It is full blown winter all across the US this week.  Earlier this week the polar vortex sent freezing temps even into Florida.  Sunday the local temperature topped out in the 70s and by Monday afternoon it had fallen 30 degrees.  Regardless of where you are, this frigid winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin.  Not to mention the hot showers, which honestly even though we know it’s bad for our skin who is really going to give them up?  So this week’s tip is an at-home treatment to loosen those dry, dead skin cells and take your skin back to feeling baby soft.

Body Buffer
Dip half a grapefruit in sugar and gently scrub over clean body. Do not use over freshly shaved legs.  Shower off, then moisturize.

I personally like to do the whole exfoliating process in the shower. You can also use an orange if you don’t like grapefruit.

The nice thing about this at-home treatment is this is the season for grapefruit here in Florida so trying this is an Value exfoliant. Right now grapefruit are about $4 for a 5-lb bag or free if you know someone with a bumper crop of grapefruit from the tree in their yard like I do. So that’s between $0 – $0.50 for a grapefruit and 1/4 cup of sugar out of your cupboard for an at-home body scrub.

The C² option (common commercial) is a body scrub that can run you about $10  from Victoria Secret’s or Bath and Body Works. The nice part is you do get whatever scent you prefer as opposed to just a citrus scent.

The Extrav options can cost up to $28 for a sugar scrub exfoliant that contains  essential oils, vitamins and other ingredients that combine the physical exfoliation with a low-level chemical exfoliation through the use of various acids (i.e. salicylic, lactic, etc.).

Another suggestion for added skin health that I heard from one of those doctors with a TV show was to take 500 mg of evening primrose oil daily.  I’ve been taking it for about 25 days now.  I forgot to take a photo of my skin before starting but I will say I don’t see any increase in this mysterious skin condition that’s been stripping me of my pigmentation.

And no, I don’t have vitiligo. The dermatologist and my doctor were able to rule that out.