When we talk about skincare, we often only think about the face. But our skin is our largest organ, and it covers the entire body. Why only take care of a small part of it? In this article, we’ll introduce you to the perfect body skincare routine. 

We explain the different parts of a great skincare routine for the body. It’s the kind of routine that’ll give you soft, supple skin with fewer issues, whether you’re dealing with dryness, body acne, or something else. 
In each section, we’ll also give some tips based on your skin type. That way, you’ll be able to create a unique routine that’ll work perfectly for you! 

Clean Your Body

The first step in your body skincare routine should be a good cleanse, and chances are you’re already doing it in the shower. 
Whether you really need to cleanse your entire body from head to toe is actually pretty controversial. Some dermatologists say you only need to actively scrub the underarms and groin. It might be true, but it doesn’t really feel right. The good news is that as long as you use a gentle body wash that doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight, cleansing all over is fine.

That probably means leaving behind those basic soap bars and super-sudsy sulfate-based body washes. Those types of washes can disrupt your skin barrier which will make your skin feel dry and itchy. 

Instead, look for gentle sulfate-free body washes. If your skin is dry, you can even try an oil cleanser designed for the body. 
If your skin is oily or you’re prone to body acne, a gel cleanser that foams up a little is okay. You can also look for ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which will do an amazing job of clearing breakouts. 
Finally, it’s important that you keep the shower temp low since hot water can also damage your skin. 

Moisturize Your Body

Now things get fun! It’s so important that you moisturize your body every day. If you’d rather keep it simple, just apply some cream immediately after you get out of the shower. 
The sooner you moisturize, the better. The moisturizer will lock all of that watery goodness into your skin. Otherwise, the water will evaporate within just a few minutes. It might even leave your skin drier than it was before you showered.

If your skin is dry, choose a rich and creamy moisturizer with thick plant butters. If it’s oily, a light lotion or even a body serum might feel nicer.
If you really want to be extra, you can layer up with a multi-step routine of body serum, body lotion, and body oil. Lighter serums and lotions often include more hydrating ingredients that pull water into the skin. Thicker formulas are often “occlusive,” which means that they do a better job of creating a moisture-binding seal. This kind of combination provides the highest level of moisturization. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a wonderful way of pampering yourself.

If you want to keep things minimal, most body creams will have enough hydrating and moisture-sealing ingredients to do a good job by themselves. 
A body moisturizer can also act as a great base layer for fragrance. Make sure to use a product with a scent that you love, and that layers well with any perfume you use. That said, if your skin is sensitive, you may want to avoid fragrances altogether since they can be irritating for some people. 

 

Exfoliate Your Body

Finally, there’s exfoliation, which is the process of removing dead skin buildup. Our skin is supposed to shed dead skin cells on its own, but exfoliation helps it along. It’s especially important if it’s looking flakey or if you’re prone to ingrown hairs. You don’t need to exfoliate every day – 2 to 4 times a week is usually the perfect amount. 

There are a few ways to exfoliate. You can do a physical exfoliation with a body scrub in the shower. Body scrubs with sugar or salt in an oily base are our favorites. They leave the skin very soft and they melt in the shower which is more eco-friendly. This method can work really well for those with normal or slightly dry skin, and you can even make your own scrub! 
If your skin is a little more sensitive or you’re dealing with specific skin issues, an acid-based chemical exfoliant with ingredients like salicylic or lactic acid might be a better choice. These kinds of exfoliants come as liquids or lotions, and in some cases, they can even double as your moisturizer!

Instead of scrubbing the dead skin off, they melt the substance that keeps the dead skin cells attached to you. It’s a slower but more thorough way of encouraging exfoliation, and it can give better results in the long term. You can also combine both methods if your skin can handle it! 

Get Rid of Unwanted Hair

Finally, it’s important to match your body skincare routine to your hair removal process. Proper body care can help prevent or reduce some of the issues that come with hair removal. For example, moisturization can fortify the skin, to reduce the risk of razor burn, while exfoliation prevents ingrown hairs. 

There are a lot of different methods to remove unwanted body hair. Shaving is probably the most common since it’s easy to do at home. However, it only cuts the hair at the surface, so it has to be done very often. Shaving can also lead to irritation, cuts, or ingrowns, which themselves can result in scarring or pigmentation.

 
Another common hair removal method is waxing. It can be done at home or in the salon. Waxing lasts a little longer since it pulls the hair from the follicles. The drawbacks are that it’s quite painful, it can get expensive in the long term, and like shaving, it can also lead to ingrown hairs. 
That’s why we always recommend laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is a permanent hair reduction method that targets hair at the roots. After a series of treatments, the skin is left smooth, hair-free, and there is no more risk of irritation or ingrown hairs. It’s the kind of hair removal process that really lets you celebrate your skin! 
If you’d like to give laser hair removal a try, you can book an appointment at the SEV Laser location that’s closest to you.