Get Soft Skin?

[center_stage]

Just curious as to what everyone else does to get soft skin. I exfoliate every night and use Target Skin Firming Moisturizer, and alternate with baby oil, but my skin is still dry and rough. Any suggestions? Can anyone suggest a baby oil, or some type of baby oil that doesn't have any scent?

 

[yoshimitsu]

Just curious as to what everyone else does to get soft skin. I exfoliate every night and use Target Skin Firming Moisturizer, and alternate with baby oil, but my skin is still dry and rough. Any suggestions? Can anyone suggest a baby oil, or some time of baby oil that doesn't have any scent?

Baby oil is mineral oil with added scent. You can find regular old mineral oil in most supermarkets and drug stores.
What type of soap do you use? Maybe that's the culprit.
I don't use moisturizers but I have found different soaps have a big effect on my skin.

 

[wicked woman]

Baby oil is mineral oil with added scent. You can find regular old mineral oil in most supermarkets and drug stores.
What type of soap do you use? Maybe that's the culprit.
I don't use moisturizers but I have found different soaps have a big effect on my skin.

Carrying along this line...instead of soap try something like Dove Body Wash.

 

[JustSkye]

Do you drink lots of water? That helps tremendously.

Also, it's best to moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower and skin is still damp to lock moisture in, not after drying off and letting the surface of your skin dry off.

Also, if after doing this, do you see tiny bumps anywhere on your skin at all? If you do, even after scrubbing, it could be what it called keratosis pilaris. Too much protein in the surface of the skin. exfoliating every day with a good moisturizer is best and sun helps as well.

 

[Ksb]

I chuck baby oil in the bath - Coats the whole body really well, and soaking in it seems to enhance it's effects. Make sure you wash your hair well though, if you get any on it. The greasy look isn't nice.

Pure vitamin E oil also works wonders for me - though I tend to just use it on patches of dry skin.

 

[Mirandy]

Just curious as to what everyone else does to get soft skin. I exfoliate every night and use Target Skin Firming Moisturizer, and alternate with baby oil, but my skin is still dry and rough. Any suggestions? Can anyone suggest a baby oil, or some time of baby oil that doesn't have any scent?

You can purchase plain mineral oil from drug stores.
Exfoliating is good, but could you be overdoing it?
Your choice of soap is also important. Oil of Olay bars are good and so is their body wash, but one of my favorites is St. Ives Collagen body wash. None of those choices are expensive.
As for lotion, I like cocoa butter. You can purchase it in stick form, which is really nice, plus the smell reminds me of cookies. To keep feet and hands soft, I prefer the old remedy of slathering on vaseline then wrapping in plastic wrap and covering with socks or gloves once or twice a week.
Also, it's very important that you not use water that's too hot .... which is one of my problems. I love hot baths during these cold winter months!

 

[titmouse]

On exfoliating ...

It was something I used to do too on a daily basis. I moved and when I went to a different beauty shop the visagist lady told me how horribly rough and hard the skin of my cheeks felt. It didn't bother me much to be honest but after some questioning we decided to cut down on the exfoliation procedure, because there was no better explanation. Now I am only doing it about once a week. The improvement was noticable even to me after about 2 months. Now I have very soft and kissable cheeks.

 

[M's girl]

As far as I know water (not drinking it, but taking showers etc) does make your skin dry. And soapbars too. If your skin is that dry after trying all sorts of milks and oils it could do you good to see a dermatologist to determine what skintype you have and how to adjust your food/drinking and skincare accoring to your skintype.

 

[Ness73]

Exfoliating too often sounds like your problem - most scrubs will say on the pack to use only once or twice a week.
I use soap on my face in the shower, have done it all my life and I have often been asked what I use (especially at makeup parties by women trying to sell me a $$$ product!) and usually Nivea afterwards. If I wear makeup I use Neutrgena Deep Clean.
And, like VermilionSkye said, water helps a lot too.

