One modern token of “self-care day” is the face mask ritual. We associate taking care of our skin as an act of self love, but why are we only focusing on the skin on our face? Not only will working on your body skin help you feel more confident but it will also help protect your skin from aging quickly and possibly posing health concerns in the future.
As someone who is obsessed with caring for their body skin, I am here to help. I compiled a list of my top five steps you should take to better your skin overall. So, let’s begin!
- Start Dry Brushing
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If you’re going to pick one of my five steps to add to your routine, it should be this one. Dry brushing is an easy and quick way to improve your skin’s texture and increase circulation. This technique is popular in Ayurvedic Medicine. Verywell Health defines Ayurvedic Medicine as being, “Considered a complementary health approach in the United States, Ayurveda focuses on restoring balance in the body through a personalized plan that can include massage, specialized diets, herbs, aromatherapy, and exercise,” and you can learn more about it here. In addition, many cultures, such as Japanese and ancient Greeks, use dry brushing as a method to beautify the skin.
Personally, I take five minutes before I shower everyday and brush toe to head and then follow up with a body oil post shower. When brushing, try to brush upward, toward the heart and with a strong stroke to ensure the best results. Dry brushes generally come in a similar shape but can come with a variety of handles depending on your preference. Checkout Amazon, Goop, or Beauty by Earth to find one that works best for you!
For a step by step tutorial, watch this short Youtube video!
- Exfoliate Before Shaving
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Many of us despise ingrown hairs and for good reason; they’re painful, unsightly, irritating and have the potential to scar. So, to prevent the ingrown hairs that come from shaving, one key is to exfoliate the area beforehand. Doing this will get rid of the dead skin cells that may become trapped under the skin once you shave; think of it as a prep and prime.
You can use a chemical exfoliant product or a gentle physical exfoliant for this, as you don’t want to tear up your skin in these sensitive areas with an aggressive scrub. For a chemical exfoliant, Paula’s Choice BHA exfoliant is my go-to, and for a physical exfoliant try this Microdermabrasion Polish from Botanics!
- Choose Your Soap Wisely
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As much as we all love the flowery-scented, butter soft soaps for the bath, they’re not always the best for your skin. Although they may make you skin feel soft in the shower, those thick liquid soaps often dry out your skin in the end, not to mention they can be loaded with harsh chemicals. For a better option, reach for something that contains ingredients such as shea butter and natural plant oils to keep your skin hydrated even after rinsing it off.
My absolute holy grail soap for showers is the Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap. I love this soap for many reasons, one major factor being that it completely took the shaving cream step out of my shower routine. For a while I was all about the coconut oil for shaving trend, but it kept getting stuck in my razor! This is the best all-in-one soap I’ve used, not to mention it comes in a plethora of natural scents such as lavender, citrus, tea tree, unscented and more!
P.S. If you want to cut down on plastic use, this product comes in a bar as well. - Find a Moisturizer You Love and Actually Use it Daily
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I know, many of us hate the feeling of sticky lotioned skin when we’re crawling into bed at night, and I hear you. But, with the insane variety of moisturizers out there today, that is no excuse to leave your skin dry and cracked.
If you’re the type that hates sticky lotions and body creams, try using a wet skin moisturizer, one of the top rated being Curel’s Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer.
If you’re like me and you love the feeling of soft skin but don’t like the thick and heavy body creams, try out body oil! My personal favorite is Bio Oil because it’s affordable and packed with vitamins and nutrients. In addition, this oil works to get rid of stretch marks and hyperpigmentation, making your skin clear AND soft.
Lastly, if you want to lather up with a rich body butter and feel like you’ve just walked out of the spa everyday, or if you have particularly dry skin, try this Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter! It’s rich and thick, but doesn’t leave that sticky layer on you like some other body butters do.
Point being, if you can find a moisturizer you love and stick with it, it’s easier to get into a daily routine than when you’re switching it up all the time. If you have any particular areas that are extra dry, try adding a little more moisturizer to them before bed in addition to your daily coat.
- NEVER Half A** Your SPF
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I know, wearing sunscreen daily seems a little dramatic, and perhaps for the quarantine times we are in right now, it is. But, during the summertime when you’re outside constantly, walking on campus, going on hikes, etc. the sun can and will damage your skin. My favorite body sunscreen is this mineral SPF spray that I get from Target!
Trust me, you’ll thank me when you age without tons of dark spots from sun damage. Read more about how the sun can damage your skin here.
- Special Skin Conditions Need Special Attention
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Have you ever had those red bumps on the side of your arms or maybe on your legs? This is called Keratosis Pilaris and is much more common than you might think.
As someone who has struggled with this skin condition for years, I know just how frustrating it can be. I tried countless remedies to try and get rid of this rash, only to find out it never truly goes away for most people. But, after talking to a dermatologist I discovered a magic duo of products that have changed my skin! First, I use the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub which combines a physical exfoliant with a chemical one as well. Next, after I get out of the shower I use the Amlactin Alpha- Hydroxy Therapy BodyLotion on that part of my arm.
As you can see, special skin conditions often take time and effort to treat, and it’s much easier if you reach out to a professional first. Ask your dermatologist about anything that is concerning your skin before trying too many products, as you never know what could irritate your condition more!
Many of us dream of having soft, silky body skin but don’t realize how little effort we are putting in! If you want your body skin to be healthy, you must treat it as well as your face skin, although it may not have to be a 30 step process! Plus, what’s so wrong with adding in a few minutes each day to love yourself and your body a little more?