Before, I used to use a little body lotion, body butter, and treatment serum from time to time, but other than that, my routine was pretty casual (oops). Your body skin can start to show signs of ageing if you don’t take care of it the right way, just like the skin on your face. Katie Sobelman, my aesthetician, was the one who convinced me that I needed a bodycare routine that was just as good as my facial skincare.
Sobelman is my most trusted organic aesthetician. She says that taking care of your skin from head to toe is very important. This means spending money on body treatments for young people that do a lot more than just hydrate. She has also shown me almost all of my all-time favourite beauty brands, so I’ll try anything she tells me to use right away.
I have to admit that I needed to learn more about body care because I didn’t know where to begin.
I knew I needed to do more as a woman in her 30s, and Sobelman was happy to give me all the information I needed on this subject. With her help, I’ve found some advanced treatments that keep my skin smooth, firm, and free of dark spots and breakouts. Keep scrolling for all of her tips and suggestions. She told it all ahead of time.
What should you do to take care of your body?
There are a lot of great ingredients for skin care that can help it last longer, but my first question to Sobelman was, “Do we need them all on our bodies?” Sobleman says to think again if you think you don’t need to use actives on your body skin. She says, “The skin on the body benefits from many of the same actives as the skin on the face, such as peptides, retinol, and vitamins A, C, and E.” “However, the skin on the body is usually thicker, has fewer sebaceous glands, and takes longer to renew itself. This makes it especially responsive to rich emollients, ceramides, and omega fatty acids that help keep the barrier healthy. Another special benefit of body care is that it can help the fascia that lies beneath the skin. Some lipid-rich formulas may help with transdermal absorption and fascial hydration and glide, which in turn helps with circulation, tissue resilience, and even the body’s own production of hyaluronic acid.
So, if all you’re using is a body lotion with a lot of emollients, you’re still doing great, sweetie! You don’t have to use a lot of actives in your body care routine, but they can be very helpful for anyone who wants to keep their body skin looking young, not just their face.
How often should you get body care?
Sobelman says that just like with skincare, you’ll get the best results from your bodycare routine if you do your treatments every day. “Instead of thinking of it as a treatment, think of it as part of your basic skincare routine,” she says. “Just like the face benefits from regular use of active ingredients, the body responds best when it gets regular nourishment. Using body care products that are high in antioxidants, replenish lipids, or exfoliate every day can help cells turn over, keep the skin barrier strong, and keep all of your tissues hydrated. You can switch up or buffer your formula as needed if it has stronger actives like retinol. But for most body products, especially those that focus on nourishment and barrier support, daily use gives the best and longest-lasting results.
Before, I only used a loofah or African net sponge to scrub my body skin. But Sobelman’s advice made me add exfoliating treatments to the mix as well. Exfoliating can help skin cells turn over faster, which Sobelman said is already slower on the body than on the face. She thinks that some kind of exfoliation should be done at least once a week, but no more than three times. She says, “[It] can make a big difference in skin tone, texture, and how well active ingredients are absorbed.” “Body skin cells turn over more slowly than face skin cells. Body skin can take up to 45 to 60 days to renew, especially as we get older. Facial skin usually renews every 28 days (a generous estimate; it’s usually closer to a day for every year old you are, and it slows down as we get older). That means dead skin cells stay around longer, which keeps nourishing ingredients from getting through.
Sobelman says that both physical and chemical exfoliation can help, but I prefer chemical exfoliation. She says, “Gentle exfoliation, whether it’s physical (like dry brushing or body scrubs) or chemical (like lactic acid or enzymes), helps get rid of buildup and lets new skin grow.” “But exfoliation is only part of the ritual. Always use rich, hydrating products like ceramides, oils, or creams with hyaluronic acid to add moisture back to the skin and protect the skin barrier. Not only does this make exfoliation more effective, but it also helps keep the skin and fascia underneath it flexible and working well.
If you’re now ready to buy some body care products that will make you look younger, keep reading. Below are all of Sobelman’s recommendations and a few of our own team’s favourites.
The best body care treatments that make you look younger:
Oneskin Body Os-01 Peptide Topical Supplement and Skin Longevity Age Reversal Moisturiser are safe for sensitive skin, have no scent, and come in a 250 ml (8.45 oz) bottle.
This treatment is full of peptides and deeply nourishing. Sobleman says it’s “one of the few high-tech body treatments that also feels hydrating and luxurious.” OneSkin’s OS-01 Body uses a special peptide called OS-01 to target cellular senescence, which is when “zombie cells” build up.’ These cells aren’t working right anymore, but they don’t die, which causes inflammation. The OS-01 peptide helps cells turn over more quickly, makes the barrier work better, and makes the skin more resilient by getting rid of cells that aren’t working.
This best-selling body lotion is great for dry, flaky skin. Beauty editors love it because it has a formula that softens skin and is full of bio-lipids, shea butter, and omega fatty acids. It quickly soaks in and makes the skin feel soft and supple. The sodium PCA in it also helps to draw moisture into the skin as it works. We’ve used up a lot of bottles of it, and the big bottle is a good deal.
If you want to keep your skin soft and hydrated, switching from body wash to shower oil can make a big difference. The Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil Body Wash is one of our top picks. It was made with sensitive and eczema-prone skin in mind, so it is very gentle and good for the skin, especially in the winter when it needs more moisture.
This body retinol is something I use all the time. It has retinol and a 10% AHA complex that removes dead skin cells and speeds up the growth of new ones. I don’t use it every night, but it still works. I also try to remember to put sunscreen on my body often because treatments like this can make you more likely to get sunburnt if you’re not careful.
Sobelman says that vitamins A, C, and E should be a part of your body care routine. This great body oil has all of them. Its strong formula works to improve the texture of skin and repair damage from the sun on the body. The oil formula makes skin feel soft and smooth.
Don’t worry if you can’t afford to spend a lot of money on your body care. Olay’s body lotion is full of niacinamide, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, and glycerin, which help skin stay elastic.
Body lotion with Vaseline Gluta-Hya flawless tone serum
Vaseline
Gluta-Hya Flawless Glow Serum Burst Lotion is £13. Buy it now.
Many of our editors have quickly fallen in love with this simple body lotion. We’ve all been hoarding it since we first tried it because it’s so good. It has a serum-like texture that sinks in quickly and makes the skin feel very soft and hydrated. There are a few different versions of this product to deal with different problems, but the Flawless Tone one shown above does a great job of evening out the skin tone by fading dark spots, whether they are from scarring or sun damage.
This popular body serum from Dermalogica has a pro-NAD+ complex and other ingredients that help firm, lift, and shape the skin. It also helps the skin’s natural ability to renew itself, which gives you a youthful glow.
Sobelman also suggests dry body brushing, which not only removes dead skin cells but also helps the lymphatic system drain better, making you feel more awake from head to toe.
Fascia Massage Blaster and Scalp Comb for £7 and £6. Shop NowThis tool is gentle but works well to get blood flowing, ease tension, and keep the fascia under the skin hydrated. Using it often can help lymphatic flow and make your skin look better overall, especially when you use it with an oil or body balm. Sobelman says, “I love using this tool from head to toe.”
