Head-to-toe perfection

My curiosity was at an all-time high as I set about to seek advice on why some women looked after their hair and skin, but other areas like their elbows, knees, hands and feet looked far less appealing and were often times, neglected.

The routine of pampering our face with lotions, creams, concealers and other similar beauty products, is something that we enjoy and indulge in. It gives us confidence and helps us face the world. But how about a regimen of head-to-toe grooming, so you can give your elbows, feet, hands, neck and knees a little TLC?

For some women, this is a chore. For instance, take the tube of lavender scented hand cream on my desk. It's in a pretty package, but I don't seem to recall the last time I used it. It may have expired, but I don't have time to give it the sniff test because I need to finish writing this feature (yes, that's my excuse). And since I'm confessing to this shortcoming in my beauty routine, let me just say that I don't recall the last time I went out in a pair of strappy sandals because I was worried that my heels might not be smooth enough to show off.

Unfortunately, there's no statistical evidence to prove the percentage of women who neglect those areas, compared to those who meticulously pamper themselves.

What is undeniable, is that not all women lavish the same degree of attention to every bit of their skin. So, here's a guide on how you can feel confident in your skin every single day.

Neck and décolletage

Apart from being one of most obvious giveaway for a woman's age, the neck comes on top in the list of neglected areas in skincare. The famous three-step cleansing, toning, moisturising routine seems to stop at our jaw line.

Dr Fatima Habib (MD), specialist dermatologist at CosmeSurge, Jumeirah Beach Road, explains why such thinking can lead to a disconnect between your face and neck, in terms of appearance. "Unlike the face which has thicker skin, the dermis is very thin on the neck and this makes it highly prone to premature ageing. The neck has a thin sheet muscle called the platysma, that's not attached to any bone. And because the neck muscle is like a membrane and has very little support tissue, it tends to sag quicker than facial skin.

"Lifestyle factors that accelerate ageing for delicate areas like the neck are smoking, inadequate skincare and sun exposure," says Dr Habib.

Barkha Moryani, partner at Juice Salon & Spa, located in Al Ghusais, Dubai, says: "When it comes to looking after the neck, nothing can substitute an elaborate facial, one that extends to the neck and décolletage."

She also advises women to do a daily five-minute neck massage at home using a good-quality neck cream. "Make sure you stick to gentle upward strokes and avoid stretching the skin upwards or downwards, she cautions.

Another effective way to keep the neck looking supple is by doing neck exercises. An exercise Moryani recommends is facing the ceiling and simulating the action of chewing.

Tip: Sleeping posture can have an impact on the delicate quality of the skin in the neck area. Try to avoid sleeping on your side. In fact, many women love sleeping in the ‘embryo position', which makes your chin drop into the hollow of your neck thus placing pressure on the skin in the neck. If you cannot help but sleep in the ‘embryo position', ensure your face is not tucked into your neck. And if you prefer sleeping on the side, avoid staying curled up on any one side for too long.

We recommend: L’Oréal Revitalift Face, Contours and Neck cream; Korres Materia Herba cream for face and neck; Shiseido Concentrated Neck Contour Treatment; Clarins Super Restorative Replenishing Comfort Mask for face and neck and Sisley Crème Pour Le Cou Neck Cream

Elbows
Whatever you prefer to wear, a sleeveless top or short sleeves, there’s no escaping unattractive elbows. Besides dryness, the common problem women suffer from is when the skin on their elbows is coarse and often darker in colour than the rest of the arm.

“The skin on the elbows tends to be a bit different from the rest of the arm as it is the flexure point of the arm. While some women are generally prone to pigmentation at the elbow, pigmentation also results from chronic dryness,” she says.

Naturally if the elbows were to be kept well-moisturised on a daily basis, and from an early age, it could help to reduce the pigmentation to a large extent. Dr Habib recommends using a keratolytic cream on the elbow skin. A keratolytic cream contains urea, a compound that dissolves the top layer of keratin which causes pigmentation.
Moryani advises using a body bleach once a month along with a Moroccan bath to take care of neglected elbows. In addition, the age-old remedy of rubbing lemon juice on dark elbows to lighten the skin tone still works like magic.

Tip: You can apply athin layer of bleach to the elbows three times a week before going to bed. Saveyour favourite bedsheet for anothernight.
We recommend: Jergens Skin Firming Moisturiser; Missha Ylang Ylang Body Scrub

Feet
Summer is just around the corner and you’re likely to start wearing your favourite strappy sandals or investing in new ones. However, putting on your strappy heels, also means you’ll be showing off your feet quite often. Whether you have cracked heels, calluses or dry, neglected skin, your feet have to be pampered and looked after before you can step into those shoes.

