Four Easy Ways To Polish Your Body For Spring: Better...not Younger With Inge Van Lotringen

That’s it, spring has officially arrived and it’s time to jump out of your winter cocoon and give your body the care it deserves.

Chicken skin, rough patches and mottled areas are all the result of your skin being suffocated by layers of synthetic fibers in what feels like the longest winter ever.

Dead skin builds up, ingrown hairs get trapped (hence those red bumps on your arms), and hydration can no longer penetrate, so you have to exfoliate and reveal—gently.

Swapping out flabby arms and legs, cheese-crust heels and “bacon” for soft skin that makes you feel fresh in a spring outfit is something I can get behind—as long as it takes a little bit of effort or money. Here’s how to do it from the comfort of your own home…

Removes bumps and stains

One of my favorite ways to remove dead skin cells and dissolve blockages is by soaking in a milk or enzyme bath. Lactic acid (found in milk), bromelain, and papain (enzymes found in fruits like pineapple and papaya) are all similar to the stuff in your skin, and are brilliantly effective at dissolving bumps and scaly areas.

That’s it, spring has officially arrived and it’s time to jump out of your winter cocoon and give your body the care it deserves!

I love Ameliorate Softening Bath Milk Oil (£20, lookfantasic.com), or actually Labs Exfoliator II (£24.99, lookfantasic.com) – it’s officially a powdered enzyme facial cleanser, but a few scoops in the shower makes a great body softener .

The old wisdom of applying moisturizer to damp skin to lock in excess moisture still holds. For my money, Vaseline Advanced Repair Body Lotion (£2.95, sainsburys.co.uk) and CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion (£11.50, boots.com) are two of the best non-sticky, non-porous body lotions out there. Turn them into a tanning lotion by adding some Superdrug Solait Tan Drops (£5.99, superdrug.com)—the job is done on the cheap.

Cast a spell with body potions

Our new ‘do it all’ body serums achieve a lot with just a rub. St Tropez Self Tan Luxe Body Serum ($28, boots.com) turns you into a sun-kissed while calming redness and plumping skin thanks to cult favorites niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Beauty Pie Youth Bomb Body 360* Repair Concentrate, ($38 for members or £125 for non-members, beautypie.com) contains retinol, fruit acids, niacinamide and emollients – it’s everything you’ve been using for a bright, even-skin tone. For a targeted treatment that can really make a difference, try Stria Lab Redefining Stretch Mark Cream (£40, strialab.com).

With a high dose of Centella asiatica extract, clinically shown to reduce the appearance of these pesky marks, it’s probably your best bet for smoothing their appearance.

Soft bodice

Pimples on your back and chest are not welcome. Banish blemishes with pore-cleaning salicylic acid. Superdrug Me + Salicylic Acid Body Gel Cream (£7.99, superdrug.com) is a steal with a highly effective formula.

Use it after showering with the Foro 4 Body T-Sonic Massaging Body Brush (£129, current body.com): It’s a tactile disc with bacteria-fighting silicone bristles that emit sonic vibrations to ‘knock out’ dirt from pores.

It’s especially effective for treating chest spots when used alongside Jason Purifying Tea Tree Body Wash (£14.99, jasonnaturalcare.co.uk).

Want a hack to instantly get a brighter pilot spot? The ELF Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter ($14, elfcosmetics.co.uk) will blur blemishes and breakouts while giving your chest (or face) a luscious golden glow.

Steps to perfecting your feet

When it comes to uncompromisingly soft feet, consider thick creams containing alpha hydroxy acids and urea. Simply apply over a few consecutive nights, slipping under socks before bed. CCS Foot Care Cream (£7.99, boots.com) with urea and 10 percent lactic acid, is really good.

To get your nails in top condition, I love Protein Formula For Nails (£15, boots.com) which comes in four strengths to suit the condition of your nails. This prescriptive system ensures that you get the correct infusion of protein to make your nails hard, flexible, and soft.

Hey presto, you’re ready for bicep-revealing tops, strappy tops, and sandals—we just need the right weather now.

Race for you!

Long gone are the days when you needed animal hair for fancy makeup brushes.

Otis Batterbee designs high-quality, vegan, and eco-friendly products in shades of ice cream; This new, huge, fluffy brush (Otis Batterbee Ultimate Face Brush, £25, otisbatterbee.com) works for powder on your face, but it’s also great for removing gold shimmer anywhere you fancy it.

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Icon of the week – Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt: The quintessential English beauty rocked ballet vibes with her look at the Academy Awards

The quintessential English beauty rocked ballet vibes with her appearance at the Academy Awards. Her soft makeup came from the Chanel Les 4 Rouges Eyeshadow and Blush Palette in Tendresse ($70, chanel.com) and Les Beiges Bronzing Cream ($46, sephora.co.uk).

Her ballet cake was topped off with John Frieda Frizz-Ease Extra Strength Serum ($7.99, boots.com)

Craving for cosmetics

Most hydrating serums that specialize in “miracle booster” hyaluronic acid leave a lot to be desired.

It takes more than just one volumizing ingredient to soak dry skin in moisture and lock it in all day, especially when you want a serum that’s oil-free.

However, 16/11 Labs Formula 1/v.7 Anti-Drying Complex ($65, 1611labs.com)—formulated with dozens of carefully balanced moisturizing agents—manages it while re-imposing skin’s moisture barrier in the process.

Expensive but a cut above the rest.

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