How To Prep Your Skin For Your Lovely Lingerie
You might not be wearing your lingerie all over town, but if you’re putting it on, you obviously want to look great. Even the most luxurious lingerie isn’t going to be perfect if your skin isn’t looking its best. Before donning that lace-wear, follow these basic tips to prepare your skin. |
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If you’re like most women, hair removal is a big part of your prep routine. While some women prefer waxing, others go with the old-fashioned razor or depilatory. What you choose is up to you. However, hair removal should be the first thing you do when preparing your skin for lingerie – especially if you have sensitive skin, as any type of hair removal can cause red skin or minor irritation. For most women, this goes away quickly, but to ensure your skin does not get too irritate it’s best to do this first.
Exfoliate Your Skin
Dead skin cells have a tendency to clog pores and build up over time, leaving your skin looking dull. To get rid of dead skin cells, exfoliating your skin is necessary. Exfoliating can help keep your skin smooth and soft as well as give your legs a healthy shine.
Store-bought exfoliators often work well and many spas have special body treatments specifically for exfoliating, but making your own exfoliating treatment is as simple as mixing three parts brown sugar and 1 part olive oil. This also has the benefit of helping to moisturize your skin before the moisturizing stage. To use the mixture, gently rub it in a circular motion over damp skin until it starts to fall off. Do this in the shower or tub to keep your bathroom clean.
Moisturize Your Skin
Ensuring soft skin is something you should keep in mind while lingerie hunting. That’s where a good-quality body moisturizer can become your best friend. For the most part, store-bought moisturizers work and you don’t need to spend a fortune. Just look for a product designed for all-over use and your skin type. Women with particularly dry skin who have a hard time making their skin feel smooth and soft can often benefit from the use of oils as moisturizer as well. There are oil-based products on the market, but many women have had success with plain olive oil. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a bottle of olive oil if you don’t want to smell like food.
Consider Self-Tanner
Spending hours in the sun or under the UV lights of a tanning bed is terrible for your skin, but if you’re like many people, you still prefer the way your skin looks with a little color. Self-tanning products have come a long way since they were introduced, and they actually look quite natural when used as directed by the manufacturer. When choosing a self-tanner, always look for something that’s a fairly natural shade for your skin. If you have milk-white skin you don’t want to choose a deep bronze color. With self-tanner, a little bit goes a long way. You’ll also want to make sure you apply sunless tanning lotion before you put on lingerie so it doesn’t rub off. Skip the sun and go with self-tanner instead.
Avoid Allergens
Lingerie is made of a wide variety of different fabrics, and if you’ve got sensitive skin, it’s always ideal to check the tags before buying to make sure you aren’t allergic. In some cases, hand washing lingerie in a natural detergent can help minimize allergens as well. Unless otherwise stated on the tag, most lingerie should be hand-washed only and allowed to dry naturally.
Lingerie is a great way to boost self-esteem and feel attractive, and many women find it quite comfortable. However, you may not look quite the way you want to if your skin needs help. Follow the tips above and you won’t have to worry about the way your skin looks – in or out of lingerie.
Virginia Cunningham is a freelance writer from Los Angeles and has contributed to several beauty and fashion blogs. She knows many women want to look their best no matter what they are wearing and loves sharing her tips to help ladies feel confident in their own skin.