 

[sereneone4u]

Drink water, water, water! As I have gotten older I have found I have problems with dryness. I use Caress Cashmere Luxury silkening body wash White Orchid Milk & Warm Vanilla Essence and Caress Glowing Touch in shower lotion iwth Shea Cream and Gentle skin brighteners. I also use body butter after my shower.

 

[yoshimitsu]

As far as I know water (not drinking it, but taking showers etc) does make your skin dry. And soapbars too. If your skin is that dry after trying all sorts of milks and oils it could do you good to see a dermatologist to determine what skintype you have and how to adjust your food/drinking and skincare accoring to your skintype.

This also reminded me shower filters can help as well. Chlorine and other additives in the water can have a bad effect on your skin.

 

[center_stage]

Thanks for all the replies.

I drink about a gallon of water a day due to health reasons. I am working on increasing it, but getting a gallon a day down is hard, so I'm terrified to think of what more would do to me.

I usually buy generic soap, like the Rite-Aid Pharmacy brand of Dove soap.

As far as exfoliating, I use an exfoliating cloth that I got from The Body Shop, and the instructions that came with it said to use it every day.

Vermillionskye, I do have keratosis. It's gotten a lot better thought because of the exfoliating.

I'm still looking for a good dermatologist, the last one I went to prescribed me Accutane for my not that severe acne, and that really screwed me up, so I left that office. If anyone knows of a good dermatologist in the Philadelphia area, PM me please!

 

[Chicklet]

I usually buy generic soap, like the Rite-Aid Pharmacy brand of Dove soap.

splurge and buy good soap.

those generic ones are not especially fantastic for your skin.

i'd say to buy the actual dove products, because they're fantastic. i had to switch when i found out that my dry itchy skin was caused by the soap i was using.

dove has great body washes.

 

[Arafura]

Coconut oil. Available in mid-to-high end grocery chains...

And don't just put it on your skin - eat it too. Studies have shown that people with dry skin often are not getting enough fat in their diet. Fat really helps your skin cells retain water.

I found since upping the fat % in my diet, my skin has been glowing.

 

[darling05]

I find patting yourself dry with a towel after a shower is better than rubbing your skin. Also, Kiehl's Creme de Corps is amazing for baby-soft skin...

 

[glynndah]

Try products made for babies, body washes, soap, lotions, etc. If you're not very active physically and aren't sweating, skip washing all over every day and just wash the necessary areas. If that bugs you, use lotion or conditioner instead of body wash.

 

[center_stage]

splurge and buy good soap.

those generic ones are not especially fantastic for your skin.

i'd say to buy the actual dove products, because they're fantastic. i had to switch when i found out that my dry itchy skin was caused by the soap i was using.

dove has great body washes.

I'm probably going to buy the Dove body wash. I read some great review about it. I still like using the bar soap to shave my legs with though, that skin is always soft and smooth, yet I don't do anything differently to that part of the body (except shave).

 

[skizbees]

Just curious as to what everyone else does to get soft skin. I exfoliate every night and use Target Skin Firming Moisturizer, and alternate with baby oil, but my skin is still dry and rough. Any suggestions? Can anyone suggest a baby oil, or some time of baby oil that doesn't have any scent?

Try a mixture of honey and avocado. Mix until smooth and apply it to the face. Let sit for 15 minutes. Then rinse off. You should feel instant results of softer skin.

 

[yoshimitsu]

Coconut oil. Available in mid-to-high end grocery chains...

And don't just put it on your skin - eat it too. Studies have shown that people with dry skin often are not getting enough fat in their diet. Fat really helps your skin cells retain water.

I found since upping the fat % in my diet, my skin has been glowing.

Yeah there are other great oils too.
Flax seed, fish oil and E especially.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/flaxoil.htm

http://www.softecare.com/Ingredients/benefits_of_vitamin_e.cfm

 

[JustSkye]

Thanks for all the replies.

I drink about a gallon of water a day due to health reasons. I am working on increasing it, but getting a gallon a day down is hard, so I'm terrified to think of what more would do to me.

