Building A Skincare Routine...But For Your Body

Sorry to break it to you, but you may want to think about adding a few more steps to your skincare regimen - and I don't mean for your face.

I know, I know. But I promise you (and your skin) it will be worth it. After all, we do get a tonne of questions about keratosis pilaris, and our fave body moisturisers. So make space in your shower caddy or your bathroom cabinet, 'cause I'm about to take you through the ultimate body care routine.

Yes, it’s a thing. No, a fortnightly moisturise doesn’t quite cut it. Oh, and if you still haven't got a skincare routine for your face, listen to this episode of our podcast here.

Side note: Nkisu takes us through all the essentials needed for a body skincare routine including some of her fave body products in the video below...

Where To Start With A Body Care Routine:

To put it bluntly, your skin doesn’t end at your neck. Or even your chest, as the experts rightly often remind us.

While your body may not always be as exposed as your face, it’s still weathering the world for you. Sunscreen, sweat, dirt, pollution… you get the picture. While we take time to cleanse, exfoliate and rehydrate our faces, the rest of our limbs are often left behind. Dry. Unloved.

Now, that doesn’t mean extending your morning or evening routine by an extra half an hour with 15 body care routine steps (unless of course, you want to). But, by applying the same key steps from your skincare routine to your body, you can help keep things soft, silky and smooth. Dry elbows and knees, be gone!

Here’s your beginner’s guide to the best body skincare, according to yours truly.

Cleanse

First step, straightforward. Start in the shower and wash the day off (even if you've just been sitting on the couch watching Tiger King). Belting out your fave Lizzo song is encouraged, too. Your standard body wash or shower gel will do the job, but if you want to treat yourself, try something a little more luxurious. I can't go past Aesop for its bougie packaging, but Dr Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap is a great, more affordable, multi-purpose option too.

Exfoliate

As with on your face, exfoliating your body helps get rid of any build-up of dead skin cells. While physical scrubs are fun to do, rub too vigorously and you can end up being too rough. In my opinion, the best option is a chemical exfoliant, which helps gently remove dead skin to show off the healthy, bump-free skin underneath. And if you're looking for a physical and chemical duo, opt for asap's Revitalising Body Scrub.

Serum

It wouldn't be a proper skincare routine without a serum, would it? Applied to skin post-cleansing but before moisturising, serums penetrate deeper into the skin to deliver effective and active ingredients. They can make all the difference. I particularly rate this one by Biologi - it's got a tonne of skin benefits.

Moisturise

You’ve cleansed, exfoliated, serumed (made that word up), We're almost done. As the largest organ, adding moisture to the skin helps maintain its ability of acting as your body’s protective barrier, allows it to repair itself and stay in optimum condition. And of course, feel soft and smooth too. My go-to's are Clarins Tonic Moisturising Balm, and this one from Weleda below:

Then take a deep breath. Your body is a temple; and you can now flop on the couch with a smug look on your face. You’re done.