BRRR…Winter is here!
Ok, yes, I live in LA, and I’m reasonably sure that all you dancers in
colder climates are laughing at me, but it really is winter in Hollywood! But no matter where you live, there are some things about our dance practice and
presentation that need to change when the seasons do.
During the winter, our skin
gets dry from the cold and wind and also
from indoor heating. Moisturizing is necessary, even more than I it is in
warmer months. I’m really into the new Vaseline Spray And Go Body Moisturizer-
it’s an amazing product! It goes on smooth and doesn’t leave any residue, so
you can spritz it on right outta the shower and then get dressed immediately! Comes
in a nice variety of scents too, and they’re subtle, not cloying.
As for facial moisturizers, I love Boots Protect And Perfect Intense Serum- I use it at night, it seeps right in and my
skin feels so soft every morning. For daytime, I use Olay Total Effects 7 In One
Daily Moisturizer, which is really creamy but not oily…it feels light and is great under make up. There are tons of products you can buy, but
an easy ( and cheap!) home made scrub
will do the trick, too. In a bowl, combine
About once or twice a week, I
use a scrub to exfoliate my face. I sometimes joke that glitter is an exfoliant... but I like to make my own facial scrubs. There are
tons of products you can buy, but an easy
( and cheap!) home made scrub will do the trick, without causing
irritation. In a bowl, combine 1
tablespoon of dry oatmeal with ¼ teaspoon of table salt- any kind will do. Add
a teaspoon of water , or if your skin is very dry, use olive oil instead. Rub it into your skin
carefully with your fingers in circular motions, going upwards. Make sure not
to drag or pull your skin. Then let the
paste sit on your face for about ten minutes, and rinse it off with
tepid water.
After this scrub, I apply natural coconut oil to my face. You can purchase a large bottle of coconut oil at any health food store-
it’s great for cooking too. But when used on the skin, it draws moisture to you
and seals it in, without leaving you feeling greasy and gross…plus it smells
nice. I slather it all over my poor beat up feet at night, then slip on a pair
of thick socks and I the morning, my feet look…well… almost presentable! It’s also terrific as a natural make up
remover.
As for winter time make up, one
of the problems most of us have is that our summer tans are fading. Check the
foundation you’ve been using to be sure
that the shade still matches your skin tone. You might want to mix two colors
together, so you can lighten or darken the current color you are using to match your “new” seasonal skin tone. For pale or fair gals, bronzer might be in order…and
you can find great, inexpensive ones at the drug store! E.L.F Studio Contouring Blush
And Bronze is only about four bucks and comes in a wide variety of shades. If you want to go a little higher-end, MAC Bronzing Powder is the bomb. For
bronzers, make sure to use them sparingly, since you are no longer tan; take a
large fluffy brush, and lightly go over the outside contours of your face:
cheek bones, temples, jaw line, then fluff some across the bridge of your nose. This will give you a healthy
and believable subtle sun-kissed glow, and extend
the remnants of your summer color.
If your hair is looking dull and dirty, but
it’s too damn cold to wash it as much as you do when it’s warmer, try a dry
shampoo. Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo
works like a charm and is available at places like target, Walmart, CVS, etc.
for under ten bucks. Also, in the winter static electricity is a problem for
any type of hair, so think about using a
silicone smoother to prevent fly-aways. I really like the John
Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Hair Serum but be forewarned- a little dab’ll do ya!
During the cooler months, be
really anal about making sure your body is fully warmed up before you dance.
You should be doing this any way, but in the winter, it’s absolutely
imperative, because dancing with cold
muscles is basically a way of begging for an injury! Be sure to dress in “classic dancer layers”-
including a sweater or sweatshirt, leg warmers, that sort of thing.
During the winter, gals have
to be really on top of our vitamin D
intake. Adequate amounts of vitamin D
will help your body to perform to it’s fullest-
it’s great for our bones and it boosts the immune system…and of course,
we need that for dancing! Vitamin D also
keeps our mood up, and increases
morale. During the spring and
summer, get a lot of vitamin D naturally
from sunlight, but during the winter, because of the longer nights and lesser amount of
daylight hours, it’s a safe bet our D levels are decreased.
If you’re not already taking vitamin D
supplements, ask your doctor which
dose might be right for you. But you can
also get a nice dose of vitamin D for
breakfast! I make a green smoothie
every morning that’s bursting with vitamin D, and though it looks kinda scary,
it’s really yummy!
Here’s what I throw in a
blender:
A big handful or two each of raw spinach and raw kale
One large stalk of celery
Half a small/medium cucumber,
cut into chunks
Two or three large broccoli
florets
Half a large apple cut into slices
A banana
A cup and a half of orange
juice
Two or three heaping tablespoons of plain Greek yoghurt ( I like Fage, but any
brand will do as long as there’s no added sugar)
Blend well!
You’ll have enough for about
three large drinks, so you can have some
later as a pick-me-up- in fact, I drink a big glass of this before gigging
cause it gives me a huge energy boost, but without the jitters that come from
caffeine or “enhanced’ sports drinks
like Red Bull. The apples , banana and
orange juice make it sweet and
wonderful. I’ve also used a dash of
coconut milk and frozen pineapple chunks
for a tropical flavor, or added in a heaping teaspoon of cinnamon and a little more apple and it tastes just
like apple pie a la mode! By the way, cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Now that I’ve given you this healthy recipe,
drink a big glass full on Christmas
morning!
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Posts
Thanks for this! Do you have any thoughts on using bronzer on the abdomen, chest, and arms as well as the face, for gigs?
ReplyDeleteThe smoothie recipe sounds delicious!
yes! Look in the archives, there's a post about body contouring and highlighting!!!! I use bronzer and highlighter on my body for performance!
DeleteThanks! <3
DeleteThanks i made the green lantern and it sufficed for lunch
ReplyDeleteSorry wrong post
ReplyDelete