Get Flawless Skin For The Summer And Carnival Festivities

By Jean Pierre
PRIDE Skin Specialist

It seemed to be a long time coming but finally, we are getting some great weather. Most of us are not prepared for summer. Summer is waited upon with great anticipation, but can catch us ill-prepared.

Everyone desires, or wants, to show some skin during the summer, after the long, drawn-out winter, with layering of clothes, heavy coats, boots, gloves and hats. The best way to achieve this goal is to start preparing your skin in the fall.

The fall is a time of change and transition, and the winter months play havoc on our skin, both face and body.  If good skin care is adhered to during the fall and winter, we can have great skin all summer long.  If you are one of those people who have neglected proper care of your skin during the past two seasons there is no better time than now to start.

Skin that is well hydrated generally has a healthy glow.  One way of keeping your skin hydrated is to drink plenty of fluids.  Coffee and sodas do not count. Topical hydration of the skin is also very important so selecting a good skincare line to maintain a home care program is very important.

Look for products with hyaluronic acid and peptides, as they have a power house of humectants that serve to give the skin the best form of hydration, while giving the skin its youthful appearance.

Because of the layering of clothes during the winter, circulating air do not reach the skin on the body.  This can result in drying and ashing of the skin. During the winter it is good to have body care products that are highly hydrating and moisturizing to apply daily.

The spring and summer is a good time to have an exfoliating body facial to remove dead cells formed over the winter and fall. This can be done at home with the right home care products.

However you will need some assistance to get to the hard to reach places. A spa exfoliating body facial is a relaxing and enjoyable treatment that contributes to making your skin feel soft and silky after the treatment.

Carnival Festivities

At this time of year every mass camp in the city is working tirelessly producing the best and the most original costumes for the parade. Many of the costumes leave nothing to the imagination.

Preparing oneself for hydration during the carnival parade is also very important.  The body cools itself down by the action of perspiration, causing depletion of valuable water and electrolytes. It is therefore important to take along with you on the parade route, fluids like Gatorade, Lucozade, Pedialyte and natural fruit juices.  In this way, you can jump up to your heart’s desire without suffering the ill effects of dehydration like muscle cramps, abdominal pains, exhaustion and fainting spells.

For those women with unwanted facial and body hair, who will be wearing high cut costumes, revealing the bikini line and tops that are barely there, should consider laser hair removal.  A few treatments prior to the parade would give confidence and poise on this special day of celebration.

There are many other methods of hair removal, but razor bumps and hyperpigmentation can catch us telling ourselves our bikini days are over, as many of these alternate methods of hair removal produce long term unwanted results.  Don’t be afraid of laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is the best method of removing unwanted hair from the face and body.

However, the laser machine must be one design to work on black skin, and the technician must be versed in working on black skin, in order to work within the right parameters, and preserve the delicate and sensitive black skin during the course of treatment.

Don’t forget your feet.  Have a pedicure to removes corns and callus and show off beautiful polished toenails. It is a good idea to take an extra pair of shoes as the shoes that felt so comfortable, after a couple of hours on the parade route may not feel so comfortable after all. All in all, enjoy your summer.

Jean Pierre, a Registered Nurse (RN), has been a practicing aesthetician for over 26 years. She is the President and CEO of Jean Pierre Aesthetics and Spa, which has developed the Obsidian line of skin care products, specifically geared towards non-White skin. Pierre can be reached at (416) 964-2505 and the company’s website is: www.obsidianskincare.com.