7 Australian creatives share their body care routine
IMAGE VIA @flex.mami/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
Scrub, scrub, scrub.
I take great pride in my skincare routine. My face is pampered, every single day without fail, with a considered multi-step routine. My body, however, doesn’t receive an inch of the same treatment. My maths might be off, but I’d gamble my face makes up about four per cent of the overall surface area of my skin. So why does it receive all the attention?
Body care is a growing field of interest for many. I remember just a couple of years ago, my coworkers were arguing about the necessity of washing their legs. Now, the ritual of dry brushing, cleansing, serum-ing, moisturising and oiling bodies is commonplace.
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Though I’m still partial to a chemist shower gel and Sorbolene moisturiser, I’m trying to step up my body care game. That’s why I asked seven Australians in the beauty space to share their body care routines with me. Read on to snoop inside their detailed rituals.
Claire Bridgett, makeup artist and content creator
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Lazy, transporting and bougie!
Now, give us the full rundown!
First and foremost, I always use L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil when I shower. It’s a uniquely hydrating body wash that transforms from oil to a frothy milk consistency with delightful almond and vanilla notes. If I have the energy (usually every two weeks), I use Ouai St Barts Scalp and Body Scrub or Frank Body’s AHA scrub to remove dry skin.
Although I’ve only recently started moisturising my body this year (which is horrible coming from a makeup artist who preaches skin prep daily), my go-to choice is Sol De Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil. It’s non-greasy and carries that famous, uplifting salted caramel scent that instantly transports you on a holiday.
Lillian Ahenkan, author, designer and media personality
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
A functionally luxurious commitment.
Now, give us the full rundown!
This is exactly how I want to be spending my time on the internet. Being nosy and facilitating nosiness by inviting you into one of the most intimate parts of my life. Every morning and most nights, I jump in a scalding hot shower, even though ‘scientists have proven’ that hot water is no more effective than cold at getting rid of bacteria *blegh*. I, facing the shower, promptly grab my African Net Sponge (non-negotiable) and lather up a body wash.
Currently, I alternate between DMK Hydra Louffa, Dove Triple Moisture Body Wash and Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Wash depending on the weather, how dry I feel and how much moisture I think I’ll need. Then twice a week I’ll use a body scrub for my underarms, bikini line, the back of my neck, elbows and any other areas that I feel need extra love and attention. I’m rotating between Fenty Beauty Cherry Dub Face Scrub and Frank Body Rosehip Body Scrub and Cleanser. Depending on how many days post-pedicure I am, I’ll hack at my heels with a foot file in the shower.
No one tells you that a consequence of wearing mules daily is that your heels are exposed to the elements which [equals] dry, cracked skin. To tackle that, straight out of the shower, I’ll use a heel balm with urea. I’m trialling a couple at the moment at various price points to see if that makes a huge difference. There’s DMK Calerase, Eulactol Heel Balm and Dermal Therapy Heel Balm.
Then I wash my hands, apply Wild Natural deodorant and then slather my whole body in two different moisturisers. I use Ever Sheen Cocoa Butter (a Ghanaian household staple) on my whole body for nourishment and hydration, then I’ll top up the arms with Nivea moisturiser because it smells delectable. Then, it’s perfume! Right now my favourites are Rebel Rose by Who Is Elijah and Rose Street by Ficifolia.
Hannah Collingwood English, author, content creator and scientist
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Effective, slightly unhinged.
Now, give us the full rundown!
For every single shower, daily, I use my Coco and Eve silicone body mitt (because loofahs are germy!) and the Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Shower Gel. Yum. If it’s after the gym, that will be [an] exfoliating body wash – I have the Naturium Vitamin C one. Then I use a second, oil-based body wash from L’Occitane for extra moisture and if I need to, the Manicare foot file.
After turning the taps off, while I’m still dripping wet, I’ll use the Aveeno Oil Mist, rub that in [and] towel down. Then on damp skin, I like to use the Frank Body Niacinamide Body Serum – it’s lightweight so it doesn’t make me feel sticky. I can’t deal with a thick cream.
I put the Shiseido Urea Body Milk on my legs and the bumps on the backs of my arms, I do foot cream (Soap and Glory Heel Genius) and put on socks. Once a week or so I’ll exfoliate with the Dr Dennis Gross body peel pads too, they’re expensive but nothing compares to help with ingrowns and bumps. And of course, sun protection for any exposed skin. And perfume! It’s actually not that much when you do it all, but I also really enjoy the ritual.
Nonny Mulholland, model
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Cleansing, nourishing and habitual.
Now, give us the full rundown!
Sunday is my total body reset day. I start the morning with hot water and lemon, making sure I get hydrated and then get ready for the gym. I dampen my hair and apply the Pureology Hydrate Soft Treatment and slick my hair back for my morning activities. After the gym, I’ll follow up with my shower.
I apply True Botanicals Pure Radiance Sugar Scrub and take time to scrub my skin in circular motions. I then use the scalp scrub by Briogeo and use a scalp massager to work the product in. I’ll rinse out my hair and use an in-shower moisturiser then shave. I’ll dry off and use Sensori+ Detoxifying Glowing Gayndah Orchard Oil-in-Lotion to deeply nourish the skin. I will then use my LED facemask for at least 20-to-30 minutes. After this, I use the Kora Organics Noni Glow Sleeping Mask and L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum. I end by applying the Lip Sleeping Mask by Laneige.
