We’ve Talked About the Face, Now What About the Rest?

When it comes to skincare we see a lot of tips and tricks that talk about issues pertaining to the face. Perhaps this is because it is the only thing not spending covered up most of the time. For whatever reason it is what we seem to focus on editing the most. We apply makeup to the face more than we would apply makeup to the body. We think about cleansers, moisturizers, serums, etc. in terms of what would be good for the skin on our face. However, just because this is where are focus is at, it doesn’t mean it’s not just as important to take care of our skin everywhere else.

We often think more about diet and exercise when we are looking to take care of our bodies. This is good and great, but we should also be thinking about it on a surface level. Our skin barrier is a delicate ecosystem on all parts of our body, not just our face. We should be repairing and taking care of that skin all the same. The very basics of a skincare routine for your body includes exfoliation, moisturizing, and using products that don’t include harsh chemicals. For many of you this may mean having to switch your Bath and Body Work’s out for something much less fragrant. Just like the products we use on our face we want to find products that are as straight forward as possible when it comes to the body.

When looking for a moisturizer to use for your body, it is recommended to avoid these ingredients: Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA – not the same as BHA’s mentioned in previous blogs that are beneficial as an exfoliating product), DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance + Parfum, Parabens, Retinyl Palmitate, and Triethanolamine. Many of these are probably things you’ve never heard of. Check out this article to learn more about why these ingredients are harmful to the body.

There are two kinds of body lotions that you can choose from: occlusives and humectants. We talked about occlusives in the Skincare Fads blog. These are products that will block the water from evaporating from skin cells. Humectants on the other hand draw more water towards the surface of the skin from inner layers. Both are beneficial in keeping your skin moisturized, though for the body it may be more efficient to focus on humectants as they won’t linger on your skin as long. These are usually oil-free and can include ingredients such as glycolic, urea, and lactic acid. Other good ingredients to look for are ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Some affordable and dermatologist recommended body moisturizers include:

• CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
• Eucerin Advanced Repair Dry Skin Lotion
• Aquaphor Ointment Body Spray
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
• PH Balance Skincare Daily Moisturizer
• Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream

There’s many more options that you can try out that use safe ingredients. This is just to get an idea of what to look for the next time you’re out shopping. It’s important to also be aware of the fact that facial moisturizers and body moisturizers or not interchangeable. As in, your body lotion can not double as your face moisturizer. There are some products like the PH Balance Skincare Daily Moisturizer that can actually be used on your face, but to keep things simple and safe, I would recommend using separate products. Some ingredients that work for your body may clog your pores on your face so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Now, what about washing our skin? What you use for a body wash can also make a huge difference. Here are some ingredients you will want to avoid: Parabens, BPA, Triclosan, Benzophenone-3, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclocarban, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents, and all synthetic fragrances. These should also be avoided in shampoos.

Looking for a “clean” body wash is a little more difficult. When it comes to looking for a product, you’ll more so just have to avoid these ingredients and look for products that don’t include them. Products with stamps on them that read “USDA Organic,” “non-GMO,” and “Environmental Working Group (EWG)” aren’t necessarily guaranteed to be perfect but it does mean they passed more tests than products that do not carry this stamp. All things to keep in mind when looking for a body wash.

If you struggle with body acne, you’ll want to still avoid these ingredients but look for washes that include ingredients discussed in my blog post all about skincare for acne.

We can also talk about the importance of exfoliation now that we have covered the basic moisturizing and cleansing aspect. Like the skin on your face, you don’t need to exfoliate the skin on your body every day. Once or twice a week is just fine. This can be done with body scrubs (though keep in mind you should still avoid the ingredients listed for both moisturizers and body washes that are harmful), exfoliating gloves, and perhaps even dry brushing if your skin is on the tougher side. Making way for a new skin barrier to grow is important when wanting to keep your skin looking healthy and glowing. Just don’t over do it and make sure to moisturize. It’s also important to exfoliate before shaving. Helps to avoid razor burn, bumps, and ingrown hairs.

Those are the basic ways we should be taking care of the skin on our body. I’d like to also emphasize once again how important sunscreen is to wear not just on your face, but on your body as well. Mainly during the summer when we’re covering up much less and spending more time in the sun. Remembering to do all of these things will help maintain the health of your skin. After all, the skin all around your body will show wear and tear if not taken care of. Fortunately, there’s not a long list of things you can and should do to keep the skin on your body looking great. A basic routine that includes a good body wash, moisturizer, and the occasional exfoliant can certainly make a difference.