I recently read about designer Bibhu Mohapatra and am now head over heels in love with his wonderful creations! The incredible gowns above are from his Spring 2010 collection.  The colors, the wispy fabrics, and the absolutely fantastic layering all make for dresses I would happily wear to any occasion. Aren’t they divine? I am always interested to know what inspires a designer to create a particular collection and am more than a little fascinated to find out that the Spring 2010 line “pays homage to the x-ray, elements in nature, and the merging of the two“. Beautiful gowns inspired by x-rays, a reminder that inspiration is all around us, in all sorts of unexpected places.

Here is the thing about skin: it covers your whole body so you think it would be easy to be aware of what is happening to it but when it is covered in four layers of t-shirts and sweaters for the past 6-7 months you sort of have no idea what the situation is.  If you think you can see what’s what in those brief times of dressing, undressing and showering, you must live somewhere warmer than this little piece of the Northeast.  I assure you we are all in such a mad dash to get clothes back on oh my god I’m freezing, that we have not seen our undressed form since September.  It is no surprise then that when spring arrives and you start peeling layers off you notice first that you are blindingly pasty white (this might just be me) and that your skin looks dry and sad (this is probably not just me).

Here are the five things you need to get yourself back into presentable form, and maybe even show some bare legs and arms:

Scrub: There is no way to rehydrate the dead top layer of flaky skin. You absolutely must scrub that layer off in order to moisturize the underlying layers and give them a fighting chance.  There are many ways to do this from brushes to loofahs to salt scrubs.  Giovanni Cool Mint Lemonade Salt Scrub is a lovely, refreshing path to new skin.  It smells divine, the scrubby bits are effective but not painful, and I don’t feel like it makes the tub as dangerously slippery as most other jar scrubs I’ve encountered. It is really nice to have a product like that in your shower for a treat, but I usually can’t be bothered to add another step to my routine.  I get around this with One With Nature Coco Walnut Soap. Scrub and cleanse in one motion, smells great, rinses clean, and makes me feel good that I’m not creating more garbage since bar soap requires no container.  It is very scrubby so if you have sensitive skin step down to One With Nature Dead Sea Mud Soap, or even more gentle One With Nature Vanilla Oatmeal Soap.

Cream: Now that you have uncovered a new layer of skin you will want to protect and hydrate it with a rich cream.  Weleda Skin Food is the absolute best. Wonderful scent, and while it is thick it sinks in and works better than anything else I’ve tried.  A few nights of Skin Food and you will be ready for sunny weekends in shorts and tanks.

Sunscreen: Yes it is only March but if you aren’t already wearing sunscreen year round (which you really should be) now is the time to start wearing it daily. On all exposed parts of your skin, especially your face. I recommend Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch, which I use for face and body. It doesn’t leave behind a white cast, has a light, non-offensive scent, and dries quickly to a matte finish.

Cleanser: The biggest complaint I hear from women who don’t like wearing sunscreen on a daily basis is that it makes them breakout.  Barring an allergy or sensitivity to a particular ingredient, sunscreen makes us breakout because it is very hard to remove at the end of the day and therefore clogs the pores.  For most of today’s formulas you really need an efficient cleanser such as Philosophy Purity Made Simple.  This non-foaming cleanser breaks down sunscreen, makeup, and dirt and gets you squeaky clean without over drying your skin. It is a bit pricey but my 8 oz. bottle is still more than half full after about 4 months of use. For really stubborn sunscreen or long wearing makeup formulas I suggest the Japanese secret to great skin: double cleansing.  Wash your face once, rinse and repeat.  It sounds strange and takes a couple extra minutes to do but is well worth it to prevent those pesky breakouts and encourage you to keep slathering on the sunscreen.

Vitamin C serum: Dermatologists, my own wonderful doctor included, are now recommending use of a Vitamin C serum under our daily sunscreen.Vitamin C is an antioxidant and increases the effectiveness of your sunscreen of choice.  Kiehl’s Vitamin C Serum is a wonderful place to start. Lightweight, with just enough moisture and a high dose of Vitamin C.  For a more affordable option try Avalon Organics Vitamin C Serum.

What are your spring skin care must-haves?

It is pouring for the second day straight as I write this post, and I expect it will continue tomorrow as well.  Spring rain is something we all deal with, some more than others, and it is a good thing.  Remember what your grandma always told you:  April showers bring May flowers! They never tell you what March showers do, I suppose they clean the leftover salt and dirt off the roads. That sounds good, we’ll go with that.  What grandma also might not have told you is how to survive the rainy season while still looking stylish and preferably keeping your hair dry.  Three things will keep you covered: a good umbrella, stylish trench coat, and of course a pair of cute wellington boots.

I for one am tired of the sad little standard issue navy umbrellas I see everywhere. If my hair is going to be frizzy and my pants half wet at least I’m going to carry a pretty umbrella. If for no other reason than to distract the eye away from said poofy hair and wet pant legs.  The bubble style umbrella on the left is from EchoDesign.  It is a great option if you are hoping to keep your hair dry as it offers the most coverage.  If you need a smaller umbrella you can easily store in your purse Kate Spade is offering the cheerful and compact little umbrella on the right. Also check out Eddie Bauer for well made, affordable umbrellas often in lovely prints.

A good trench coat is really priceless. It will keep you warm and dry this spring, shield you on those few chilly summer nights, and be a great transitional coat in the fall.  I’ve already posted about the wonderful Martin + Osa classic trench coat here, and it is now on sale so hurry!! This shorter swing trench also by Martin + Osa is a great more casual option.

Finally a great pair of wellies are absolutely necessary if you live in a city, or other area where you mostly get around by walking.  There is no shoe that will keep my feet dry walking down New England streets in the pouring rain.  And nothing will ruin your workday faster than spending it in soggy, squishy shoes. Just say no.  Hunter boots are the true original, and will last you years with proper care. They come in a wide variety of colors, and can even be accessorized with a fleece welly sock for warmth now and even in the fall and winter.

Any other tips for staying dry and looking pretty? Especially in the type of rain that seems to come from both directions?

Images via: echodesign, katespade, martinandosa, hunter