Best Body Care Products -- Cleansers, Scrubs, Lotions, Oils, Balms, Butters and More
Christene
Even-toned skin below my neck is not something that comes naturally. It actually takes more work than my face -- if you can believe that. If you are blessed to simply wash with a dove bar and follow with a lightweight lotion, I'm green with envy. However, if you have a dry, uneven skin tone with a rough texture, you might need to add other steps to your routine.
Here are some of the products we are loving for every stage of your body care routine.
Body Cleansers
As with the face, the cleansing step is the most crucial. I'm always looking for a cleanser that removes dirt and other impurities but won't strip skins’ natural oils.
Dove has been my go-to for years. At this point, I buy the fragrance-free wash in bulk from Amazon. It cleanses without irritation and leaves my skin feeling soft.
Lately, I have also been loving the Indie Lee Energizing Body Wash. Mostly because it's has a vibrant scent that picks me up on days when I have to shock my system to get ready for an early morning Zoom with video. Though the scent is bold, it doesn't smell artificial.
Body Exfoliators
Whenever you encounter rough, dry, uneven skin texture, always look in an exfoliator's direction to get you started on the road to smooth, even-toned skin. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, increases circulation, and makes it easier for the skin to absorb your moisturizers and other body treatment products. There are physical and chemical exfoliators. While I tend to shy away from physical exfoliators on my face, I still love them on my body. I often will combine a physical and chemical exfoliant to get the desired result.
My favorite thing about A Girl's Gotta Spa Synergy Himalayan Salt Scrub is the jasmine petals blended in. The oil-based salt scrubs gently buffs away dead skin cells to reveal smoother skin. Salt scrubs feel more detoxifying because they remind me of a bit of the mineral baths in Jamaica. It's best to wash with a mild body wash before using this scrub. Your skin will feel soft and hydrated after use. I like to follow with lightweight lotion. I wouldn't recommend for those with sensitive skin.
Sunday Riley Charcoal Smoothie Jelly Body Scrub combines physical and chemical exfoliants. It combines Salicylic Acid and wax beads to exfoliate, charcoal to detoxify, and manuka honey to moisturize. I like to do a basic wash with Dove, then slowly massage the Jelly Body scrub and let it sit for a few minutes on my skin. When a product has chemical exfoliants, I like to let it sit on my skin so that exfoliant can do the work.
NeedCrystals are made of 99.5% pure white aluminum oxide. The crystal takes any cleanser and turns it into an exfoliating cleanser. I especially like it to exfoliate armpits and legs before shaving. (For the month of October, Needcrystals is donating 10% of sales of 4oz Skin Booster microdermabrasion crystals.)
During the facial, someone asked about treatments for armpits. Exfoliation is key! You also need to find the right deodorant. For a long time, I used Dove Eventone deodorant (and may go back once summer starts) Now I’m using Type A aluminum-free deodorant. It keeps my pits super hydrated, so they look and feel better.
Body Moisturizers
Dry skin doesn't look good on anyone -- actually, it's kinda cute on elephants. There are a gazillion moisturizers out there, and they are not all created equal.
Skinesiology is Vibrational Skincare. If I can get moisture and a message, I will take it! This line of body creams not only provides long-lasting moisture but thoughtful messages so I can get my mind right while I hydrate my body. "I am a creative being. I am in touch with the creative flow of life." I'm also not ashy. 😉
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm is accepted by the National Eczema Association. It is a rich fragrance-free cream that is made with "a high concentration of Laroche-Posay's Prebiotic thermal water, shea butter and Aqua Posae filiform." It relieves dry skin and improves skin barrier function making eczema less bothersome.
Winter is coming, so an excellent whipped body butter is a must! Amenda Malakos Body Butter is a blend of organic oils, butters, and vitamin E. It's lightly scented with a beautiful mix of essential oils. It melts into the skin to lock in moisture and nourish the skin. Apply while skin is still damp or over a water-based lotion or cream to keep skin hydrated as those temps drop into the single digits.
Body Treatments
Suppose you deal with skin issues such as keratosis pilaris (chicken skin), eczema, psoriasis, and more? You need to go beyond your regular lotion. For these conditions, you can look for over the counter products that contain popular ingredients like Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Retinol, and Urea.
Perfect Image Gly + Sal Exfoliating Body Lotion lotion takes a little work to rub into the skin, but it's totally worth it. After about 2 weeks of use, my skin was noticeably softer and smoother. As the name suggests, it contains a mix of Salicylic Acid and Glycolic Acid. Both work in concert to exfoliate and refine the skin. It also contains botanical extracts to nourish the skin.
I deal with Keratosis Pilaris (KP), so I always have a product with Salicylic Acid on hand. Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatments is one of my go-to products. It contains 2% Salicylic Acid that breaks down the keratin buildup and clogged pores on my thighs and back of my arms. It's not the best hydrator, so I'll sometimes wait for a little while, following with lightweight oil like the Cuerpa Venus Hydrating Body Oil.
