Cleanse, moisturise, exfoliate: How to build the best possible body care routine

Taking care of your skin from the chin down.

Whether it’s a simple three-step process or a carefully choreographed 15-minute routine, we all have our preferred skincare habits. In the past few months, I’ve been working on healing my skin’s barrier and reducing my acne.

I promised myself I would give my face the love and care it deserves, and stop throwing random products at it in an attempt to make my nasty pimples go away. And slowly but surely, it’s been working. But in the midst of putting my face first, I’ve forgotten about the rest of my skin from the chin down – and I have a feeling I’m not the only one.

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We have more skin than what’s on our face and the rest of our body needs some TLC, too. So if you’ve established a solid routine for your face, it’s time to start building a body care routine.

Stay hydrated

Before pulling out your credit card and adding a bunch of products to your cart, it’s important to start helping your skin from the inside out. The simple act of keeping hydrated has so many benefits, and one of those includes keeping our skin healthy. Dr Kristeen Cherney Snyder tells Healthline that not drinking enough water can lead to dull skin and brittle hair, to say the least.

“Dehydrated skin means that your skin is lacking water. It can be dry and itchy and perhaps dull-looking, too. Your overall tone and complexion may appear uneven, and fine lines are more noticeable.”

Cleanse your body properly

Clean skin is happy skin, so it’s ultra important that you shower regularly and make sure you’re washing your body properly. Sure, sometimes we might be in a rush and only have time for a ‘wash the important bits’ moment, but this definitely can’t be every day. By cleansing thoroughly, we remove all the sweat, dirt and grime that built up throughout the day, helping our skin to breathe and stay fresh.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan, dermatologist Heather Rogers stresses the importance of avoiding soaps or body washes that contain sulphates like sodium lauryl or laureth sulphate. These ingredients strip away your body’s natural oils, which can result in a damaged or compromised skin barrier.

Moisturise

No, your skin doesn’t need to be cracked and dry in order for you to pull the body moisturiser from the back of your bathroom cupboard. Moisturising should actually be a daily part of your body care routine. It helps lock in hydration and keep your skin feeling silky smooth, so you’re not experiencing dryness or discomfort.

The best time to lather on your moisturiser is when you’re fresh out of the shower, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dina Strachan. “When skin is already damp, it’s hydrated. The moisturiser can then either provide more hydration or just seal it in,” she tells Healthline in an interview. Moisturise your face every single day? The rest of your body deserves that same level of care.

Exfoliate

Removing the dead skin cells from your body is especially important if you want to achieve glowing skin. How often you do this depends on your skin type (people with more sensitive skin tend to exfoliate less frequently), but it’s typically best to exfoliate between one to three times a week.

Whether you use a natural or chemical exfoliant is completely up to you. They both do the job well but if you opt for a natural exfoliator, make sure it only contains nonabrasive ingredients. Otherwise, your skin may become inflamed or be subject to microtears.

Use body serums

The skin is our body’s largest organ. So, if you’re applying serums to your face, why not continue on downwards and do the rest of your body, too? While body serums aren’t necessary, incorporating them into your routine doesn’t hurt. These serums are filled with active ingredients that can help rejuvenate your skin, especially if it’s lacking lustre.

“Just like facial serums, body serums deliver active ingredients to target specific concerns such as dry or dull skin, whereas traditional body lotions are mainly used to provide moisture. Serums are able to deliver a higher concentration of active ingredients than other lotions, creams and… makes a major difference in the overall look and health of the skin,” Tata Harper, founder of Tata Harper Skincare, said recently.

Always use SPF

Slip, slop, slap! Prevention is far easier than repair. Once the sun’s harmful UV rays damage your skin, there’s no going back. No matter the UV index for the day, slathering on sunscreen is the simplest but best thing you can do to ensure your skin is cared for.

For more on keeping your skin looking its best, read this.