Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
Cold, blustery weather is the enemy of smooth, silky skin. Not only does the wind outside chap and chafe your face, but indoor heat saps it of moisture, too. And it’s not just your face that suffers—your neck, chest, back, and shoulders are just as vulnerable. But fear not: Charleston’s loaded with spas and skin care professionals to help you get gorgeous all over. For ideas on how to stay soft and supple, no matter the season, follow these tips from Casy Wyndham, director of SoCa Day Spa.
• Keep skin soft and smooth. This time of year, that consists of two main steps—exfoliating and moisturizing, Casy says. Try this yourself or have it performed at a spa. If you go pro, Casy’s a fan of treatments like SoCa’s Ultimate Body Facial, which consists of an invigorating scrub, a stimulating wrap, and a massage with glycolic moisturizing cream. Dry, dull skin is removed, and new skin gets a better chance to build up.
• Try it yourself. You can slough off dry skin at home in one of two ways: either physically with scrubs that contain salt, sugar, or other finely ground abrasives, or chemically with alpha-hydroxy or beta-hydroxy acids. Try a combination of the two—knowing that they need not be pricey—and for the best results, apply them in the shower. Focus especially on the parts you’ll bare as you wear your gown. Afterward, before you’ve completely dried off, follow up with a luxurious cream or oil on your damp skin. Look for emollient creams that contain cocoa or shea butter, and nut or mineral oils with delicious scents.
• Make it a habit. Set up moisturizing and exfoliating rituals at home and treat yourself to a few body treatments at a day spa beginning several months before the big day. You’ll look amazing and will be perfectly conditioned for all the hugs you’ll receive.
Glow, Girl!
Even though brides are embracing their natural winter skin tones for that walk down the aisle, Joyce Artinian of Wedalert.com knows many still want to sport a tan. Because even a short time in a tanning bed increases your chances of developing melanoma, Joyce suggests spray-on tans. (Several local spas like SoCa offer a tanner application-massage combo.) Give the process a trial run and apply the final dose a day before so your “tan” is completely dry. After all, you certainly don’t want to stain your dress.
Lather Up & Slather On
Exfoliation: Get rid of dull skin with Ole Henriksen Rub n' Buff Salt Scrub (28 oz., $48, available at Stella Nova); Epicuren Papaya Pineapple Grape Seed Scrub (4 oz., $29, available at SoCa Day Spa); or St. Ives Apricot Scrub (6 oz., $3, available at Eckerd).
Moisturizing: Our favorite creams and oils are Johnson's Creamy Moisturizing Oil (14 oz., $4.50, available at Eckerd); Palmer's Olive Butter Formula with Vitamin E Organic Therapy for Healthy Skin, (13.5 oz., $5, available at Target); Ole Henriksen Lavender Body Oil (12 oz., $28, available at Stella Nova); L'Athene Neroli Body Silkening Nutrient Crème; (4 oz., $48, available at SoCa Day Spa); SkinCeuticals Skin Firming Cream (1.67 oz., $86, available at SoCa Day Spa); or Epicuren After Bath Moisturizer, (about 250 mL., $30, available at SoCa Day Spa). For especially wind-chapped faces, try Aesop Camellia Nut Facial Hydrating Cream (120 mL, $48, available at Stella Nova).
Self Tanners: Get the look of the tropics at home with this three-step process: St. Tropez Step 1 Body Polisher (8 oz., $14); St. Tropez Step 2 Body Moisturizer (8 oz., $13.50); or St. Tropez Step 3 Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion (8 oz., $35, all available at SoCa Day Spa).
