Facial skincare routine is something most people see as a no-brainer, while body care tends to receive a lot less attention. Yet, the skin below the neck is just as deserving of care to keep it feeling soft and healthy. If you’d like to put a bit more effort into your body skincare but don’t want anything too complicated or time-consuming, here are some great tips for you!
Start with your mindset
Before we get into the product talk, the very first step is shifting your mindset. Rather than viewing body care as an afterthought or something you may do only occasionally, it helps to start treating it as an extension of your overall skincare. It’s all about making you feel confident in your entirety, not just certain parts of your body.
This is not just important for your skin, but for your mental health too. Bodycare forces you to slow down and do something a little extra for yourself. It makes you pay attention to how your skin feels, looking after your own body with more care. When skincare becomes an everyday ritual rather than a task, it naturally feels more rewarding – something you look forward to each day.
Invest in a few high-quality products
To elevate your body care routine, you really don’t need dozens of different products. Instead, having one or a few high-quality products will keep it simple yet effective. This is an area where going just a bit more premium can offer a significant reward, both in formulas (ingredient quality) and the experience.
Well-formulated body creams deliver long-lasting hydration, support the skin barrier and often offer a nicer sensory experience through beautiful textures and fragrances. Sabon’s luxurious body creams are a good example of how a single product can combine repair qualities with indulgence, turning daily moisturising into something to look forward to rather than rush through.
Gentle showering habits
Certain showering habits can impact your skin negatively, leaving it feeling tight and dry afterwards. For instance, using overly harsh products can strip the skin’s natural oils. Instead, it’s best to swap it for a gentle body cleanser that will get rid of any dirt without compromising the skin barrier.
Similarly, showering with very hot water may feel great, but it’s not the kindest option for your skin (and hair!). This is especially the case during the colder months, when your skin is already on the dryer side. Instead, it’s better to shower and bathe with comfortably warm water.
Exfoliate weekly
Exfoliation is often a misunderstood step in body care, with many people either overdoing it or skipping it altogether. In reality, exfoliating once or twice a week is perfectly sufficient to remove dead skin cells and improve the texture of your skin, without irritating your skin. This step will also help your body cream soak in more effectively.
Both physical exfoliants, like scrubs, and chemical exfoliants, such as mild acids, are a great option, depending on your personal preferences. If you exfoliate consistently each week, you really don’t need to spend too long or use too much product.
Focus on application
How you apply your body cream can be just as important as the product itself. Taking an extra minute to massage moisturiser into the skin will help it absorb better, rather than sit at the top of your skin. Additionally, it’s important to pay extra attention to any problem areas, such as hands, elbows, knees or feet, as these tend to show dryness first. An extra thick moisturiser or a more frequent application may be needed.
To get the most from any body cream, timing matters too. Applying a moisturiser to slightly damp skin, straight after the shower, may feel counter-intuitive. However, this is when your skin can lock in hydration more effectively. It’s a very small adjustment that requires no extra effort but it can improve the results considerably.
Above all, the saying “consistency is key” could not be any more true when it comes to skincare. If you follow your simple routine daily for a long period of time, it will always outperform elaborate treatments done sporadically.
Sun protection
UV damage is one of the biggest causes of premature wrinkles, pigmentation marks, dryness and even serious health conditions, such as skin cancer. Therefore, sun protection should never be ignored, both on your facial skin and body skin. Areas such as the arms, chest, necks and hands are regularly exposed to sun rays, even during the winter months.
To keep your skin protected, incorporate an SPF cream, ideally no lower than SPF30, into our morning routine. Choose a non-greasy formula that dries quickly, without leaving a white cast behind and ruining your clothes. If you want to keep your routine extra simple, go for an everyday body cream that already contains SPF within it.
Simplicity meets self-care
As you can see, elevating your body care routine doesn’t necessarily have to make it more complex. Instead, it’s about making simple everyday changes, from shifting your own mindset to being more thoughtful with application.