Take a moment to think about how much time you spend on your face skincare-wise versus your body. I bet it’s not even comparable! From cleansers and masks to anti-ageing serums and high-tech creams, it would seem as if many people are happy to invest in their complexion, but when it comes to all-over skincare, there’s a much more carefree approach.
You guessed it, in this edit, I am sharing why your body deserves just as much attention as your face. I’m a huge advocate for taking care of your body; it’s how I keep my skin baby-soft and super smooth no matter the season. So, whether you’re weary of thick moisturisers and want something lightweight, hate stickiness and crave something quick-drying, or have concerns about your skin’s texture (AHA formulas are great for that), I’m sharing the tips and products to get you feeling body confident.
What causes dry, rough and textured skin on our bodies?
As a rule of thumb, anything that strips skin of its natural moisture and oils will affect its appearance and texture, but the following are the most common culprits:
• Hot baths and showers – can dry out the skin so it’s best to opt for warm instead.
• Weather conditions (both hot and cold and fluctuating between two different temperatures)
• Shaving – although it helps to exfoliate it can sometimes irritate skin.
• External aggressors such as pollution.
• Sun damage – can dry out the skin if not replenished properly.
• Build-up of dead skin cells (from not exfoliating)
What ingredients help improve the overall condition of your skin?
When choosing a body product, take a look at the ingredients list on the bottle. These are some great ones to look out for:
• Hyaluronic acid – helps the skin to hold on to moisture.
• Glycolic acid – will exfoliate the skin without having to use a physical exfoliant.
• Ceramides – the building blocks of skin that help it to remain healthy.
• Glycerin – will help to add hydration to the skin.
• Antioxidants – will reverse damage caused by everyday aggressors such as pollution.
• Plant butters and oils – will help to naturally replenish lipids in the skin and keep it hydrated.
In the past, most body products have been fairly basic in terms of what they can offer, adding hydration and basic exfoliation but not particularly sophisticated when it comes to active ingredients or formula. We’ve seen skin-changing ingredients added to facial skincare products over the years, and it was only a matter of time before body products received a much-needed upgrade, too. After all, it’s not just the skin on our face that ages or experiences wrinkles and pigmentation. With a new influx of body creams, scrubs and body serums loaded with skin-loving ingredients, you’ll feel confident showing off your soft and smooth skin.
Here are some of my favourite products to nourish, buff and treat your skin to perfection!
1. If Your Skin Feels Dry
Nuxe Reve de Miel Melting Honey Body Oil Balm
What it does:
• Tackles dry and sensitive skin.
• Hydrates for up to 48 hours.
• Repairs, nourishes, soothes and calms any signs of irritation.
• Slows down the skin’s ageing process.
• Protects from free radicals such as pollution.
• Gives an instant dewy glow and suppleness to your skin.
Texture: Silky balm that transforms into an oil when massaged into the skin.
Scent: Honey, mimosa and vanilla.
Use: Every day
Reve de Miel translates to ‘honey dream’ in English, and I think that’s a very accurate way to describe this luxurious body balm from French Pharmacy icon, Nuxe.
The first thing I noticed after using this body balm for the first time was that it instantly made a difference to the appearance and feel of my skin. Not only do I smell sensational when I use it (thanks to the sweet scent of honey, mimosa and vanilla), but my skin has a gorgeous sheen that catches the light, and it feels soft and supple to the touch.
It immediately gets to work to repair, replenish and hydrate dry, dehydrated and irritated skin because one of its main ingredients is, unsurprisingly, honey. A natural flavonoid antioxidant, it also helps to slow down ageing and protect the skin from free radicals. But that’s not all, this all-singing, all-dancing body cream is jam-packed full of essential fatty acids to plump and intensively hydrate your skin, while moisturising botanical oils (borage and argan) condition your skin to perfection.
#2 If Your Skin Is Dull
Decleor 1000 Grain Body Exfoliator
What it does:
• Gets rid of dead skin with three different sizes of physical exfoliating grains.
• Refines skin with natural chemical exfoliants from fruit acids.
• Hydrates and intensively moisturises the skin as it exfoliates.
Texture: Yellow gel with grains suspended in the formula, when applied to the skin it melts into an oil, and turns into a milk on contact with water.
Scent: Grapefruit, pineapple and passion fruit – it’s heavenly!
Use: Once a week, apply to dry skin and then rinse off.
I’ve used body scrubs before, but I’ve never really enjoyed them until I tried this one. It’s not just a body exfoliator – it’s an experience! Dermatologists recommend using a body buffer once a week, and if you do this regularly you’ll notice the difference it makes to your skin texture – it’s less rough and looks healthy. But, before I go into how amazing it makes your skin look and feel, let’s talk about just how good this body scrub smells. Imagine a freshly squeezed glass of fruit juice, incorporating zesty grapefruit, juicy pineapple and the tart sweetness of passion fruit – this scent is addictive.
You apply it to dry skin for the full effect (although admittedly, I did apply to wet skin the first time I used it and I still got great results) and massage into the skin until it feels kind of ‘oily’. Adding water to the mix turns this skin-enhancing exfoliator into a milky texture to leave your skin feeling beautifully hydrated. But how does it work? Three different sizes of grain buff the top layer of the skin, while the natural AHA and BHAs found in grapefruit, pineapple and passion fruit provide a chemical exfoliation. What I also love about this body scrub is how moisturised it makes my skin feel afterwards because it contains sunflower oil and sweet almond oil to reinforce the hydrolipidic film of the skin.
3. If Your Skin Shows Lack Of Firmness
What it does:
• Rejuvenates and firms skin by encouraging cell renewal and collagen production for a toning effect.
• Boosts skin’s moisture levels.
• Smooths rough patches.
• Renews skin surface with gentle chemical exfoliants.
Texture: Light liquid serum that absorbs quickly.
Scent: Light, fresh and slightly floral fragrance.
Use: Every day.
It’s not just the skin on your face that experiences the signs of ageing. I, for one, at 40 years old, have noticed a change in the elasticity of my skin on my body in the last few years and no, I’m not happy about it! Consequently, I’ve made it my mission to fight back and tested out numerous lotions and creams promising to tackle the skin’s natural signs of ageing.
The Clarins Body Serum is a body product I return to time and time again. Why? Because when I use it, I see both instant and long term results. Its light texture makes it a dream to apply and it soaks in quickly, which is perfect for me because I’m always in a rush. Skin immediately feels soft to the touch and fully hydrated thanks to added water lily extract, as well as extract of christophine and olive, which help to strengthen the moisturising action and prevent signs of ageing.
Over time, I noticed that the dry patches on my elbows had been completely eliminated, plus I saw an improvement in the appearance of the slightly sagging skin on my elbows and knees. It’s pre-retinol that’s hard at work in the formula; it helps to gently renew the skin while natural chemical exfoliant, wintergreen extract eliminates dead skin cells while refining and tightening the skin. If used every day, you’ll start to see your skin transform.
