So much information about skin health in the last decade seems to emphasize the delicate and important facial features, but recently a trend toward total body skin care has emerged. Wondering how to elevate your body skincare routine? Well look no further! These tips and tricks will get you glowing in no time!
Body Skincare Tips & Tricks
Bathe sparingly
As contrary as this may sound, bathing more than once a day or showering with scorchingly hot water can actually compromise your skin barrier.
“Daily hygiene is important, but over-cleansing can do more harm than good,” said Dr. Heather Rogers, a board-certified dermatologist with a Seattle-based practice called Modern Dermatology. “[Showering too often] strips the skin’s natural oils leading to dryness and irritation.” Instead use lukewarm water, cleanse once a day or less, don’t scrub too aggressively and moisturize soon after stepping out of your bath or shower.
For extra skin protection when bathing, particularly if you live in an area with hard water, install a shower filter. By removing harsh chemicals like chlorine and minerals, filters can reduce dryness, irritation, and inflammation – even helping to reduce symptoms of atopic eczema, according to recent studies.
Try this: New Wave’s Enviro Premium Shower Filter contains a KDF-55 filter that reduces chlorine and hydrogen sulfide and also features crystal quartz which softens water naturally. As a bonus, it comes with an optional aroma therapy diffuser ring that can hold any essential oil you choose for a more spa-like experience.
Or this: Earth Therapeutics Loofah Body Scrubber is natural vegetable cleansing sponge that exfoliates dead skin cells while improving circulation throughout the body. Gentle but effective, it will help revitalize your skin without stripping it of natural oils.
Invest in body cream
Consider applying moisturizers to your skin after bathing as a type of self-care. Not only can it promote a sense of relaxation, but it can also enhance body image and confidence. Plus, it replenishes lost moisture, preventing dryness and flakiness while improving your skin’s ability to retain water, resulting in softer, more supple skin. Look for ingredients that will nourish and protect your skin barrier, such as:
Shea butter, which is “deeply nourishing and rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids,” said Dr. Rogers.
Glycerin, a lesser known but important ingredient that acts a humectant, drawing water into the skin to for deeper hydration that also speeds skin healing.
Ceramides which are famous for helping to restore and maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Squalane which Rogers explains is a “bioidentical moisturizer and skin conditioner that restores fatty acids and antioxidants to the skin.”
Try this: Shikai’s Very Clean Body Barrier Cream combines niacinamide or vitamin B3 which aids in softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with ceramides that lock in moisture to keep skin feeling supple, strong and dewy.
Or this: Acure’s Seriously Soothing 24-hour Moisture Lotion integrates cocoa butter and hydrating aloe with squalane which mimics your skin’s natural oils to provide deep but lightweight moisture that won’t clog pores or cause breakouts while delivering a dose of protective antioxidants.
Skip the scrubs
Body scrubs have been popular for decades, but Dr. Rogers says that “physical scrubs like sugar, salt or coffee can be too abrasive, causing microtears that compromise the skin barrier. Instead use a chemical exfoliant serum that can gently dissolve dead skin cells to reveal smoother, firmer skin underneath while supporting collagen production.”
What should you look for in a body lotion that will chemically exfoliate? Key ingredients include:
Glycolic, lactic or salicylic acids dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together, making them an excellent exfoliant. If you have sensitive skin, try lactic acid which is gentler whereas salicylic acid is a must for those with oilier skin that is prone to breakouts.
Retinol will take your body skincare routine to another level by promoting skin cell turnover as well as reducing the appearance of pores and blemishes. Retinol is known for being irritating to some skin types so start with a small amount and gradually increase usage as tolerated.
Collagen Peptides are another way to firm up your skin, as recent research suggests that collagen supplements improve skin moisture, elasticity and hydration when orally administered.
Caffeine constricts blood vessels, which can reduce puffiness, redness and inflammation. Some studies suggest that caffeine may also reduce the appearance of cellulite by stimulating fat breakdown and improving circulation.
Try this: Andalou Naturals’ Clarifying Yuzu Grapefruit Body Lotion helps exfoliate rough skin and improve skin tone with salicylic acid, bakuchiol (a natural, plant-based retinol alternative), plus tea tree, witch hazel and fruit extracts that soothe and purify pores without disrupting the skin microbiome.
Or this: Hempz’s Age Defying Body Moisturizer tightens skin with caffeine and peptides as well as adding a healthy dose of nutrient rich hydration with hemp seed oil which contains a potent punch of essential fatty acids, natural proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins.
Don’t forget sunscreen
You may be weary of hearing about it over and over but applying sunscreen every day is crucial.
“Regardless of the season, applying sunscreen daily is essential, particularly to areas that are not covered by clothes,” said Dr. Rogers. “Remember your face, neck, chest and hands. Sunscreen protects against premature aging, sunburn and skin cancer.”
Along those same lines, liberal integration of antioxidants can also help to reduce the oxidative damage that sun exposure causes. “Antioxidants aren’t just for your face,” adds Dr. Rogers. “Apply them to exposed areas like your neck, chest and hands to slow the breakdown of collagen.”
Try this: Australian Gold’s Seaside Retreat Body Lotion is perfect for tropical vacations, festivals or any activity where you’re spending time outside. Featuring the Australian native plant, Desert Honey Myrtle, famous for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and astringent properties, this body cream is also packed with a powerful combination of vitamins C and E.
Or this: Raw Elements’ Mineral Sunscreen Face and Body Spray is what you want to reach for before heading out of doors. With SPF 50, this broad-spectrum body spray protects against UVB and UVA rays and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Plus is features grapeseed oil which delivers antioxidants, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids to help hydrate, nourish, and protect it your skin.
Elevating your body skincare routine isn’t as complicated as you might think. Hopefully, these tips will help you reveal even softer, firmer, more radiant skin – all over! “Healthy skin isn’t just about appearance – it’s about comfort, confidence and feeling good in your body,” adds Dr. Rogers. “Whether you’re looking to prevent aging, manage dryness or simply elevate your self-care routine, these practices can make a meaningful difference.” So give them a try for a radiant complexion you can proudly display at any angle!