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Body skincare is having a moment, and it should be! A lot of us are so careful with summer self-tan or strapless dress shimmer. But we’re slacking when it comes to keeping our body skin healthy, moisturized, and glowing. In this blog post I’m going to show you a routine that will have your body skin always ready for an event, a beach trip, or a vacation.
This topic is actually pretty personal to me — I have keratosis pilaris on my upper arms and thighs, plus seriously dry skin everywhere else. As a teenager in the 2000s, I had no idea what keratosis pilaris was and just thought I had the worst body acne in the world! I would scratch it, scrub it, put acne products on it. All that was the exact opposite of what my sensitive skin needed. As a result, I was constantly bumpy, red, scabbed, and prone to incredibly painful sunburns on those areas.
I didn’t learn how to fix it until my mid-20s, when I stumbled across a description of what sounded like my skin on reddit. Another poster responded with a link similar to the one I posted above, defining KP, and it was like a light! I had always assumed that somehow I was not clean enough or not taking care of myself properly. It felt great to know that it wasn’t my fault. The product the poster recommended (Gold Bond Rough and Bumpy) didn’t turn out to be the perfect fix. I’m not even going to link it because there are better options. But it started me on the path!
So with all that said: this is a routine I have been refining for years. It is…a lot. But it’s relatively affordable (because I’m cheap, but we’re going to be cute and we’re going to smell nice) and once you’re in the hang of it, it’s relatively quick. For me, this really has been the best body skincare routine yet, and I hope it helps you too!
Daily AM* Body Skincare Routine
* assuming a morning body shower. If you like to shower at night, flip this routine
Optional: dry brush before your shower.
- DRY BRUSHING is an inexpensive, effective and chemical-free way to have healthier and smoother skin. The POPCHOSE body brush is an ideal dry brushing boody brush to restore and maintain your beautiful radiance. It can also be used in shower or bath to clean the skin deeply.
- GREAT RESULTS will show if you do dry brushing on a regular basis. Benefits include: exfoliation, unclogged pores, smoother and softer skin, cellulite reduction, improved blood circulation and lymphatic system stimulation.
- NATURAL&ECO-FRIENDLY materials give you an at home SPA experience. The POPCHOSE dry scrub is made of the finest materials. The natural boar bristles are firm and effective to exfoliate and soften skin; the handle is made of smooth polished real wood, oval shaped and fits in your palm for better control; cotton strap offers comfortable and easy grip.
- A WELLNESS GIFT for yourself or the loved ones is always a smart pick. We include a hook with each exfoliating brush to help it dry. Packed by a fancy wood color box, it’s not only a must-have item for your own beauty regimen, but also a preferred wellness gift for the person you care about.
- ENJOY PEACE OF MIND with POPCHOSE’s lymphatic dry brush, one-year product care and 24/7 customer support, ensuring assistance is always available when you need it.
Use a soft bristle dry brush — they are inexpensive and last a long time–on your completely dry skin before you get into the shower. This can be a great idea if your skin has some buildup, or if you’re beginning to look dry or ashy. I found that it irritated my KP more than it helped it, so I tended to avoid those areas.
If you don’t love a dry brush, I wrote in 10 Affordable Self-Care Tools about italy towels and a few other options.
1. Take your shower
- Refreshing Dove go fresh cucumber and green tea scent revitalizes your senses
- #1 Dermatologist Recommended
- With 1/4 moisturizing cream and mild cleansers, Dove helps your skin maintain its natural moisture
- Leaves skin softer, smoother and more radiant-looking vs. ordinary soap
- Dove Beauty Bar doesn’t dry skin like soap can
and ensure that you’re using a gentle soap that will not be drying. I typically use a Dove Green Tea bar first, soaping myself more vigorously, and then whatever body wash I’m using at that moment. (Since I’m a teacher, I tend to get body was sets as gifts and rarely buy my own! I don’t have a particular favorite and just use the gifted ones that I like.) If you experience body acne in addition to your dryness or KP, you might consider a body wash with salicylic acid.
