Our bodies often get the short end of the stick when it comes to our skincare routine. Most of us have a strict daily face care regimen, but we don’t apply this same dedication to the rest of our body.
It can be overwhelming and frustrating to add in yet another set of products or another set of steps into our routine to only have it eventually fail, leaving a shelf full of expensive and expired products to haunt us.
The best skin care routines don’t require you to run out and purchase the next best thing. Instead, educate yourself on what these steps actually accomplish for your precious skin and fit what you have already on your shelf into your routine. You can always invest in products that will make your life and your routine easier, but you do have to be dedicated to reap the rewards.
The main takeaway we want you to have from this is to treat your body with the same care and attention that you give your face, and you will have beautiful, vibrant, younger-looking skin that will help you age gracefully.
We’ve pulled together an extensive guide with the steps you can take towards implementing a skincare routine for your body. Let’s get started!
So, how do you even start a skincare routine?
Whether you have a three, six, or ten-step skincare routine—each routine is as individual and unique as the person who follows it. You have to tailor it to your skin type and your life.
As skincare is becoming a more common standard of beauty, its meaning has also become broader. It can be a bit daunting and frustrating as a beginner who’s just starting out to build their routine.
No worries. We’re here to help.
What does “skin care” actually mean?
Skincare is a range of treatments that contribute to your skin’s integrity, improve its appearance, and alleviate skin irritations. Nutrition, a series of treatments or processes on the skin itself, abstaining from excessive sun exposure, and including sufficient emollient application are all a part of this process.
Why should I worry about anything more than my face?
Yes, we always want to put our best face forward to feel healthier and look younger, but caring for our face is not the only way to stave away the aging process. Setting up a skincare routine for your full body means healthier, younger-looking skin all over and ensures that you will age gracefully.
A full-body skincare routine can also alleviate skin discomfort and irritation due to dryness or friction from our clothes or activities. It ensures that our skin is clean, refreshed, healthy, and ready to kick butt!
Skin Care Basics You Should Know
Before delving into which steps you need to take in your skincare routine, it’s important to know your skin type. Always remember that everyone’s skincare routine is unique to them. Even your sister may not have the same results when using the same products and processes.
To figure out your skin type, you simply have to pay attention to how it reacts and behaves.
- Sensitive skin is easily irritated and can become red and itchy with most non-sensitive-skin-specific products out there.
- Dry skin is already red and itchy and can become even more inflamed if not appropriately treated. Skin feels tight and may flake and peel often.
- Normal skin is the least reactive and does not have a lot of surface-level skin issues. The occasional blemish or ingrown hair might be annoying, but for the most part, your skin is clear and probably pretty smooth.
- Oily skin can be very prone to blemishes and ingrown hairs. Oil production is affected by many different factors, including genetics, but it also stems from overactive sebum production. Sebum is the natural oil our skin creates to keep our skin moisturized and hydrated.
- Combination skin involves a variety of different skin types all over the body. You may experience dryness in some areas while simultaneously experiencing an excess in oil elsewhere.
No matter your skin issues, here are five easy steps that will get you started with your very own skincare routine!
Step 1: Cleanse your body like you would your face.
Though we don’t wear make-up all over our bodies, we do have product build-up, sweat, and dead skin cells that all make a home on our top layer of skin that could use a little help being evicted.
Choose a clarifying cleanser that will help cut through layers of old SPF and assist in removing dead skin cells and oil build-up. No need for harsh cleansers on the body. Instead, look for sulfate and alcohol-free options that are infused with moisturizers.
Step 2: Exfoliate your body.
Exfoliation smooths skin by removing dead skin cells from the top layer of skin with a scrub or exfoliating tool to make way for newly created skin cells. Exfoliation helps these new cells start out clean, healthy, and ready to absorb any topical moisturizing products so you can maintain softer, smoother, and younger-looking skin.
Exfoliation is a slow build routine. Start once a week, pay attention to how your skin responds to exfoliation, and then gradually add in more exfoliation. Most skin types can safely exfoliate two to three times a week.
A few of our favorite exfoliators!
Contouring Body Glove: Great for all of our curvy bits and bobs. Use small, circular motions and massage the entire body.
Edelweiss and Vetiver body wash infused buffer: Easy to use, gentle on the skin and packed with powerful essential oils and extracts that assist with skill cell strengthening and hydration. (No idea what either of these two powerhouse ingredients are? Check out our blog posts about Edelweiss and Vetiver!)
Step 3: Moisturize.
Moisturizer both hydrates skin and locks in all the good for you natural oils your skin makes.
You should pack as much moisture as you can in your daily routine from a moisturizing cleanser to moisturizing practices, like exfoliation, and finally to topical moisturizers.
Always moisturize first thing in the morning, before bed in the evening, and right after a shower, because damp skin will hold the moisture of your products way better than dry skin since the pores are opened and primed.
Look for a lighter weight lotion for the morning. In the evening, you can use a body shuffle or butter. However, those with dry skin may want to use a butter both morning and night. A good moisturizer will protect, smooth, and regulate oil production in your skin. Moisturizing skin naturally helps to stave off bumps and blemishes.
Step 4: Apply sunscreen.
It may be the last step, but nearly any dermatologist will tell you that sun protection is the most important part of any skincare regimen. Wearing sunscreen not only protects your skin from harmful UV rays, but prevents wrinkles, sun spots, and signs of premature aging that comes with too much sun exposure. If your moisturizer doesn’t contain SPF, you still need to wear sunscreen.
Step 5: Take a multivitamin.
We know, we know. This isn’t a serum or a salve or a spot treatment. This step is as simple as upping your vitamin intake. A multivitamin doesn’t just improve your brain and body function. It can help give you beautiful, radiant skin from the inside out.
Look for vitamins high in Biotin, the vitamin B complex, and vitamins C, D, E, and even K. These vitamins work together to create hydration and strength at a cellular level. They can improve hair growth, nail growth, and even aid in keeping your skin soft and supple.
Skin is just skin, no matter if it is on your face or on your body. If you don’t take the steps to protect it, then you won’t be able to help it repair itself from environmental harm like sun damage, dryness, or premature aging. All of these factors and more will take their toll on what once was healthy, young-looking skin.
But, you have the power to change your skin’s future through guided habits and routines!
We hope you found this guide educating and not intimidating. A skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated, and just a few minor tweaks can get you started in the right direction towards healthier skin that you’ll be proud to show off no matter the season.
As you get used to the process, you can add in additional products and steps as needed to take your skincare routine to the next level, but simply starting the process of caring for your skin is what will make all the difference!
Sources:
https://thespotlyte.com/1121510/how-to-take-care-of-skin-on-body/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fashion-beauty/a27181522/body-skincare/
https://www.today.com/style/can-vitamins-really-make-your-skin-better-t150820
