8 Ways to Soften the Feel of Your Elbows & Knees

Whenever skin care is discussed, people often assume it’s just about the face. Your face indeed has comparatively thinner, delicate skin and it’s also the first thing people notice about you. But, as the largest organ and the first level of defense against the external environment, your body’s skin requires attention.

Some parts of the body can give you an especially hard time. Elbows and knees are two common dry spots on your body that can be tough to deal with. But Lionesse is here to help you out! We’ve come up with 8 ways to help you achieve soft-feeling skin on your knees and elbows. We’ll touch on body scrubs while also recommending some Lionesse body care products to enhance your skincare technique. So, let’s dive in!

What Causes Dry Elbows and Knees?

Do you know why you’re experiencing dryness on your elbows and knees? What is it about these parts of the body that they get so scaly and itchy?

Well, the truth is, the skin on your knees and elbows has a mechanism for protecting itself. It’s thick and prone to stretching and bending to avoid damage. It’s designed to move as you move. Because of this feature, there are much fewer sebaceous glands — oil-producing glands — in these areas. That’s why you’ll notice your knees and elbows are often much drier than the rest of your body.

However, there can be other underlying reasons your knees and elbows are often dry and rough:

• Environmental Conditions: As the weather turns cold and harsh, our skin can get very dry. But our skin barrier retains humidity to some extent. However, if you live in a country that has very little rain and the air is dry a majority of the year, your skin will require an extra nudge to help moisturize it.
• Dehydration: What we consume plays a pivotal role in the health of our skin. Drinking the recommended amount of water (according to your weight) not only helps your body but also enhances the look of your skin. When you’re dehydrated, it appears on your skin in the form of flakiness, roughness, and even signs of aging.
• Improper Diet: As discussed above, keeping a healthy diet can help your skin in numerous ways. If your daily meals don’t consist of omega-3s and the essential A, C, D, and E vitamins, your skin will appear much drier. Foods with high water content can also help keep your skin moisturized. 
• Skin Conditions: Sometimes, dryness is inevitable. Certain skin conditions can make your skin feel rough and flaky; contact dermatitis, eczema, ichthyosis, and psoriasis.
• Natural Aging: The aging process accompanies a gradual loss of moisture because of many reasons. UV exposure, fewer natural oils, decreased cell renewal, and gradual loss of hormones from the body can all lead to drier, rougher skin as we age.
• Unhealthy Habits: If you tend to smoke or drink a little too much, it can dehydrate your body inside out. So, you might find your skin unusually dry. 

Now that we’ve addressed the probable causes of dry skin around your body, let’s talk about what you can do to overcome it. Here are 8 helpful tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to soften the feel of your elbows and knees: 

Get Into Body Scrubs

Exfoliation is a necessary skin care step that can help enhance the look and feel of your skin overall. That’s why we recommend incorporating body scrubs into your body care routine. They can make all the difference in the world when it comes to healthy-looking skin.

Exfoliation: Why You Need it

Exfoliating your skin regularly can keep it looking healthy and fresh. In fact, it’s actually a process that your skin does naturally. Every 28 days or so, your skin gets rid of dead cells from the top layer, revealing a layer of new skin underneath.

So, one might think, why should I use body scrubs if my skin exfoliates naturally?

Well, as our body ages, this process decelerates and dead cells start to accumulate on the top layer of our skin. You might start to see some early signs of damage in your late 20s depending on your habits and skincare routine. As the natural exfoliation process weakens, your skin starts to appear dry, dull, and flaky because of residual dead cells.

So, if you incorporate body scrubs into your routine, you can ensure that no dead cells get left behind. They can make your skin appear fresh, renewed, and much glowier than before. 

But exfoliation isn’t all about body scrubs. There are two types of exfoliants; chemical (AHAs and BHAs) and physical (body scrubs). Although dry skin benefits more from chemical exfoliation, physical exfoliation is key when it comes to your knees and elbows. And we’ve got just the right product for you!

The Lionesse Body Scrub from our exclusive White Pearl Collection can give you the results you’re looking for! This exquisite formula is infused with sea salt for the effective removal of dead skin cells.

It also incorporates mineral oil that works to hydrate the skin without clogging your pores. It works well on dry areas of the body as it prevents moisture from escaping. But the star ingredient in our formula is finely ground Pearl Powder that not only aids in removing flaky skin and impurities but also helps diminish the look of blemishes and age spots. Our gentle exfoliating body scrub is lightly scented, leaving your skin feeling smooth and refreshed.