Dr Habib says, “The problems of cracked, poorly-maintained unattractive heels are caused by the fact that the heel is a major pressure point. When there is undue pressure on any part of the skin, as a natural protective reaction, it develops a thick layer of dermis to counter the friction mechanism.”

For footcare, begin with an elaborate fortnightly pedicure to reverse the damage. Moryani suggests investing in good-quality foot creams, scrubs and loofahs as well as a deodorising foot spray. Take an appointment at a beauty salon and request a full pedicure session to keep heels looking their best. Of course, ensure that the beauty hygienist is qualified and all safety precautions are  being observed. 

Tip: When you are using foot creams, make sure you do not allow it to get in between your toes. Keep these areas completely dry to prevent odour or bacterial infections. Use a refreshing foot spray after a bath regularly to keep them smelling fresh. And yes, air your footwear, espcially ‘closed’ ones like boots.

We recommend: Avon Foot Works AHA Renewing Treatment; Kenzo Barefeet Fantasy; Hansaplast Anti-Blister Gel; The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Spray and a blob of The Body Shop Pumice Foot Scrub
 

Hand
If your hand cream tube is still full six months after you bought it, your hands are most likely dry. Think of this image: a perfectly smooth face, beautiful make-up, gleaming hair, great tooth whitening job for that Hollywood smile and a pair of hands that look like they’ve been photoshopped. So right now, take your eyes off this page and take a good look at the skin on your hands.

While the skin on your palm is very thick, the skin on the back of the hands is extremely delicate. And hence the need to be able to put your hand out and greet others with confidence! Dr Habib advises that you moisturise your hands with the same anti-ageing cream you use for your face every morning and night. Moryani suggests moisturising your hands every time you wash them. “And massage in a moisturiser before drying them, because that helps lock in the moisture,” she says.

Juice Salon & Spa manicure therapist Magnolia gives her personal tip: “I still use the traditional petroleum jelly vaseline on my hands before I go to bed. It works really well to soften and eliminate calluses.” Alternatively, she suggests adding a few drops of lemon to petroleum jelly and rubbing this mixture into your hands.

Give your hands a dry massage as many times as possible in a day, even when at work. It instantly helps reduce tension in the muscles. Also learn about the pressure points on the palm. “From time to time, get a hand accu-pressure massage to help release the tension in the hands. Interlocking fingers and gently lifting and roping them is a great way to relieve stress, free up circulation and relax the skin,” says Magnolia. And ofcourse, frequent manicures will help reduce visible signs of ageing.

Tip: Once a week, take off any rings that you wear and let your hands be free of all constrictions. The skin that’s been covered by rings will be slightly discoloured and the texture a bit moisture-ridden. Let the skin breathe and give your hands a quick massage, extending the pressure down each finger to the nail. Flex your wrists, rotate gently a few times a day to keep your joints supple. If you would like to use a light oil to massage your fingers – leave it on for 20 minutes before washing it off. Pat hands dry and use a light hand cream.

We recommend: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream; The Body Shop Almond Oil Refining Hand Scrub; Penhaligon’s Lavendula Hand and Nail Lotion; a blob of the Penhaligon’s lotion; Nivea Hand SOS Intensive Balm and Nuxe Rêve de Miel Hand & Nail Cream

Knees
Have you ever wondered why knee-length dresses were invented? To cover up the discomfort many women have to show their unsightly knees. Even if your hemlines never venture above the knee, maintaining well-cared for knees is a must.

Being yet another flexure point, the skin on the knees is quite similar to the skin on our elbows. It is usually more coarse than the skin on the rest of the legs, and ends up becoming dry, dark and pigmented due to long-term neglect. While the shape of your knees can’t be changed, a regular regime of bathtime exfoliation and ample moisturising helps knees look smooth and soft skinned. But if the skin is chronically dry, you need to use a keratolytic cream (it contains urea, a compound that dissolves the top layer of keratin which causes pigmentation). Pedicure therapist Magnolia suggests using a sea salt scrub for this area.

Tip: Dry body scrubs are very good for blood circulation and for tough skin areas like the knees. Since dry scrubs can cause a bit of a mess, ensure you have an old cotton sheet underneath so you can remove any spills easily.

We recommend: Dove Body Silk Moisturiser; Nivea Q10 Skin Firming Moisturiser and Nuxe Rêve de Miel SOS Repair Balm