8 Exfoliation Mistakes You’re Making, and How to Avoid Them

When it comes to exfoliating, the worst mistake you can make is not doing it. Because, beauties, if you've ever wanted skin that glows, feels as tight as a drum and as soft as a baby's arse, there's one surefire way to get it: exfoliation. Moisturizers will promise the same results all day long, though following through on all those promises is hit or miss. And even if they do deliver, it usually takes weeks to see any results. Not so with exfoliating. Done right, you'll have a gorgeous complexion in 10 minutes or less. 

Convinced that this is a must-have addition to your beauty regimen yet? For those women who exfoliate on the reg, take note: Even the most faithful exfoliating adherents might be sacrificing their perfect skin by making one of these mistakes listed below. I was one of them! So read (and then exfoliate) on. 

You're Forcing Your Skin to Overcompensate

Any woman who's seen the effects of a good exfoliation job firsthand will be tempted to think, "The more the better." But this just isn't true. Especially for women with oily or dry skin. If you slough off the surface layer of dead skin too often, your body will overcompensate by producing more oil or becoming even drier. You really shouldn't be exfoliating more than two times per week, three tops. And for most women once a week is perfect. 

You're Going Too Hard, Too Fast

Again, you might think, "If I go harder, my skin will be even softer and glow even more!" But your skin is delicate. If you cut it, it bleeds. And exfoliating scrubs, brushes and stones can cut it at the microscopic level, causing damage that might even produce scarring in the future. But you'll never have to worry if you use a "gentle, circular motion" to wipe away dead skin. 

You're Not Doing Your Body Good (or At All)

Removing that top layer of dead skin on your face does wonders for reviving and removing that pasty or gray, dull hue you get from natural dryness. It helps new cells literally shine on the surface. Skin not only looks better, it IS better. Healthier. And younger. So why save all that for your face? Give your body the treatment too, and don't forget your hands, neck and chest. Your middle-aged self will thank you. 

You Think a Dry Scrub is Most Effective

Dry scrubbing is a bad idea. Like any other effort meant to supercharge your exfoliation efforts (and results), this leads to all kinds of damage. It's painful to even think about it. Always make sure you've got water in the mix when you exfoliate. 

You're Not Moisturizing Afterwards

So, you're using water (which is good) but water, especially warm and hot water, robs your skin of its moisture. And since you've just taken off a layer of dead skin, you've just removed a protective barrier that keeps your natural moisture inside. (Albeit, an unattractive barrier, but a barrier nonetheless.) What to do? Moisturize as soon as you're done exfoliating, every time. 

You're Making Your Breakout Worse

Full disclosure, I've actually cured a major bangs-induced forehead breakout via exfoliating (gently) with baking soda. In part because baking soda is antibacterial. The extra oil and bacteria were killed off, helping those little white bumps go bye-bye. Having said that, if you have a rash, eczema, rosacea or the type of breakout that's broken skin, you need to skip exfoliating and treat it with proper care (preferably prescribed by your dermatologist).

You're Not Going Au Naturale

Finally, read the label of whatever you purchase to exfoliate. The beauty industry is still, sadly, rife with harsh chemicals. Before you're tempted to buy that little $50 miracle jar that promises exfoliation beads and 13 other benefits, try something natural instead. Baking soda made into a paste with water is an alternative I swear by, but you can also use brown or white sugar, and oatmeal. Don't forget the water! Give "DIY exfoliating" a Google search and see what you come up with. When you do look at recipes, make sure you find one that says it works for your particular skin type.

Orange Lips for Every Girl: Find Your Perfect Shade

I'm going to resist beginning this article with "orange you glad…" and assume you've heard it before. You've peeped orange lips on the runway and they've been touted as one of spring's hottest trends. And if you weren't convinced at first, maybe the fact that our favorite celebrities have been adopting the color on red carpets in droves has you wondering whether you can pull off an orange lip.

Our answer is, of course! Fashion is meant to be fun, and while we'll always love our pinks and reds, this is one lip color that will add a totally fresh spin to whatever you put on this spring (even if it's your favorite sundress from five years ago). The key is to wear orange in a way that works for you, your skin tone and ultimately your comfort level. Just because you saw a neon version on the runway doesn't mean you can't use it as inspiration for a more subtle version. Or vice versa. 

Check out the best lip colors in our runway-celeb mashup below, along with our advice to help you make your choice.

Spring Body Care With Coconut Oil

As winter fades and temperatures start rising, our hearts long to slip into lighter clothes instead of heavy coats and jackets. Our feet yearn for flip-flops instead of boots. But while our spirits seem all eager and welcoming for spring season, our bodies still bear the signs of winter damages in forms of rough patches, dryness, scales and spots. Hence, as spring approaches, you must take care of your body. The best way to do that is through use of coconut oil. Our body parts such as hands, arms, feet and legs and also those areas such as waist and back that remain covered under heavy layers of clothing throughout the cold season are most prone to winter damages as these parts remain hidden most of the times and we don't feel the need to treat them with care. Hence, the outcome is dry, flaky skin that we had overlooked for months.

In order to look fabulous in you spring clothes, it is important to get rid of the dreadful signs that winter season has carved on your body skin. So, to cure your skin of the winter damage, there are various home remedies that can prove helpful. Through this article, we will find out how coconut oil can be used to bid goodbye to winter skin sins.

Here's how you can use coconut oil to get your skin spring ready:

Make Your Body Scrub: You can make a simple yet effective body scrub by mixing coconut oil with sea salt. Coconut oil removes the impurities and dead cells from your skin, ultimately making it supple and clean.

Moisturiser For Hands And Feet: Coconut oil can work like a charm to cure dryness, especially of your hands and feet that face most of the damages. Simply massage your hands and feet with coconut oil and cover them up with gloves and socks respectively before dozing off at night.

Body Moisturiser: Applying coconut oil all over the body is the best way of preparing your skin for spring as coconut oil reduces water loss on severely parched skin and keeps it hydrated.

Use It To Shave: Spring season demands getting rid of legs' hair that had been perfectly hidden under trousers throughout winters. So, to get your legs ready for shorts, try shaving it by using coconut oil as a substitute for expensive shaving creams made of harmful chemicals.

Coconut oil is antimicrobial and its skin soothing properties will leave your legs feeling super hydrated. It is also a great after shave lotion and can treat those razor burns effectively.

Solve Beauty Issues

 Coconut oil is a versatile oil that serves as a significant base for various beauty solutions. Be it your struggles with lustreless and lifeless hair, parched skin or even those dreadful acne eruptions, coconut oil can treat all your beauty issues.