HOW TO DEAL WITH CREPE-Y SKIN - 3 STEPS

Yes I have crepe-y skin, AND I still show my legs!

Crepe-y, drape-y, dry, “old” looking skin…IS THERE ANYTHING WORSE? Well, yes, but it’s it’s definitely at the top of the list of cringe worthy, despair inducing, feelings of hopelessness in the beauty realm.   Why?  Because not only do we think it looks “bad”, but also because it induces feelings of panic that one is getting older, doesn’t look as good, or is less desirable, or has less clothing options.  It also includes feelings of insecurity, where we feel exposed in the world, lest someone see our imperfections and judge us; and mostly because it’s just so darn hard to fix, “cure”, or deal with in a way that leads to satisfaction.  Whew!!

So if you’ve ever encountered or dealt with crepe-y skin then you know what I’m talking about.  If you haven’t, go enjoy your life for goodness sake; or read on so you can be prepared if and when it happens to you.  But no matter where you fall on the crepe scale, you can probably benefit from the following suggestions, tips and tricks.  These are the things that work for me.

When it comes to aging and the challenges that can ensue from it, I take a 3 pronged approach:  Accept, Educate, and Act. 

ACCEPTANCE: 

When it comes to crepe-y skin, my friends, it’s helpful to remember that most everyone on the planet have issues with their skin; you are not alone.  I have it!!  Crepe-y skin may be frustrating, it may be challenging, it may seem insurmountable, but let me assure you, it’s not the end of the world.  As with most challenges, the first and most rewarding step is acceptance.  Acceptance is your first step on the road to happiness. 

Once we accept something about ourselves, we then have the power to feel contentment, move on and focus on something else; and we can choose to take action.  BUT, without acceptance we tend to get stuck in emotions of rejection…hate, fear, disgust and we become self-conscience about the way we look and start feeling less than; when what we WANT to feel is self-assured, content, confident, sexy, gorgeous and ready for the day. 

People age, we ALL age, it’s normal, it’s what we do and it’s OKAY.  We can’t stay the same, what would be the fun in that anyway?  So let’s accept that we don’t have the smooth beautiful skin we once had and move on.  And I’m willing to bet, you didn’t appreciate it when you had it. 

EDUCATE: 

What is crepey skin and why is it so hard to treat?  New York dermatologist Macrene Alexiades, MD compares it to “a piece of tissue paper or a crêpe” (hence the phrase ‘crepey skin’).  It’s “the thinning of the dermis and epidermis that make skin” take on a thin, crinkly texture.  While wrinkles are caused by repeated motions in an area, creepy skin is primarily caused by skin thinness.

Dr. Alexiades explains that “Crepey skin first appears as an increase in skin markings, which look like little dots around the hair follicle that start to merge into linear or diamond-shaped marks and connect the dots together.”  “Over time, the subtle creases and pores in the skin slowly become exaggerated as the breakdown of collagen and elastin becomes more evident. From there, skin folds accumulate, and skin starts to thin out.”  Blah, blah, blah…thank you Doctor!

The contributing factors to crepey skin include aging - natural and premature, smoking, weight gain or loss, sun exposure, cigarette smoke and poor diet; including too much alcohol.  (Aren’t they ALWAYS the culprits)??  It’s good to know, because if you are indulging in any of the aforementioned activities that you have control over, you can do something about it!  Now onto the good stuff! 

ACTION:  

Now let’s see what we can do to help ourselves look and feel better.  Can we really eradicate crepey skin?  In my experience, NO.  But there are many things we can do to make ourselves look and feel better.  These are all the ways I accept and combat crepe. 

I follow my advice and work on being happy with what I have.

Lifestyle:  If there’s one overall thing that contributes to about everything with health, well-being and beauty; it’s lifestyle.  Lifestyle in basic terms means, how you live your life…diet, exercise, genetics, attitude, viewpoint etc.   The good news is that your lifestyle is largely under our control, so we can tweak it at any time.  If there are factors that you’d like to change, great, the first step is wanting to.  My suggestion is begin; begin by making small changes and build success.  Small changes over time are much more sustainable than big changes that don’t last. 

