skin and the fresh blend of green tea and forest fruit fragrance makes exfoliation a moment of pleasure.

To intensely moisturize, try Origins Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream (available at Rustan’s). After exfoliating your skin, this quenches your skin’s thirst. After a bath or shower, massage generously over your clean, damp skin. Remember, this is a time when your skin absorbs moisture best. You’ll also feel that extra pampering as you inhale that delicious ginger scent! This is a staple in my bathroom.

Since your work robs you of extra time, pampering yourself at home with a product like this is the best way to reward yourself.

As for your hands, you’re so right – they are one of the most abused parts of our body together with our feet. To keep them pretty and polished, treat them with a moisturizer made for the hands. Crabtree & Evelyn’s Hand Therapy line is the best! I love using moisturizers for the face and body but I never thought of moisturizing my hands until I shook hands with Crabtree & Evelyn’s Hand Therapy cream. It makes the skin on my hands feel extremely smooth and moisturized. And over time, I saw improvement to my hands – younger-looking with less lines.

Another wonder product is Philosophy Save the Nails nail and cuticle cream (available at Beauty Bar). Having my cuticles cut whenever I have a manicure is a no-no for me. Using this product keeps them moisturized and very well-groomed. I just massage a small amount on my nails and cuticles each night before going to bed. It contains vitamins A, C, and E. It’s ideal for weak nails since it’s calcium fortified. Plus it acts as a supernatural gloss for your nails!

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For comments and questions, e-mail me at rissa_ms@hotmail.com.