Skincare,beforeand after exercise,is an

integralpart of keepingfit and healthy.The main offenderis dry skin,which

can be causedby the stripping awayof yourskin'snaturalhydratingoils by pool waterand repeatedshowering.Exercisingoutdoorscan alsobe a problem,exposingyour skintothe whim of the elements.The key is to sealin your skin'snaturalmoisture,creatingaprotectivebarrierbetweenyour skinand the

gym (or the outdoors).Recentresearchby Niveashowed'half the

femalepopulationclaimsto havedry skin,yet only a third do anythingabout it:

'Moisturisingthe body isessential.especiallyafter the summermonths or afterexercise,both of which can leavethe skin

feelingdry and undernourished:saysCarolIrving,product developmentmanageratCrabtree& Evelyn.'Usingmoisturiserssoftensand restoressuppleness,aswell as

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Supple skinShowering, swimming in pools and sweating can alltake their toll on your skin.Aspen Weatherburn reportson moisturisers to help protect your skin from the worst

rehydratingthe skin.Bodymoisturisingshould be an essentialpart of yourskincareroutine.'

More bodycarerangesarecoming out foractivewomen.Thenew SpeedoProtekrangeof skincareproducts,out this month,usesthe HydroCreatineCellProtectionSystem,which claimsto bind watermoleculesinto the skinto improvetheelasticityand textureof skinand hair.Therangealsotouts the ability of HydroCreatineto enhancethe transportationof energythrough the cells,to speedup cell renewaland help reducedry or flakyskin.Try theMoisturisingbody lotion,availableat Boots,Sainsbury's,SuperdrugandTesco.

Plant protectionPlant-based products - such as avocado oil.

jojoba or aloe vera - are great for relieving

tried&tested

itchy, tight skin, while essential oils derived

from plants moisturise effectively as the skin

absorbs them quickly.

La Source Hydrating Cream with vitamins

A and E (£16.50/200g), from Crabtree &

Evelyn, is perfect for dry or weather-exposed

skin. It uses beeswax and glycerine to help

rehydrate, and chamomile to help soften

and restore suppleness. A cheaper, but

equally good option is King of Skin (£3.25

for 90g), from Lush.This cream is packed

with magisterial moisturisers, including

cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin-rich

banana. Alternatively, try Origins A Perfect

World IntenselyHydratingBodyCream(£25).

It leaves skin looking and feeling smooth.

Forreallydry skin,it's worth investinginan almond-oil based product, such as Nivea

Enriched Body Moisturiser (£5.39). 'Once

almond oil reaches the innermost layers of

Origins A Perfect World Intensely

Hydrating BodyCream (£25); call0800-731 4039.

'"' This iseasily absorbed into yourskinand

~ leaves it feeling really

~ supple.Itsmells~ fantasticallyfruity and

~ worksasanaturalhigh.~ Amust-haveforyour~ bathroom.4/5..'"

SevenWondersMirade rLotion (£9.95, 237ml); 020 .

. .8421 9877. .

The candy-sweet smell of thiscombination of seven natural ~.

oils and 14 herbs takes some

getting used to. But ~

feels luxuriously rich,and

it left my skin noticeablysofter within a few

..

the epidermis, the valuable fatty acids it

contains begin to renew and regenerate the

double lipid membrane: says Dr A Bockof

Beiersdorf Skincare Product Development.

Lost moisture is restored, firming thestructure of the skin.'

Start on the insideThe skin is the body's largest organ, so it's

important you do all you can to keep it

healthy. Work from the insideout by uppingyour intake of water to at least two litres a

day, steering clear of caffeine-packed drinks,

which are diuretics. Aloe vera juice (available

from good health shops) can be taken orally,

and contains tissue restorative properties.

Certain vitamins also assist with the

cellular renewal process.Vitamin A, an

antioxidant, assists in moisturising skin cells.However,vitamin A is potentially toxic in

high doses. The RDA for vitamin A is 1,000

RE(retinol equivalents). Essential fatty acids,or EFAs,also have excellent moisture-

retaining properties; try including some olive,

evening primrose, flaxseed, borage and

blackcurrant oils in your daily diet.

MOISTURISERSLiving Nature Manuka HoneyHand andBody Cream(£6.25,125ml);01794 .323222;www.livingnature.com.Withause-bydateinsteadofthe .

usual list of preservatives and

chemicals,evenreadingthe =-::ingredientslistmakesyoufeelgood. ..Richinnutandvegetableoils, '=="Manukaandessentialoils,this cream .iOi!JiI

leaves skin smelling gorgeous. 5/5

Spiezia OrganicBodyOil for Nourishing andSoothing (£15.20, 100m!),01326 231600;

www.spieziaorganics.com.Thisaromaticblendof rich

organicoils,vitaminE,geraniumandlavenderiseasilyabsorbedandleavesluxuriouslysoftskin.4/5

HeaIth&rrtness45