I am sure we have all seen someone who has spent too much time in the sun. Their skin has that rich, copper-brown color, but upon closer look appears thick and leathery looking. And decidedly unhealthy too. I remember when I was a kid, my aunt would coat herself head to foot in baby oil, put on a swimsuit and lay on a blanket in the backyard for hours. Then days later, I would help her peel off that sunburn.
Time, thinner atmosphere (yes, global warming!), pollution, stress, too many carbs, too little sleep, and whatever else you have encountered has taken a toll on your skin. But like the tires on our cars, aging will wear down the surface of the skin. Nothing ages a woman more than her skin. However, it is never too late to baby it.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of products on the market for your skin. Face, body, feet, hands. You do not need to spend a fortune to get results. Cleanse and moisturize at the very least. The very act of washing your face is relaxing and comforting. Rubbing something creamy into your skin is self-soothing. Especially if you crawl into bed right after. Mmmm, yawn.
Symbolically, skin is our barrier to the world. We absorb toxins on a daily basis, from our environment to those crabby, draining people. No wonder sometimes we do not look our best. Bathing gets rid of those toxins. You can even imagine all that yuck going down the drain, including those toxic people. And then when you smooth in some nice body lotion think of it as a symbolic act of putting on a protective layer to keep that yuck out. Practicing daily skin care is more than just rejuvenating the outside.
Sometimes that yuck sticks around. Whether it is from too much sun or holding onto other people’s crap, it can fester. Rashes, skin diseases, even skin cancer. Along with going to the doctor for treatment, take a look inside and listen to what is irritating you. You will speed your treatment along if you work on your inner yuck.
Besides, you want to use that other Samsonite to go to Paris in the spring.
Loving Your Sh*T 