Iain Jeffery, makeup artist and beauty writer
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Smoothing tattoo care.
Now, give us the full rundown!
I find exfoliating with a scrub in the shower often just gets messy, so I really enjoy dry brushing my body before I shower three times a week. I love that the bristles of Kit’s dry brush are quite firm and really allow me focus on [my] elbows, knees and the back of my arms to smooth away bumps and stop my tattoos [from] looking dull. I love dry brushing before a shower to help loosen up dead skin cells so they can be easily washed away.
I’m lucky in the sense that I don’t really get body breakouts, but I do get keratosis pilaris (KP) bumps on the backs of my arms that can look quite red and dry. Will and Zo The Here Body Breakout Cleanser contains salicylic acid to help deal with my KP but it’s quite a hydrating formula too, so it never leaves my skin feeling stripped. I use it with a silicone ‘loofah’ and I find I can use it daily!
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream is probably the step in my body routine that makes the most difference, with regular use it’s almost like I’ve turned up the contrast on my tattoos. They look fresher, my skin is smoother and I never feel like my tattoos look ashy or dull now. The formula is also lightweight and doesn’t feel greasy so it’s comfortable to get dressed quickly after applying; this gets applied at least once a day.
After a body lotion, I love anointing my skin in a body oil. It always feels so luxurious, and I love the way that they make your skin (and in my case my tattoos) glisten and look ultra-refined. I love the oversized dropper bottle of the Ikkari Body Oil, and the scent is such a classic, beautiful, crisp rose that I often feel like I can forego my EDP when I apply this oil. I tend to save this for one I’m feeling dry or need instant skin gratification.
I personally have sensory issues surrounding the feeling of SPF on my skin. I can tolerate it as I know it’s good for me, but if I’m going to be outside for extended periods of time or feel like I can handle it, I’ll use my Uniqlo UPF clothing. It offers a high protection factor in lightweight materials that allow me to protect my tattoos (and skin) comfortably. A daily occurrence!
If I’m in a situation where I am unable to wear UPF clothing, I really enjoy using La Roche Posay Anthelios Invisible Spray Sunscreen SPF 50+. Out of all the body sunscreens I have tried, this one gives me the most minimal sensory issues, which means that I can actually apply the right amount to get the labelled protection without getting overwhelmed. Another daily essential.
Jamila Rizvi, author, speaker and Deputy Managing Director of Future Women
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Scrub, moisture, oil.
Now, give us the full rundown!
Twice a week, I’ll use Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, which smells scrumptious – but not in that over-perfumed way that seems suspiciously ineffective. It’s got a gentle pumice-like quality and takes care of those gross dead skin cells. Complicated and deeply boring medical stuff means I have super dry skin that takes real work to keep hydrated. Especially because I’m a ‘forget to drink water when distracted’ type.
I like This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil, which can be used all over the body a few times a week. Finally, and because I’m deeply original, I’m addicted to Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (especially since Gemma Watts taught me how to pronounce the name). I shoot for every second day application but remember less often than that. It’s lush and rich, as well a nice base for sunless self-tanning.
Lucy Neville, content creator and writer
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Non-negotiable, nourishing, comfort.
Now, give us the full rundown!
I never skip body care, but rather than having one set routine, I like to mix it up. I love a body scrub – particularly an active, effective body scrub. I consistently get bumps that cover the back of my legs (because I’m a human, it’s normal) but I find that an AHA scrub is particularly good at moving those along.
Frank Body does it so well, I also love the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Scrub, the Skinstitut Glycolic Scrub 14% is great and I picked up the Mirror Water scrub while I was in London (I dream of it being available in Australia one day). Sometimes I’ll use the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil just before I jump out of the shower (IYKYK).
Body serums! This is a fairly new category for me, but they pack a punch. I love the Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum, as well as [its] Weightless Body Treatment with 2% BHA for the aforementioned bumps. Frank Body also has incredible body serums – but it should be said, don’t use these all at once. I tend to pick and stick to one at a time.
If I could only do one step of my body care routine for the rest of time, it would be moisturising my body, particularly my legs. I can physically feel when my legs are dry and need moisturising and it’s one of my least favourite experiences, so I rarely let that happen. Some favourites include the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, the Essano Radiant Cocoa Glow Body Lotion, Fenty Skin Butta Drop… I could go on, it’s a long list. Of course, SPF50+ needs to be the last step in any good body care routine. Always, but especially if you’re using actives.
Vinca Mika, content creator
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Describe your body care routine in three words.
Exfoliating, relaxing, hydrating.
Now, give us the full rundown!
I refuse to view body care as a chore! That’s why having a relaxing body care with scents that smell comforting is very important to me. I use the Almond Shower Oil from L’Occitane; it’s perfectly hydrating to combat Melbourne’s dry air and the smell is heavenly! After showering, I use Paula’s Choice Weightless Body Lotion with 2% BHA; this product helps further exfoliate my skin and treat my strawberry legs.
This lotion is also perfect for me because I’m not a big fan of feeling oily after a shower. Every second day, I use a dry brush from Kit all over my body and I lather my limbs with The Organic’s Glycolic Acid 7% Solution before I shower. Every second day, I also exfoliate using the Almond Delicious Paste (as you can see, I’m a big fan of L’Occitane’s almond range). Every other day, I switch my Paula’s Choice Body Lotion with either ingrown hair pads with BHA and AHA from First Aid Beauty or Aveeno’s Daily Moisturising Body Lotion.
For more on body care, try this.
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