2. After you turn off the water, before you towel off, apply a hyaluronic acid serum to your skin.
- Immerse yourself in the restorative power of Cosmedica Skincare’s Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, a standout in our line of vegan, cruelty-free skincare essentials. This highly effective serum, perfect for all skin types, works wonders on your face. It hydrates deeply, treating dry patches and uneven skin tone to reveal a naturally radiant glow. The serum’s remarkable firming properties reduce the appearance of wrinkles, resulting in skin that’s not only moisturized, but also youthful & rejuvenated.
- Take control of your anti-aging skincare routine with this powerful serum that outperforms traditional in-office treatments. Our Hyaluronic Acid Serum holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, delivering unparalleled hydration and a unique plumping effect that combats signs of aging. Say goodbye to deep wrinkles, and welcome a softer, smoother, and plumper skin. This potent serum also serves as an exceptional eye treatment, working tirelessly to reduce the signs of fatigue and aging.
- Even the most persistent forehead lines meet their match with our Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This dynamic product infuses your skin with essential moisture, keeping it well-balanced and nourished throughout the day. Furthermore, our serum boasts superior brightening properties, so you can wave goodbye to dull, tired skin and greet a more vibrant, radiant complexion every morning.
- Despite its powerful, transformative effects, our Hyaluronic Acid Serum is gentle on the skin. It’s been meticulously formulated for maximum effectiveness without compromising skin health. Safe for use both morning and night, this hydrating serum enhances your skin’s moisture balance, diminishing age spots, and delivering a brighter, healthier appearance for both men and women.
- Guaranteed to outperform your traditional antiaging facial moisturizer or cream. Typical over the counter serums and facial care products provide temporary relief of dry skin and also come with a long list of unnatural ingredients. Our Cosmedica Hyaluronic Acid Serum works to hydrate and plump the deep layers of your skin and also contains only 3 all natural ingredients!
Hyaluronic acid replaces the water that might have been lost from your skin. Dry skin typically needs to have both water and oil/creaminess added back into it — this product or one like it will add back the water. Put it all over your skin. If you’ve washed your hair, this will nourish your hair as well.
When you’re using hyaluronic acid serum all over your body, it goes quickly. It’s great for your face and hair too! So, if you stick with this routine you might want to start making it yourself. I bought a package of hyaluronic acid powder and every six weeks or so I drop a scoop into distilled water and add a preservative. (You can do it without the preservative; you just need to make a smaller amount and keep it in the fridge, but I’m lazy.) Full directions for DIY hyaluronic acid serum are here.
- Elevate Your General Health and Well-being: Tailored to support your overall health, our Hyaluronic Acid powder supplement is the perfect addition to any lifestyle. Packed with essential nutrients, they’re designed to boost your general well-being, keeping you feeling your best day after day.
- Tailored for Modern Lifestyles: Our Hyaluronic Acid powder, in Hyaluronic Acid 215mg, is not just about nutrition; it’s about fitting into your modern lifestyle with ease. Whether you are a just starting a healthier living, or a health-conscious professional, our products are crafted to complement your dietary preferences and wellness goals.
- Convenient Powder Form for Easy Integration: Say goodbye to cumbersome pill regimes! Our Hyaluronic Acid supplement, or Hyaluronic Acid food grade, come in a versatile powder form, making it incredibly easy to integrate into any lifestyle. Just add it to your morning smoothie, juice or plain water can elevate your daily nutritional intake without any hassle.
- Transparent and Trustworthy: Experience the confidence that comes with choosing a supplement that not only meets rigorous third-party testing but also upholds the principles of clarity and integrity in its formulation and production.
- Commitment to Excellence: Produced in a facility compliant with strict cGMP standards, our Pure Hyaluronic Acid powder, in Sodium Hyaluronate, stands as a testament to our dedication to quality. You can trust in our product’s consistency and excellence, batch after batch.
If you can, try to air dry after you apply your hyaluronic acid. (I usually do this in the summer but wimp out in the winter!)
