How to Develop a Skincare Routine for Your Body
How do you de-stress your body?
This blog post is sponsored by Advanced Clinicals; all opinions are 100% my own.
It was after college, the first year working an office job full-time, when I started to understand that my body reflects my emotional state. For instance, I tend to suffer from bad water retention when I’m tired because of lack of sleep. Or when I’m stressed, I often get more acne on my back. I remember I even had shingles for a while because I was working overtime and dealing with a bad breakup at the same time.
The experience was obviously not so great but it really taught me to recognize the importance of caring for my mind as well as my body. I started doing hot yoga and pilates regularly to stay active. Most importantly though, I learned how to develop a skincare routine for my body.
Most of us have a skincare routine for our face (and maybe neck?), but not a lot of us remember to look after the rest of the skin on our body. Since skin is the largest organ of the human body, I think it definitely is worth taking some time to create a good routine for!
Read on to see how I developed my current skincare routine for my body:
Understand Your Skin Type
I have combination skin on my face (oily t-zone and dry cheeks) and funny enough, that’s the same case for the rest of my body, too. I have acne-prone skin on my back, but my legs are generally really dry, especially my shins. In the winter, they are so dry, they become flaky sometimes. Because of that, I use different types of products on various parts of my body.
Use Suitable Products that Target Different Skin Problems
Once you know your skin, you will have a better idea of what products to go for that would help target certain problems!
For instance, for my super dry shins, I like to use the Manuka Honey Cream by Advanced Clinicals. The hydrating cream is one of my favorite body lotions because it isn’t greasy and it smells so nice! It actually also helps with diminishing the look of wrinkles by plumping and firming the skin, too, thanks to the Manuka honey from New Zealand.
When I was wearing sleeveless tops during the warmer days, I noticed the skin on my arms were looking ”older” and less plumped. So I started using Advanced Clinical’s Hyaluronic Acid Lotion on my arms recently since the cream is designed to help restore volume to sagging skin.
The 16oz tubs only cost US$15 each, which is a great deal. Both products are available at select Bed, Bath & Beyond.
I pick suitable lotions to use on different parts of my body, depending on what my skin needs.
The Manuka Honey Cream has a very nice scent.
Adjust Your Routine to the Season
In the summer, a thin layer of cream is sufficient for the most part. But as the temperature drops, I like to add body oils to my routine for an extra layer of hydration. Change up your routine as the seasons change so you’re providing your skin with the right amount of care.
During the chillier days of New York Fashion Week this season, I used body oils, like Advanced Clinical’s Argan Firming Body Oil (which is also available at select Bed, Bath & Beyond), to massage my legs after walking around in heels all day long. The Moroccan Argan oil is rich in Vitamin E, and infused with Caffeine, Shea Butter and Jojoba Oil, which together moisturizes and tones the skin. I thought the body oil helped with ridding water retention as well.
I love adding a few drops of the Argan Oil to any lotion to further intensity the hydrating effect.
Photo by Ashley Gallerani.
Have the Right Mind Set
Self-care should be about spending time looking after your mind and body. Don’t think about the routine for your body as a “hassle” that you have to deal with “on top of other things.” You should always be able to make time for yourself and give the attention your skin deserves!
What are some things you do to take care of your skin? Share them with me by leaving a comment below!
Thank you for reading!
Love,
