Watch Your Step

                Summer breezes and warm temperatures immediately force thoughts of sandals and barefoot adventures.  Most of us never think twice about slipping on a pair of soft, comfy, flip-flops at the end of a busy day.  Fact is that at home we become very comfortable in our own skin.  Only at the time that we share our outer layers with others are we concerned with the look and feel of our skin.   Here is a great way to get your feet ready for those times when everyone is watching your step.

                Good old fashion foot soak is the best way to get your feet into tip top shape quickly.    I love to do foot soaks while watching my favorite shows.   Soaking my feet helps me to relax and it does not take extra time out of my day.   “Soothing Mineral Bath Salts” by Jafra Cosmetics is on my favorites list.  The ocean minerals purify and detoxify tired skin.  The ingredients include Eucalyptus & Ginger.  Eucalyptus & Ginger are used to help in soothing tired nerves.  I absolutely love the calming effect.  While you can use in the tube for the entire body, my favorite way to use it is in a foot soak.  I absolutely love this product because it releases toxins in my feet and softens then at the same time.

                For a little extra help on those callus areas of the foot, I use Jafra’s Ginger and Sea Salt Body Rub.  This rub exfoliates those callus areas caused by shoes and sometimes dehydration. The vitamin E and marine extracts leaves skin velvety and this product works well with the Bath Salts.  Together these products create amazing results. 

Here is how I use them:                                    

Small foot tub (purchased at discount store for $2.50)

Very warm water (fill tub half way)

Sprinkle “Soothing Mineral Bath Salts”( #5012 $28.50) into water.  Be sure to stir and dissolve salts.

Soak feet for about 5 minutes.  This helps to soften dead skin.

Use “Ginger and Sea Salt Body Rub” (#5013 $28.50) to exfoliate dead skin cells. Re-soak feet for another 10 minutes, while relaxing your cares away!

To finish, dry feet and use a good moisturizing lotion such as Royal Ginger Lotion (#13163 $21.50).

     I don’t always have time to go to the spa; however, I do want soft beautiful feet.  The cost is really inexpensive when you think about it.  One visit to the spa is about $45.00.  With Jafra’s products, they will last for about 3 to 6 months (depending on how many times you use them, of course).  If you complete one foot soak a week for 12 weeks that would be approximately $6.50 per soak! WOW sounds like a deal to me!

     During the summer, everyone seems to notice your feet, especially when you are wearing open toed shoes.  What do you think of first when you see someone with crusty toes and heal?  The word that comes to my mind is yikes!  Don’t be on someone’s worst feet list…you know that there is a list, so watch your step!

To Order these products ...visit www.myjafra.com/pattyhill

FIVE TIPS FOR WINTERIZING YOUR SKIN TODAY!

Most of us are too busy to think about our skin on a daily basis, but the fact remains that our skin interfaces with our environment every moment of our lives.   Here are five tips that will help you have the smooth soft skin you desire today!

1. Hydration is important to having great skin.  According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.  Do this simple test:  pinch the skin on top of your hand, if it takes some time for the skin to return back to its original state, you could be dehydrated.   Coffee, tea, and sodas act as a diuretic, so don’t count on their help to hydrate.

2. Protect your skin.  Use gloves when in contact with chemicals.  Use SPF products to protect your skin from harmful rays and environmental effects.  As a young girl growing up, no one talked about SPF.  We used baby oil and iodine (gives that orange glow).  Sounds crazy, and it was!  I have extremely damaged skin as a result.

3. Feed your skin. Vitamin deficiencies can cause skin issues. Did you know that vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin?  I have read articles that Vitamin A deficiency is also linked to severe acne.  To get more vitamin A, you may want to add foods such as green, leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, and carrots to your diet.  In extreme cases, be sure to add a vitamin supplement to your daily routine.

4. Exfoliate. A large part of my business is sharing product information with healthcare workers who struggle with extremely dry hands.  Most of the dryness is caused by external factors such as washing their hands over one hundred  times a day and using antibacterial products that strip away natural oils.  My favorite product to use for this type of dryness is Jafra’s Royal Almond Oil.  The oil is used for a lubricant and when a little sugar is added to the oil, it become a wonderful exfoliate.  You want to remove dead skin cells without removing the important oils from your dermis so this product is perfect.  This product is also used as massage oil.  Most of us try to moisturize dry dead skin and it just does not work so remember to exfoliate first!   Exfoliating once or twice a week then adding moisturizer should help rejuvenate your skin.

5. Moisturizers are very important because they reduce evaporation of water from your skin and increase hydration.  I recommend Royal Almond Lotion for your body (including your feet and elbows) and Royal Jelly Milk Balm for your face.  Because your hands and face are different textures, be sure to use products that are formulated for those different areas.

Taking steps to hydrate, protect, feed, and moisturize will ensure beautiful skin this winter.  Be good to yourself.  Now is the time to be extravagant with your skin, after all, it is what people notice first. Treat yourself Royally!