Most often than not, we stumble across articles, videos and/or blog posts on how to take super good care of the skin on our faces. As someone who has mild eczema and who has very sensitive skin on my body, I have realized that taking care of the skin on our bodies is just as important as taking care of the skin on our faces. Investing in products and a routine for the skin on our bodies can be very beneficial in the long run and resulting in beautiful looking skin.
About a year and a half ago, I suddenly got very itchy skin and with countless doctor appointments trying to figure out what is wrong with my skin, they ultimately landed on the verdict of mild eczema so I was able to care for my discomfort better. For those who don’t know what eczema is, it’s a skin condition that can appear anywhere on the body and results in rashes or itchy patches. I will be the first to tell you that it is NOT fun, but so many people deal with it! It is a condition that can be helped in a way with some simple body-skincare routines. I have been on my body-skincare regimen for about a year and a half now and I can honestly say that the skin on my body feels just as good and smooth as the skin on my face.
1. Exfoliate
I would recommend exfoliating your body 2-3 times a week or any time you shave. Personally, I exfoliate before and after I shave anywhere on my body to prevent any ingrown hairs and to remove anything and everything that could possibly be on my skin still. Exfoliating can get rid of any dead skin cells on your body or any other gunk that can continue to build up so essentially it’s kind of like giving your skin a “new” start!
I personally am using a body scrub from & other stories — I would definitely recommend them because they smell good while doing the job! For $15 per pot, they last for super long and I can’t wait for my next one because they smell that good.
2. Body Wash
I would wash my body with body wash after exfoliating because I want to make sure that I am washing away everything that the exfoliant exfoliated off of my skin. Buying the right body wash is key to someone with skin conditions or those with sensitive skin. I have been using gentle soap on my skin ever since I’ve had this regimen because the scents in other body washes contain certain chemicals that can dry out our skin even more. If scent is a big deal to you, make sure to do your research and get one that contains the least amount of addictive and/or chemicals.
I have been just using Olay Soap Bars, which smells good, don’t have harsh chemicals that dry out the skin and very inexpensive! I just buy them in bulk because they’re easy to throw in a bag to travel with too!
3. Baby Oil
This one may sound weird to some but I have been using baby oil on my skin for a very long time. Even as we get older, we still need to treat our skin delicately and the best way is to use baby products! After I finish showering, I rub baby oil ALL over my body (before I dry off) and let it all soak in for about 5 minutes before I dry it all off with a towel. This helps lock in more moisture which makes your skin more hydrated!
I stay with using Johnson & Johnson because they have so many products specializing in the baby category and they have so many types of baby oil! They all work super well—I have tried the original, the one with shea & cocoa butter and the one with aloe.
4. Moisturize / Sunscreen
The next step that I NEVER EVER skip is to moisturize! I would highly recommend to force this step into your showering routine even if you don’t have sensitive or dry skin because the benefits of moisturizing goes beyond the surface. It can allow for more flowing and healthy looking skin as well as providing hydration that was stripped away in the shower with our body washes. And in the day time, make sure to add sunscreen to your routine because NO ONE wants skin cancer!! The sun can actually dry out our skin as well and sunscreen can protect against that in addition to making sure we aren’t burned looking like a hot cheeto!
I like using Aveeno for my body moisturizer because of the lack of scents and it really does moisturize the skin so well! For sunscreen, I’ve been using many different kinds but recently have been making sure that the SPF is at least 50 on them!
5. Diet
I will admit that I am the worst at controlling my diet but I have learned the hard way several times that what we eat does come back to bite us in the buttocks. Eating too much junk food, diary and sugar ultimately will show on your skin somewhere from acne to your skin drying out even more (there is a correlation trust me!). I have slowly learned how to force myself to drink more water, eat more fruit when I am shoving too much junk food in my body and to eat my veggies!! Learning to make new dishes and trying new cuisines has also helped me branch out of my diet and to experiment with what else is good for my body inside and out.
Outfit Details: Shirt—Forever 21 Shorts—Uniqlo Bracelet—Hermes Shoes—Adidas Stan Smith Sunglasses + Watch—Burberry Necklace—Urban Outfitters
While these are my go-to steps in my body skincare routine, I do have various of products that I lean towards with every step. It is okay to switch up the products that you use but always keep in mind the ingredients that are in them and how they will affect your skin. Something else that I often tell people is to look at their detergents and the material that our clothes are made out of! Wearing 100% cotton or using detergents that are less harsh can be better on our skin since it’s in direct contact with the clothing article or the detergents. Investing in clothing pieces is something that I have learned to do since it’s so much better for my skin in the long run.
Coming to the right body skincare regimen can be difficult but don’t give up! Experiment with different products, switch up the steps and add or take away some of your own, or have an excuse to go shopping for some new clothes!! Either way, remember that our skin is the largest organ on our body and we need to start taking better care of it!
Until my next lil’ thought then!
Jen ❣️
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