Know How and When to Use Body Scrubs

Using body scrubs isn’t as simple as one may think; there are a few things you need to know to get great results:

The How

So, how do you go about using body scrubs?

First, you need to rinse your skin so it’s soft and damp. This makes it easier to remove the dead cells.

Take a generous amount of your scrub onto your fingertips and apply it evenly across your elbows and knees. Now, take a loofah or a pumice stone and gently rub your knees and elbows in circular motions. Be careful not to apply too much pressure so you don’t end up damaging your skin through over-exfoliation. If you feel any soreness or sensitivity, stop immediately because you might be going too strong. Keep massaging for five minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water.

The When

The best time to exfoliate your body is when you’re in the shower. It’s better to do it at night before heading to bed so your skin has time to heal.

That said, exfoliating in the morning also has its benefits. Your body produces oils overnight that can make exfoliation much easier during the daytime. But the downside is that you need to keep your skin sheltered if you plan on going out. This is because, after exfoliation, your skin is more vulnerable to damage from UV rays and pollutants around you. So, timing is key.

Always Follow Up with a Moisturizer

You can’t just expect to have smooth-looking skin without a good moisturizer to amp your body care game. And it’s especially crucial to apply a moisturizer after using body scrubs.

To get the best results from your body scrubs, follow up with our rich Body Cream. This velvety formula is designed to hydrate your skin, leaving it with a soft and supple feel. It incorporates top skincare ingredients to alleviate dry areas, including knees and elbows.

Our Body Cream consists of Shea Butter, mineral oil, and Ethylhexyl Palmitate that work as great texture enhancers. They have exceptional properties to help keep your skin looking smooth. The formula also includes Petrolatum — a sensational occlusive that locks in moisture — and Butylene Glycol — a well-known humectant to draw moisture from your surroundings. Overall, this formula is a sensational blend to keep your knees and elbows appearing soft and radiant!

Don’t Be Harsh on Your Skin

While you might feel like your knees and elbows require a little extra enthusiasm to get them softened up, it’s not actually the case. The best way to take care of these dry areas is to be gentle and take your time with it.

If you apply too much pressure while you’re cleaning or exfoliating, you might end up with the opposite results. We can understand the urge to get every last dead skin cell and dirt particle out, but being abrasive isn’t the way. You need to be gentle but consistent with your regimen to get satisfying results.

Avoid Drying Ingredients

Some soaps can irritate and dry out your skin. So, it’s important to be mindful of their ingredients when you’re purchasing them.

Go ahead and take a look at what your soap consists of. If you spot Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in there, it might be why your body skin is often dry and rough. SLS is a surfactant, which means it washes dirt away by degreasing your skin.

You should also avoid soaps that contain synthetic dyes and added artificial fragrances.

Lastly, make sure your soap is not alkaline. Our body skin is naturally acidic, with a normal pH range of 4.5 to 6.0. So, the higher your soap goes in terms of pH, the worse it reacts with your skin’s acidity levels. As a rule of thumb, you should use a soap that’s the close to your skin’s pH; 5 to 7.

Use Rich Body Butters & Oils

No moisturizing regimen can be complete without some skin-lovin’ plant butters and oils. These ingredients work wonderfully to relieve dry skin so your complexion looks revitalized and fresh!

And that’s exactly what you can expect from the Lionesse Body Butter. This luscious yet lightweight formula is enriched with pearl powder, glycerin, mineral oil, and Shea Butter to keep your skin looking smooth and fresh.

It also incorporates fatty acids, like Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, and Stearic Acid, that work effortlessly to enhance the feel of your skin’s elasticity. It’s the perfect blend to relieve dry skin!

Hydrate Yourself From the Inside

Rough skin can happen because your body isn’t hydrated well enough on the inside.

Do you count how many glasses of water you drink in a day? As a rule, you’re supposed to drink about half an ounce to an ounce of water for every pound of your body weight. So, if you’re 160 pounds, you should drink anywhere between 80 to 160 ounces of water a day.

If your body isn’t getting the amount of water it requires, this can make your skin appear flaky, dry, and dull. So, remember to keep your body hydrated from within and your skin will thank you for it! 

Summary

From body scrubs to internal hydration, these are just some of the ways in which you can soften the feel of your knees and elbows. If you stay true to these tips, you’re bound to notice a positive change.

Before you leave, take a look at our bestsellers for more sensational products to enhance your skin and hair care game.