I usually buy generic soap, like the Rite-Aid Pharmacy brand of Dove soap.

As far as exfoliating, I use an exfoliating cloth that I got from The Body Shop, and the instructions that came with it said to use it every day.

Vermillionskye, I do have keratosis. It's gotten a lot better thought because of the exfoliating.

I'm still looking for a good dermatologist, the last one I went to prescribed me Accutane for my not that severe acne, and that really screwed me up, so I left that office. If anyone knows of a good dermatologist in the Philadelphia area, PM me please!

My only reply about the acne is this... your skin needs a certain amount of natural oil (your skin's own) and I would always tell my clients when they came to see me, to no longer use soaps or cleansers on their faces, but very warm water only on a clean wash cloth first thing in the morning and before they go to bed.

Many don't understand this concept, but we have oil glands for the purpose of passing moisture and excess toxins through our skin to the surface. This includes our faces and scalps (back area too).
The glands are very sensitive and when you use harsh, cheap shampoos, or harsh soaps and cleaners, they strip the skin and scalp of all natural moisture, thus sending a signal to the brain and the glands, "OMG we're out of oil!! We need to produce more!" And that's what they do.
Try washing your face for 2-3 weeks with just a very warm wash cloth first thing in the morning and once at night, and NO SOAPS. And see if it clears up a bit. I will be surprised if it doesn't. Also lightly moisturize after.

 

[nymphony]

My only reply about the acne is this... your skin needs a certain amount of natural oil (your skin's own) and I would always tell my clients when they came to see me, to no longer use soaps or cleansers on their faces, but very warm water only on a clean wash cloth first thing in the morning and before they go to bed.

Many don't understand this concept, but we have oil glands for the purpose of passing moisture and excess toxins through our skin to the surface. This includes our faces and scalps (back area too).
The glands are very sensitive and when you use harsh, cheap shampoos, or harsh soaps and cleaners, they strip the skin and scalp of all natural moisture, thus sending a signal to the brain and the glands, "OMG we're out of oil!! We need to produce more!" And that's what they do.
Try washing your face for 2-3 weeks with just a very warm wash cloth first thing in the morning and once at night, and NO SOAPS. And see if it clears up a bit. I will be surprised if it doesn't. Also lightly moisturize after.

That's interesting. So people with oily skin shouldn't use drying products like those generic soaps?

 

[JustSkye]

That's interesting. So people with oily skin shouldn't use drying products like those generic soaps?

More often than not when someone's skin is over oily it can be from overuse of harsh chemicals and soaps stripping their skin, yes.

Just trying good old warm water for a time, but always use a clean wash cloth. 2 per day. One for morning, one for night.

 

[nymphony]

More often than not when someone's skin is over oily it can be from overuse of harsh chemicals and soaps stripping their skin, yes.

Just trying good old warm water for a time, but always use a clean wash cloth. 2 per day. One for morning, one for night.

Ok, I shall give it a try. I'll report back, if I can remember.

One more question. Is it Ok to keep exfoliating? I use a standard buff-puff.

 

[JustSkye]

Ok, I shall give it a try. I'll report back, if I can remember.

One more question. Is it Ok to keep exfoliating? I use a standard buff-puff.

On your face, maybe once a week and moisturize immediately after.
Your body, every other day if you feel it's neccessary. And, again, immediately moisturize after.

Let me know how it goes!

 

[Perpetual_Edge]

Yeah there are other great oils too.
Flax seed, fish oil and E especially.

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/flaxoil.htm

http://www.softecare.com/Ingredients/benefits_of_vitamin_e.cfm

Fish or flax oil capsules with your daily vitamin along with any alpha hydroxy acid or glycolic acid solution mixed with your favorite lotions. You can buy it at any Walgreens or CVS. Get the generic or you can buy the name brand. One of them is called 'LAC HYDRIN'. It is a natural exfoliant. My skin gets rave reviews!