How to Up Your Body Care Products This Spring
Spring Awakening: Why It's Time to Up Your Body Care Routine
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When was the last time you gave the skin on your body the same attention as your face? If you've spent most of the winter huddled up under the duvet then you're not alone. Long nights and cold days don't offer much incentive for looking after the skin on your body, but after months of central heating, extreme temperatures and the lack of sunlight it can often lead to dry, flaky and irritable skin. "Our skin tends to become dry in the winter due to several factors," Dr Mahsa Saleki, aesthetic doctor and founder of SAS Aesthetics tells POPSUGAR UK. "One significant reason is the drop in humidity levels that often occurs during this time of year. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and indoor heating systems further contribute to dryness by removing moisture from the air. As a result, the skin's natural moisture barrier becomes compromised, leading to dryness, flakiness, and sometimes irritation," she explains.
If you're ready to ditch your leggings, shake off your sweater, and up your body game then this is for you, because we've spoken to the experts on how to achieve a facial-worthy skin care regime to improve your moisturise levels, even skin tone, and achieve the smoothest skin yet.
The Ultimate Body Skin Care Routine
Start With Dry Brushing
If you really want to kick-start your body care routine then invest in a dry brush like this Cowshed Walnut Wood Body Brush (£20). A technique which has been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, it not only exfoliates and remove dead skin cells but also stimulates the lymphatic system, which helps remove any toxins and promotes better circulation and increases oxygen at the skin's surface, giving it a smoother texture. "The enhanced circulation also promotes a more even tone," explains Ada Ooi, Celebrity Facialist and Founder of 001 Skincare. "The texture of your skin should feel softer right away, and for noticeably smoother and clearer skin, it will take a few weeks."
Dry body brushing is also great for your overall well-being. "Similar to gua sha, in Chinese medicine, dry brushing can be a method to direct Qi flow upwards or downwards depending on your direction of brushing," says Ooi. "If you want to facilitate drainage, brush your stomach in circular, clockwise motions, and then from back to front, continuing that upward motion. Ideally you make the heart your "North Star'' and start from the feet, brushing along your soles towards your heels and continuing to your legs, always sweeping upwards towards your heart. Then up to the stomach and as you reach your arms and neck, your heart remains your centerpoint, and you sweep the brush downwards towards the heart."
Add a Moisturising Body Wash
One of the easiest way to give your skin a boost is by switching your regular shower gel for a hydrating options. "Using a gentle cleanser that doesn't strip the skin of its natural oils is crucial," says Dr Saleki. "Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, which help to attract and retain moisture in the skin."
This Q+A Ceramide Shower Cream (£9) feels so smooth as you apply it to your skin. Packed full of super-hydrating ingredients like squalane, jojoba seed oil, and a sustainable ceramide extract from pineapples, it not only feels luxurious it smells incredible. You will instantly notice that it leaves your skin feeling moisturised as you step out the shower.
Up Your Exfoliation Game
"It is difficult to moisturise skin over the dead skin cells, so it is very important to exfoliate regularly," explains Dr. Colette Haydon, founder of lixirskin.
There are various products available for exfoliating your skin, but if you prefer a physical scrub, then this Quai Scalp and Body Scrub (£36) is for you. It's a mixture of sugar and coconut oil which is why you can use it from head to toe — literally. Apply to your scalp in sections to help any dry, flaky areas and then continue all the way down your body to the tips of your toes. It smells like holiday too!
Add an Exfoliating Treatment
If you're looking to combat dark patches or uneven skin tone then you need to invest in this product. Environ Derma-Lac Lotion (£46) is so concentrated you need to either add it to a body oil or use a body oil straight after. It contains lactic acid which exfoliates any dry, stubborn areas of skin, and it can help treat certain skin conditions like Keratosis Pilaris, or chicken skin, and scarring.
Increase Hydration Levels With Antioxidants
"Green tea, marine algae, vitamin C and E are key brightening ingredients to help brighten the skin to reduce dullness and pigmentation, whilst also neutralising free radicals," says Ooi. "Reducing oxidative stress and preventing premature ageing."
Want to indulge your skin then this Augustinus Bader The Body Oil (£85) is for you. Everyone from Victoria Beckham to Margot Robbie is said to be a fan of the brand and we can't help but think if they were to reach for a body oil then this would be it. A little goes a really long way and if you apply to slightly damp skin it will lock in the moisture all day. It contains argan oil, squalane and vitamin E to deeply nourish and repair skin.
Add Hydrating Ingredients Like Hyaluronic Acid
"My motto is 'all skin is skin'" says Dr Haydon. "Which means we should look for the same ingredients for our body as for our face."
One of the most highly recommended products to boost hydration is hyaluronic acid and if you prefer a serum like texture to an oil then this Bal Body Hydrating Body Serum (£26.95) is for you. It feels like a similar texture to a facial product which glides on to skin and absorbs really quickly. The hyaluronic acid gets to work locking any moisture into the skin so its best to apply after a shower when skin is still slightly damp.
Slather on the Body Lotion
"Incorporating a rich moisturiser into your daily routine can help replenish lost moisture and protect the skin from further dryness," says Dr Saleki. "Look for moisturizers that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides, which help to attract and retain moisture in the skin."
If you like the scent of neroli then you will adore Glossier Body Hero (£28). The smell hits you as you apply it to the skin. It absorbs almost instantly and contains glycerin, avocado oil, and apple fruit extract to leave skin looking and feeling hydrated.
Lauren Ezekiel is an associate editor at POPSUGAR UK, where she writes about all things beauty and wellness. With a degree in journalism and 12 years' experience as a beauty editor at a leading Sunday supplement, she is obsessed with skincare, hair and makeup, and is often found offering advice to innocent bystanders. Her work has been published in Grazia, OK, Health and Beauty, The Sun, ASDA, Dare and Metro.
