How I Slough Off My Winter Scales

A few weeks ago I loaded up on a bunch of products to help get my skin spring-ready. And, now, with the temps here in Los Angeles poised to top 90 this weekend, (sorry Minnesotans) I'm glad that I've taken the requisite steps to get my (formerly) scaly winter skin into prime spring shape. Of course, in the days since, I've added a few more products to the regimen because, as we all know, you can never have too many products.

Here's how operation "Spring Skin" plays out in my bathroom...

Arms: To get my arms suitable for viewing by the public, I banish any and all icky bumps (keratosis pilaris) and elbow weirdness by exfoliating three to four times a week for a month. (Try DermaDoctor KP Duty Dermatologist Body Scrub with Chemical and Physical Medi-Exfoliation, $44. It works like a charm.) And, I make sure to slather on an emollient rich moisturizer that relieves and brightens dull, dry skin. (Try Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Lotion, $7.)

Once they're smooth as silk and ready to be bared, I add sheen (and a faux glow) with a bronzing oil like Josie Maran Argan Bronzing Oil, $52.

Legs: In order to get the old legs gander-ready, I need to first banish ingrown hairs (and their irritating bumpy counterparts) that have accumulated over the last six months. According to Venus Scientist, Claire Girdler, ingrown hairs are hairs that "do not grow sufficiently out of the follicular opening and continue to grow underneath the surface of the skin. This can be a result of a naturally curly hair bending inside the follicle or of hair being trapped inside excess skin around the follicle opening at the surface of the skin. Frequently, the condition of ingrown hair is associated with a raised red area of irritation."

Girdler says that the best ways to prevent them is to not only exfoliate and moisturize with regularity but to "rinse with cold water and pat dry after shaving." (And, of course, to make sure that you're using a sharp razor blade so that hairs are cut uniformly.)

Feet: Getting feet sandal-ready after a winter holed up in socks and boots can be tricky. Of course, warmer weather pretty much mandates bi-weekly pedicures. But, to get my heels callous free I follow these three simple steps:

Step 1: Slough off dead skin with a foot file.

Step 2: Rub on a salt scrub like Philosophy Salt Scrub, $25.

Step 3: Treat feet with a moisturizing clay mask like CND Earth Moisture Masque, $32.13, then use foot cream or petroleum jelly and cover feet with socks before bed.

Think I'm obsessed? You should read what Christie Brinkley does to exfoliate her skin!