Got cellulite? This is one of the areas in life where I'm an overachiever. My cellulite game is mad strong. It turns out cellulite affects up to 85% of adult women. These treatments are created to get those dimples to be a little less pronounced. (For optimum results, pair each with 100 squats daily, hydrate, and mind your business. 😅)
Alchimie Forever Optimizing Body Contour Gel is an oil-free gel with caffeine as the hero ingredient. Research on how caffeine improves the look of cellulite is mixed. What is more conclusive is pairing products such as this one with a massager to help breakdown fat and improve circulation. I like to use the body contour gel with this roller (also available in this size.)
Retinol is an all-star antioxidant that works to increase cell turnover and boost collagen production. This not only applies to the face but to the body as well. Paula's Choice has a Skin Smoothing Body treatment that includes .1% retinol. I noticed smoother skin in about 2-3 weeks. I'm trusting and believing that the firmness will follow in short order. (It's a marathon, not a sprint.)
For the Feet
I had a boyfriend once with softer feet than mine. I should have known then it was not going to work out (sigh.) I give myself a mini pedicure about once per week because my feet stay dry. Cala, a tool I randomly bought on Amazon, changed the game for me. It removes all the dead skin cells and allows products like Green Goo Footcare Salve and Dermatonics Heel Balm to work their magic.
Felicia
My body care typically falls into one of two categories: The Quick Fix or The Long Game. And come to think of it, these categories sort of sum up my life and everything in it. For food, my favorite Trader Joe's frozen Butter Chicken entree is my quick fix. But when I'm feeling more mindful, Sunday night meal prep is my long game. Same with beauty. Foundation is The Quick Fix (It Cosmetics CC Cream with SPF 50+ in Rich Honey cheats perfect skin in like 6 seconds flat). Still, sunscreen is The Long Game. Over time, I know that sunscreen will dramatically improve my skin tone, texture, and clarity. (For 13 sunscreens that won't make you ashy, click here)
So body care is no different. Sometimes I invest in The Long Game. And sometimes, Bae texts and says to be ready in 15 minutes — and I reach for The Quick Fix because a girl has to be in a mini dress stat! For both life scenarios, here's what I do:
The Quick Fix
Been skipping leg day? No problem! St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse is my go-to for a natural, healthy-looking touch of sun to my legs (and arms, if we're being honest). The streak-free formula gives skin an immediate bronzed glow but takes a couple of hours to fully develop. The result is gradual, never looks orangey or artificial, and lasts up to ten days.
For an even more instantaneous dose of color and hydration, LimeLife by Alcone Perfect Glow Moisturizing Bronzing Lotion is my jam! It's the perfect balance of color, camouflage, and skin-smoothing. The cream's soft light-diffusing technology helps blur imperfections like nicks, scars, and uneven skin tone. And you have your choice of Rose Gold - a subtle shimmer with a pink undertone, Gold - a warm golden shine, or Bronze - (my favorite) a healthy glow with Bronze. I love Bronze for legs and Rose gold for neck and décolletage.
The Long Game
I love my thighs. I do. They carry me through this thing called life, and I am grateful for them. But, if I may admit my vanity, I wish they were less dimply. So, here's what I do to make a dent (no pun intended) in my cellulite.
Micro-needling is a medispa or at-home treatment that uses a small grouping of teeny tiny needles to superficially puncture the first skin layer. This process is intended to rejuvenate skin by boosting collagen production. This boost in collagen production caused by the tiny injuries reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and dimples on thighs, arms, belly, buttocks, and skin above the knees. Beauty Bio GloPro Microneedling tool, when paired with The Sculptor LipoCare Cellulite-Smoothing Body Cream, is clinically proven to firm skin and smooth the appearance of cellulite-related texture. Formulated with caffeine, when applied after micro-needling, the caffeine-rich body cream stimulates blood flow and circulation, which helps improve collagen production and smooths bumps and ridges. For optimal results, it's advised to micro-needle every 2-3 days.
On non-microneedling days, a targeted body treatment like REN AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum is perfect for moisturizing and gently exfoliating the skin. Packed with lactic acid and probiotics, this powerhouse skin-smoother draws moisture to the skin's surface, smooths, and boosts skin's protective barrier. Over time, with a diligent application, skin appears visibly healthier, stronger, and cellulite is diminished.
Necessaire The Body Exfoliator is how I take it all off, literally. None of the products mentioned above will work to maximum efficacy if the dry, flaky buildup is all over my body. This once-a-week exfoliation treatment contains Bamboo, Charcoal, Pumice, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid. Collectively they provide both physical and deeper chemical exfoliation.
I like to apply all over before starting the shower to not waste the precious product down the drain prematurely. After vigorously massaging all over, I then turn on the shower and massage The Body Exfoliator into a foam and rinse. This is like a Korean spa experience in a tube.