Five tips to silkier skin

MANILA, Philippines - Slithery, mysterious and sleek, the snake is known for many distinctive traits. But in this Year of the Snake, there’s something we don’t look forward to: scaly skin.

So to start the new year right, exfoliate all that negative energy from the previous year to start fresh. Here are some tips on how to achieve smoother, silkier skin:

1. Since our skin regenerates every second of the day, dead skin accumulates. When showering, use a cleansing soap before a moisturizing soap. Cleansing soaps “strip” the body of perspiration, excess oil, dirt and, to some extent, dead skin.

2. Use a moisturizing soap after to help bring back and retain moisture to the skin that may have been rubbed during the cleansing process.

3. Depending on how dry your skin is, exfoliate using scrubs, wet hand towels, pumice stone or exfoliating gloves (whichever is your preference) once or twice weekly. This helps remove a good amount of dead skin that causes roughness, dullness and even ingrown hair on arms and legs.

4. Try using anti-dandruff shampoo as a body wash to help lift and remove dead skin. Leave for a minute or two before washing off.

5. Do NOT completely towel dry yourself. Instead, using any type of body oil or baby oil, apply on damp skin to lock in or seal optimum moisture. Rub in completely until oil is fully absorbed.

So whatever sign in the Chinese zodiac you may be, rest assured it’ll be smooth-skin sailing for 2013!

Kung Hei Fat Choi!