Q. During the cooler fall and winter months my skin gets drier and flakier and has a lot of dead skin cells. Is there a product I can use to "de-flake" my skin without sugars or salts?
A. You are not alone - the desert's dry winter air pulls moisture from the skin faster than most of us replace it. The gentlest way to lift dull, flaky cells is a mild chemical exfoliant, such as a low-strength lactic or glycolic acid, used sparingly a couple of times a week rather than a gritty scrub that can irritate.
Follow every exfoliation with a rich, fragrance-free moisturizer while the skin is still damp, drink plenty of water, and do not skip sunscreen - Arizona sun is unforgiving even in January. If dryness turns to cracking or persistent irritation, a dermatologist can point you to the right prescription.
Originally published in View AZ Highlife Magazine, Dec 2007 / Jan 2008.