BODY BEAUTIFUL
CHIARA FERRAGNI Rehydrate skin, seal in moisture and improve circulation this winter
Winter doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with baring your skin, so it is understandable if sometimes we let the post-shower skincare slide. When all you want to do is rug up, hide under sweats (they’re stylish now, right?) and sit in front of an open fire, is it really necessary to maintain a skincare routine for your body?
According to pharmacist Pascale Gal, founder of French skincare brand les huilettes, there are no off-months if you want to keep your skin in peak condition. We asked Gal how to stay motivated through the cold months ahead.
What are your top tips to keep the skin on our bodies in top shape through winter? Take care of it all year round – not just through the winter. I recommend a 360-degree approach: apply targeted treatments specific to your skin’s needs (during the winter months, focus on combating dryness because the skin is damaged by the cold), prioritise a healthy diet that’s adapted to the season, and regular physical exercise.
What key steps should we be adding to our shower routines?
Dry body brushing in the morning before
showering. It’s important to use sweeping, upward movements towards the heart to activate the lymph and micro-circulation. This will leave your skin smooth and tingling, and it only takes two minutes every two days to feel the benefits.
Weekly exfoliation is also key. Try using a salt or sugar-based scrub on dry skin for a beautiful, detoxifying and toning ritual. Cleared of dead cells, the skin will be ready to receive all the active ingredients from your favourite body oil or rich cream, increasing its effectiveness and results.
Another piece of advice is to finish your shower with a cold tonic water jet Scottish shower – this is a shower that finishes with at least 60 seconds of standing under cold water.
What is the best way to boost circulation in the skin?
The best way to activate lymphatic and blood circulation is daily physical exercise. Try varying it according your mood or preference (aqua bike, surfing, jogging, walking, yoga). There are no rules!
The yoga posture ‘the candle’ is ideal to relieve the legs (hold the posture five to 10 minutes), and the best would be walking in the sea for a guaranteed thalassotherapy effect!
Think of coupling exercise and care rituals with food supplements to boost circulation.
What are the best ingredients to help minimise the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite? Is there such a thing?
You need to maintain your skin’s elasticity to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. To do this, look to nourish the skin on a daily basis with vegetable oils rich in omega 9 such as avocado oil. These oils boosts collagen production and work to prevent the breakage of the skin’s elastic fibres.
To reduce cellulite, regular massage
(or self-massage) is ideal to activate circulation. Use stimulating and draining EO-enriched oils such as pistachio mastic, grapefruit or cypress.
What are your essential ingredients for the body?
Move, exfoliate and deeply nourish the skin to maintain suppleness and radiance on a daily basis. Omega-rich oils are a beautiful ingredient for skin health.
Oils verse creams? Is it a matter of preference or is one better suited to the skin on the body?
Technically, (vegetable) oils deeply nourish and prevent dehydration. With daily application, sagging skin and the appearance of stretch marks can be prevented in the long term.
It is up to each person to find the right oil (more or less dry) according to their skin type (normal/dry/very dry).
Creams are said to be moisturising because they are mostly made of water. They bring comfort to the application.
Cream or oil, it is a question of preference, of the state of the skin.
Any expert tips on locking in moisture?
I always recommend applying your body cream or oil to damp skin after showering to make it easier to apply and massage in.