By Amany Abdel-Moneim 28-11-2012 01:26AM ET As the weather turns colder, it's more important to take care of your skin, the largest organ in your body. Maintaining that dewy, youthful look of spring even when harsh weather outdoors and dry heat indoors threaten to dry it out isn't impossible. The secret is to focus on nourishing and pampering your skin. Among other factors, including ensuring an adequate water intake, body polishing is a popular treatment that exfoliates dead skin cells and hydrates the skin, leaving it younger-looking, softer and smoother. There are a number of ways to exfoliate, from the normal method of rubbing the face with a clean cloth, to using expensive creams containing AHAs. However, using natural ingredients will help you save money and allow you to tailor the scrub to your specific needs. You can prepare your own body scrub using various ingredients available in your kitchen, such as orange and lemon peels, almond powder, bran, yoghurt, ginger, and sea salt, mixed with sweet almond oil or pure essential oils of sandalwood, rose or lavender. The exfoliation process should be followed by a shower. It's easier and less messy to exfoliate in the shower or sitting on the side of the bath. The following are some tried and tested homemade scrubs For almond and orange scrub: - Grind dried orange and lemon peels into a powder form. - Keep the powder in an air-tight container. - Similarly, grind the almonds into powder. - Mix all the ingredients in yoghurt, milk or essential oils. - Add some essential aromatic oils, such as rose, lavender, etc. - Start with an all-over exfoliation to get rid of flaky cells and prepare your skin for absorbing the essential oils. For lavender salt scrub: - 2 tbsp sea salt. - 2 tbsp sweet almond oil. - 8 drops pure lavender essential oil. - Place the sea salt in a bowl and stir in the sweet almond oil and lavender essential oil. - Scoop the mixture in your hand and massage it over your body, especially on rough areas. Sponge off with warm water, or shower. For yoghurt and bran scrub: - 50 ml plain yoghurt. - 2 tbsp bran. - 1 to 2 tbsp ginger root, peeled and grated. - Mix all ingredients together and apply to the skin with brisk circling strokes. Alternatively, apply with a face cloth for a more even application. Natural yoghurt is soothing and healing for the skin. The bran and ginger boost circulation and stimulate the area being treated. This exfoliation is especially good for thighs and bottoms, improving sluggish circulation and pepping up the skin. Use less ginger if you have sensitive skin.
