Fitness and Beauty

The skin on your face and body may seem the same but facial skin actually has more sebaceous glands to secrete natural oil and keep skin supple. It also has a looser cell structure, which makes penetration by moisturizers into the top layer easier. Body skin has fewer oil-producing glands, leaving large areas of skin without natural lubrication. It has a more structure so it is difficult for moisturizers to work well on the epidermis.

If you neglect to moisturize your body skin, particularly on the lower legs, you get a sort of crazy-paving cracked look over the shins, and the skin on your elbows and heels can become callused and thickened. So don't let skincare end at the neck. Your body skin needs care and attention, too, and will repay pampering by looking and feeling softer and smoother.

Having a long soak in the tub is enjoyable and therapeutic: your muscles relax, your mind feels more tranquillized as you let go after the stresses of the day. Immersion in water is less beneficial for the skin than for the woman, however.

A long bath can dehydrate, leaving your skin feeling taut and looking wrinkled. Especially in hard water areas, the longer the bath and the hotter its temperature, the greater the dehydration is likely to be. Showers are more invigorating than calming and can have a stimulating effect on your skin and your mood.

Also the stronger the solution of minerals and salts in your bathwater, the more moisture your skin loses, however delightful it might make you feel to bathe in bubbles. So don't use detergent- based bubble-bath every day, and go more for bath oils than salts.

Soaps are also efficient `defatting' agents which encourage dryness. So come clean with mild soaps or nonsoap moisturizing 'body shampoos' and bath or shower gels.

Legs and feet: Hold a foot in one hand and gently pull the toes with the other hand. Using your thumbs, massage the instep from the toes upwards. Swivel the foot slowly in a circular movement to the right, then to the left.

Bend one leg and effleurage the calf, gently but firmly stroking. Then use the palm of the hand to knead the main muscle, using a slight `wringing' movement on the inside and outside of the calf.

`Pick' the inside and outside of the leg apart, using fingers and thumb (don't pinch). Use effleurage strokes on thigh, followed by kneading and wringing. Repeat with other foot and leg. o Stomach and ribs: Be careful around the tummy area. Massage by pressing gently with palms of hands, then knead with fingertips gently around the navel. 'Pick' flesh around the waist and effleurage the ribs.

Arms: Massage gently but firmly, pushing the skin up the arm away from you. Do effleurage, followed by 'plucking' and kneading movements. Effleurage the shoulders and press gently.

The back: Naturally, you cannot do your own as soothingly as someone else doing it for you. But reach as far as you can. Stroke and knead the back of the shoulders where muscles tend to get knotted. Try to do firm rhythmic movements. With your thumbs, gently knead the small of your back. Alternate kneading with effleurage strokes.

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