Moisturize:  This may seem obvious and yet it’s amazing how many of us don’t moisturize daily, or only moisturize during certain seasons, or don’t moisturize at all.  That’s okay, it’s an easy fix.  START!  Use a moisturizing lotion every day!  I like to make my own so it doesn’t have added ingredients that I don’t like.  The best way to begin to use natural moisturizers is to check the cupboards of your kitchen and grab the coconut, olive, almond, or avocado oil; any natural oil is better for your skin than most store bought lotions; and begin using that EVERY DAY.  Our skin absorbs whatever you put on it, so you want to be able to “feed” it something that’s not only good for your skin but good for your insides too.  If you don’t like the feel of oil on your body, I suggest trying it again and give it a minute to sink in and then grab a towel and blot any excess.  If you’re interested in making your own lotion; I like Wellness Mama, for simple and easy recipes or use the one below.

Try this simple delicious moisturizing body butter: 

Combine equal amounts, (i.e. ½ cup or 1 cup depending on how much you want), of coconut oil (or any oil you like), shea butter and cocoa butter, (you can find those at your local health food store or super market), melt together in a double boiler, (or make your own by putting one smaller pot into a larger one of boiling water.  After it’s melted together, pour into a bowl and place in the freezer until it begins to solidify but not entirely, and all the way cooled about 15 to 30 minutes.  Next, mix ingredients together with your electric mixer until the substance begins to look like whipped cream.  Place in glass jar like a mason jar or a recycled plastic container. If you want to get fancy, drop in some essential oils during the mixing stage.  I add real vanilla…about a tablespoon. 

1.  Melt ingredients in a double boiler.

2.  Take ingredients out of freezer; semi-solid.

3.  Mix until whipped to creamy texture. 

4.  Place in container.

As for drugstore brands, I suggest reading labels and trying to find lotions with the least amount and best ingredients.  If you have any that you like, please put your suggestions in the comments below.

Sunscreen:  Sunscreen is another step that is important to maintaining  Again, finding one that is non-toxic and won’t dry out your skin is the goal.  Read labels and ask the cosmetics staff for help.  I like to go to our natural food store in town for better and “reef safe” choices.  Also, to make your own sunscreen, use the recipe above for body butter, buy some powdered zinc oxide, and add it to your homemade lotion, or any lotion or oil you’re using. 

With that said, a little sun is good for us; we need the vitamin D, not to mention all the joy we feel when we let the sun shine in!  A 10 to 20 minute sun bath, not during the heat of the day, is very beneficial to our overall health and emotional well-being!

Exercise:  Can we ever escape the need for exercise?  No.  And I’ve got to say, “Why would we want to”?  People are always trying to get out of exercising and I’m here to tell you; change your mindset if you need to and get moving!  Exercise does so many wonderful things for our body, there really is no downside for doing it.  I recommend finding what you like and do that…walk, run, skin, bike, hike, dance, stretch, yoga, ski, tennis, pickle ball; ANYTHING that gets you moving consistently.  Not only will you lose weight, it increases circulation, firms your muscles and gives you that healthy glow.  Our skin always looks better on muscles that are firmed up and happy. 

Exfoliate:  Dry brush, wet brush, sugar or salt scrub, loofah or good old-fashioned wash cloth.  It doesn’t matter how you do it, just do it.  Exfoliating gets rid of the old, dry skin, rejuvenates and reveals the fresh skin below.  It gets the blood flowing and circulating and makes you feel better!

Camouflage:   Okay, so it’s shorts weather, or it’s time to hang by the pool, go to the beach or go on vacation.  YAY!  Do NOT avoid activities because you don’t like the way your legs look.  First of all, go back and use your acceptance techniques, then assess what needs to be done, and get to work.  If you truly do not want to wear shorts, I think flowy dresses are beautiful on just about every woman and feel so good.  Get to your favorite shop and have the friendly shop girls give you a hand or take one of your trusted friends.  Chances are you might not be able to be objective, so it’s best to have another opinion…don’t discard them.  Also, find yourself the right swimsuit…I promise you, there are options for every body type.  

Next, get out your creamy dreamy body butter and moisturize those gams.   If you have discoloration, or want a more even tone or look, get to the drugstore and buy some Sally Hansen, Airbrush Legs.  I use a small amount and mix together with some lotion, blot with a towel and allow to dry.  Will it come off on a sofa or the water…yes, especially if you’re sweaty…so put down a scarf and just be aware.  But that’s why I don’t use too much product…I just like how it evens things out and gives me that extra bit of confidence. 

Okay ladies, I truly hoped this help.  I understand how disconcerting and frustrating crepey skin can be.  I deal with it, believe me!  I want us all to be able to love ourselves enough to accept who and where we are and then get out in life and celebrate what we have.  Please leave a comment and let me know if this helped or if you have some tips for me and our readers.  And remember, life is journey; let’s try to enjoy it!!