Face It: Your Body Skin Needs a Little TLC Too

Every morning I put approximately “500” lotions, creams, and herbal mists on my face. And my body, (if it asks nicely) might get a layer of almond oil and a dollop of expired hand lotion on the extra dry bits.

While your body may not be exposed to as much sun and air pollution as your face, sagginess, dullness, and discoloration exist below the neck too. And personally, I believe your bum should shine just as brightly as your face. Rub those serums into all kinds of creasy folds, babe!

Luckily, experts and skin care brands think so too. So I’ve come up with an affordable-yet-luxurious skin care routine just for your body. PS: It’s also simple. If you have a routine for your face, you got this.

Gently cleanse

Maybe because we’re busy piling stuff onto our faces, we don’t notice all the terrible ingredients in our bodywash. Perfumes, dyes, and harsh soaps like sodium lauryl sulphate are all very common and may dry out your skin. For people with even more sensitive skin, these might be the root cause of your skin irritation or allergic reactions. Instead, choose products with a gentler cleanser like sodium lauroyl isethionate.

“You should also look for moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, and plant oils like argan, safflower, avocado, and olive,” recommends Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist.

Yep, the ingredients you think should be in your moisturizer? Jaliman says put it in your bodywash. She’s a fan of Shea Moisture’s Olive & Green Tea Body Wash.

Another ingredient you should stay clear of is alcohol. “Some washes have alcohol to help those with oily skin and body acne, but they’re very drying,” says Jaliman.

Exfoliate

Make like a snake and shed those dead skin cells. Like your face, your body can do with a little exfoliation.

Rather than using a scrub, look for products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). “These acids exfoliate the skin surface and improve its texture,” says Yemi Sokumbi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Milwaukee.

Apart from giving you glowing skin, these groups of acids can double down on your body acne and catch what the body wash didn’t.

“They’re better at cleaning out excess sebum from the pores and reducing oiliness than a traditional scrub,” Jaliman adds.

For daily exfoliation try Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA with salicylic acid. Alternatively, our editor loves using Binu-Binu’s Seshin Korean Scrub Mitt for that spa-like experience. (You can use a dry brush too!)

“Just make sure to follow up with SPF if you’re out in the sun,” cautions Sokumbi.