My Body Care Routine
I want to start this blog with a question I want you to ask yourself: How often do we spend a full 10 minutes on our facial routine and just completely ignore the all-too-important skin on our bodies?
Believe me, I am guilty of this, too. While the skin on our body may be a bit more resilient than our facial skin, it still requires care to maintain hydration, elasticity, and overall health. Quite frankly, I am already noticing that the skin on my face looks better, younger and more supple than the skin on my chest and elsewhere. So, I have spent the last year or so really trying to build an effective body care routine.
I think it’s worth mentioning that, to me, this means incorporating a couple of products that I have researched and know that I can commit to! Remember, quality over quantity always.
shower routine
CLEANSING
I think it’s probably worth mentioning the most obvious step to a shower routine for the body (aka cleansing). My choice in cleanser honestly just comes down to what keeps my skin clean and hydrated, without stripping away excess moisture. My go-to’s include:
Naturium Body Wash — I love how gentle and effective this is (also, super budget friendly). It’s a great option that leaves my skin feeling fresh.
Nécessaire Eucalyptus Body Wash — TBH this one almost feels like a spa-like experience, with a subtle, calming scent. I love it!
IOTA Supervitamin Body Wash — This one is packed with brightening ingredients, like Vitamin C, Niacinamide, and Vitamin K. It’s just a really beautiful, hydrating formula.
EXFOLIATING
I try to use a form of an exfoliant 2-3 times a week in the shower to keep skin smooth and supple. While you probably know I avoid physical exfoliation on the face, neck and chest. I do use some physical (combined with chemical) exfoliation on the body. I especially love a GENTLE, non abrasive scrub before shaving or before using a sunless tanning cream.
I should also highlight that on the days I use an exfoliant in the shower, I will start with the exfoliant, and then finish with my usual cleanser! Here are a few of my favorites:
Naturium Salicylic Acid Body Wash — Love this one for post workout!
Nécessaire Body Exfoliator — A gentle, yet, effective formula!
Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads – My favorite facial exfoliating pads also come in a version for the body! And yes, it’s just as good! I should emphasize that if I am going the route of a peel pad, I will apply it after the shower on dry skin, before my moisturizer.
post shower care
Once out of the shower, I gently pat my skin dry, leaving it slightly damp to lock in moisture. Then I go in with a serum, or directly into my moisturizer!
TARGETED TREATMENTS
This isn’t an everyday step of mine, but if my body is feeling like it needs a little extra TLC, I will apply the Nécessaire Vitamin C Serum, before applying a moisturizer. I find it to be a simple way to incorporate antioxidants into my body care regimen. This is the step I skip most often and is really only reserved for the times I feel my skin is looking dull and lackluster.
MOISTURIZING
As you can imagine, proper moisturizing is an essential step in maintaining the skin’s barrier, preventing dryness, and improving overall texture. The key is finding products with ingredients that hydrate deeply while locking in moisture. I look for:-Humectants: Like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which draw water into the skin.
-Emollients: Such as shea butter and plant oils, which soften and soothe the skin.
-Occlusives: Like ceramides, which help seal in hydration and prevent water loss.
Here is a little roundup of the body butters and lotions I have been cycling between:
Cetaphil Cream — A reliable, no-frills option that keeps my skin hydrated without feeling greasy.
Isle of Paradise Body Butter — When I want something richer, this buttery formula is a go-to. I find it to be really great at tackling dry patches
Lux Unfiltered Tanning Lotion — I use this product at least a few nights a week! It’s hydrating and adds just the right amount of color.
Nécessaire The Body Retinol — You can also opt for an option with retinol combined to get the anti-aging benefit of this Vitamin A derivative on the body!
I also use Revision Contouring Lotion. It’s one of those products that feels like a splurge but delivers visible results. It comes with a price tag so I reserve it for those “problem” areas.
SUN PROTECTION
Could it even be a Skinthusiast blog if I didn’t include a section on sunscreen? The answer is no.I hear it all the time (unfortunately) that people are just applying spf to their face, but completely forgetting their body! Protecting your body from UV damage is essential for preventing premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and more serious concerns like skin cancer. If you are not applying sunscreen to your (exposed) body skin every single day, I promise you, none of these other steps will matter. More than any other product, I’m diligent about applying and reapplying sunscreen. If you are needing a new sunscreen suggestion, I love Supergoop PLAY. It’s lightweight and easy to spread. They also have those refill bags, which make it so easy to stock up.
NECK & HANDS
I wanted to do a little separate section on neck and hands, since they tend to need a little more attention!
Neck:
First and foremost, all you really need to do for the neck/chest is to extend facial skincare products down—think vitamin C, moisturizer, retinoid, and SPF. With that, I have been noticing that my neck might need a little extra care. So I’ve started experimenting with Neostrata Neck Cream after seeing impressive before-and-after photos and reviewing its ingredient list. It’s one neck cream I can get behind. Honorable mention here is the Revision Nectifirm!
Hands:
As for hands, they’re one of the first places to show signs of aging. Due to this, every night, I apply a heavy-duty hand cream to keep them hydrated and protected. I also ensure they get generous amounts of SPF throughout the day! Here are a few of my favorites:
Ok I think that covers my current body care routine! I hope it gave you a little insight and maybe inspired you to try something new! If you have any questions, let me know :)
**Disclaimer: This post does not constitute medical device. Please speak to your Dermatology provider before adding any at home procedures or products into your routine!