3. If you have keratosis pilaris, or if dry skin has built up on your skin, use an exfoliating lotion on those places.
I am devoted to Amlactin Intensive Healing — I think it’s a terrific value and addresses my KP really effectively. Truthfully, I think the First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion may be better overall and more soothing, but it costs more money for less than half as much lotion. (And don’t buy the First Aid Beauty scrub by mistake, because it’s the same as any other scrub and too harsh for most people with KP!) So, to me, the AmLactin Intensive Healing is the best value and does what I need it to do. This goes on like a regular lotion. Put it wherever you have KP or visibly dry/ashy skin.
If you have KP, you’ll want to use this every day. If you just have dry skin, start with every third day and then use it more or less based on how your skin reacts. Either way — if you’re going to be in the sun, skip this product for a couple days beforehand. It’s still an exfoliant!
4. Use a simple, heavy, workhorse lotion or oil.
You have options here!! My go-to is the Palmer’s Raw Shea Nourish — it is rich and heavy and gives my skin back the butteriness that it just doesn’t have naturally. I like the Palmer’s line in general, except for the coconut oil products, which don’t agree with my skin. (Straight coconut oil doesn’t agree with my skin either, so I don’t think it’s a problem with the product.) This is probably the best product for my skin, but it does need to sit for a while before you can dress, so I often skip it in the mornings before work and opt for either the Nivea Intense Healing or sesame oil, which actually dries down really quickly.
This step seals in your first two products and keeps the moisture from your shower locked in. I never find that a scented moisturizer has the weight to do this, so it needs to be layered. Added benefit: having a base moisturizer will keep your scent around longer!
5. Apply your scented moisturizer if you choose.
Again, I have no loyalty here and I’m usually using student gifts. (I sort the scents by season because it makes me feel organized and then use whatever’s in the seasons I made up.) Whatever makes you feel great. This step certainly isn’t mandatory, but if you are someone who reapplies perfume throughout the day, you might consider putting on matching lotion and perfume in the morning, then reapplying that lotion to refresh your scent.
This after-shower body skincare routine is going to keep your skin plump, hydrated, and soft all day.
Daily PM* Body Skincare Routine
*or not!
I personally don’t think it’s a great idea to shower twice a day! So at the end of your day, instead of showering and doing the above all over again, lotion up with your simple lotion again. Be thorough and get the bottoms of your feet, your ankles and elbows, the backs of your hands, and your chest and neck. Let it dry down a little, and then put on your pajamas. The evening is easy! Don’t forget your face skincare routine.
(I’m including this picture because I secretly believe that a lot of bloggers recommend things they don’t own. Here’s my setup, minus the AmLactin lotion that I ran out of last week. My current scented lotion is from Beauty Pie, and it’s lovely.)
Wait, I need more help!
What if this doesn’t get rid of it all the way?
This is going to help most people who struggle with dry skin and KP! If you’re still experiencing dryness or bumps after two weeks on this routine, or if you have a big event where you want to have everything look perfect, I would suggest trying a glycolic acid peel. The one I linked is mild enough to be safe to use at home. It won’t hurt much because your arm skin isn’t as sensitive as your face. Lactic acid peels are also a great, mild choice for KP and dry skin.
I sometimes use a peel like this before an event when I need to feel confident that my skin is going to look perfect, or for the first month or so of nice weather. (For people with KP, our skin generally looks okay in the summer when we have a slight tan, and no one really knows why!) So for the first months where my arms are out but it my KP hasn’t improved for the summer yet, I sometimes use that peel as part of my body skincare routine, and it does help. But it’s a lot of work to keep up, and you are basically sun-sensitive constantly. So, to me it isn’t worth it.
But maybe you feel differently! If so, start with using it every two weeks. If you start to see the redness reappear, you may want to increase your frequency. Most people will be able to use it less frequently from there.
When do I shave in this body skincare routine?
You can still shave if you choose! I do, as part of my Sunday everything shower routine. It is perfectly fine to shave during your shower before you use the AM part of this routine. The AmLactin ideally wouldn’t go on any fresh cuts or scrapes, if that comes up.
If you liked this post, you might also like:
- Is Salicylic Acid Good for Rosacea? Best Peel Options
- Can I Get Botox Right After Microneedling?
- 10 Best Tips for Self-Care When You’re Struggling
Want to come back to this post when your AmLactin arrives in the mail? Pin the image below!
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