Skin 101 - Before you Boudoir
Our skin has a lot of jobs. It protects our bodies from outside elements, processes vitamins, minerals, toxins etc that it touches, grows hair that protects our bodies and keeps us warm and gives the people around us an impression of who we are.
When we see someone with sun worn and wrinkled skin we assume that they’ve lived a life outside, probably working. When we someone with fair, white skin we assume they don’t do much and stay inside all the time. When someone has skin with blemishes or that is discolored we can assume they are sick or have health issues.
Our skin is one of the only parts of a first impression that we can’t change. You can change your clothes and your makeup and hair but your skin is a reflection of the life you’ve lived…and that’s a universal truth.
So when it comes to skin in photos it makes sense that we all want our skin to look it’s best and reflect the kind of person we are or at least who want to be.
With all that being said, I’ve put together a few tips to help you put your best skin foot forward.
Exfoliate
I’m 35 years old and I think I have pretty good skin. In my opinion, exfoliating has been what has kept my skin soft and youthful. When you exfoliate you bring blood to the surface of the skin which helps your skin heal and stay young looking. It also brushes away any dead skin particles that have died. Those dead skin particles can create places for bacteria to grow, which causes acne.
I have tried all kinds of exfoliants and my favorite, by far, is an exfoliating brush. Use it all over your body, except for your face before you take a shower twice a week or so. It makes a HUGE difference with large pores, body acne, dry skin etc.
Alpha Hydroxy Acid
I use a glycolic acid body wash to help keep my pores invisible and my skin moisturized. It works on the surface of the skin to reduce the appearance of uneven texture. This type is usually derived from fruits. We’re talking papaya, pumpkin and pineapple, oh yes! You might also hear glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and citric acid because those are AHAs commonly used in skincare products.
Don’t Shave, Wax!
I know what your thinking. It’s either: “Wax my lady bits? I could never!” or “Girl, I already be doin’ that!” If you haven’t tried it, I HIGHLY recommend you give it a shot. It makes your skin so silky smooth AND you can avoid the inevitable razor burn you’ll get from shaving your downstairs. It doesn’t just make your skin smooth and sexy, it makes you FEEL smooth and sexy and I think that’s worth the $40 and 5 minutes of pain.
Stay Hydrated
You should always be drinking the recommended daily amount of water. I shoot for one gallon but I don’t always make it there. When you’re thirsty, you don’t feel good. Neither does your skin. If you don’t make drinking tons of water a practice in your everyday life, at least do it for the week before your session.
Moisturize
My all time favorite moisturizer is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. It’s all natural, vegan, affordable and makes my skin feel amazeballs. You can use whatever moisturizer you like, but they aren’t all created equal. I always go for the most natural, chemical free thing I can find and that’s what I think you should do too. One good rule of thumb is if it burns your legs after you shave your legs, it’s not a good moisturizer (Em hem, Suave!).