I’m a bit of a slow learner.  Or perhaps it’s not the learning I have trouble with; it’s the remembering.  Whatever it is, I think I’m going to write this message to myself in bright red lipstick on my bathroom mirror:  DON’T FORGET TO EXFOLIATE!

I struggle with dry, flaky skin, and wintertime is the worst.  During the summertime, I tend to get lax on my skincare routine.  I guess the heat and humidity act as natural moisturizers, and I can get away with lighter moisturizers and less exfoliation.

But when wintertime rolls around, it doesn’t take long for my skin to take on the characteristics of a cold-blooded crocodile, and every winter around this time I throw in the towel and walk into my nearest department store and lay myself at the mercies of the first makeup counter attendant who makes eye contact and beg for her most miraculous moisturizing cream, which she is always delighted to sell me.  At a nauseating price.

And every year she says, as she rings up my order, “Are you exfoliating?”

DANG.

I know this.  I KNOW THIS.  Why I do need to be told the same thing every year, like an errant schoolgirl?  And of course, she always waits to drop this necessary piece of information until AFTER I’ve just dropped a chunk of change on her most expensive miracle cream.

Well this year, I’m not begging the mercies of the first warm body at the makeup counter because I’m already on a roll with my new Therapon skincare system.  But, I was complaining about the changes I was noticing in my skin to my mom one day last week, and she said those three familiar words: Are you exfoliating?

DANG.  I did it again.

It just goes to show, no matter how fabulous your skincare products are, if you aren’t exfoliating, your skin will not look its best.

Rules for Exfoliation:

1) Find a good quality exfoliant.  You don’t want one that is too rough for your delicate skin.  Of course Therapon makes some wonderful exfoliant products.

2) Exfoliate regularly, but not too often; two to three times a week is best.

3) Be gentle.  You don’t want to scrub; just gently rub it around according to the package directions and then rinse off.

4) Follow with a moisturizer that is suited to your skin type.

Happy exfoliating