Most of us are pretty good at tending to the skin on our faces—but what about body care?
According to a survey by Venus, 76 percent of women place more importance on their facial skincare regime than their body care routine. Nearly a third (29 percent) admitted to not knowing how to look after their body skin.
It makes sense. Our faces are usually the first thing people see when they meet us either online or in person, so we work hard to keep them looking as good as possible.
Ignoring the skin on the rest of the body, however, isn’t good for our overall health. Neither does it boost our confidence when the weather warms up. When we choose more skin-baring fashions, we may suddenly become aware of dry, dull, flaky, and saggy-looking skin on our arms and legs.
Considering that the skin on the face and neck makes up only 3.5 percent and 2 percent respectively of all the skin we have, it’s time we started caring more about the rest of that skin. Here are five reasons why.
Five Reasons Why You Should Have a Body Care Routine
1. The skin is the largest organ you have.
Skin is an organ just like the heart, kidneys, and lungs, and it is the largest organ we have. It is also our main line of defense against the outside world. It protects us from germs and other microorganisms that may harm us. When it’s healthy, it also retains moisture so that it looks smooth, healthy, and vibrant.
Unhealthy body skin can cause several problems. Without regular care, the outer barrier on the body’s skin can become compromised. It may then allow bacteria in, causing redness, swelling, and infections. It can become more sensitive, easily reacting to fabrics, detergents, and skin care products. You may notice itching and irritation.
Caring for this large organ will help you enjoy a more comfortable, healthy life!
2. Body skin is prone to the same problems as facial skin.
Typically, when we care for our faces, we are hoping to delay signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, dullness, and hyperpigmentation. These same problems can attack body skin. You may notice more sagging under your arms, a crepiness on your decollete, hyperpigmentation in areas that were exposed to the sun, and an overall dull appearance.
Regularly caring for your body’s skin can help you avoid these issues. Your skin will remain soft and smooth and resist unhealthy changes that cause premature aging.
3. Body skin is different than facial skin.
You may be tempted to simply use your facial products on your body. In some cases, that will work. But it’s important to know that the skin on the face has more density and more sebaceous (oil) glands than body skin. That means that body skin often requires more moisture than facial skin because it lacks those sebaceous glands to continually renew moisture. It also needs a product that will easily penetrate the skin’s layers to deeply moisturize.
The skin on the body may also be more sensitive to irritation from skin care products that include harsh or drying ingredients. A facial product with retinol, for example, may not work well on body skin. Gentler products made with ingredients that the skin recognizes and easily absorbs usually work better in helping the body’s skin remain smooth and healthy.
Our CV Skinlabs Body Repair Lotion is formulated specifically for body skin that’s dry or sensitive. It’s fast-absorbing and deeply hydrating, helping to replenish and soothe dry, flaky, inflamed skin while restoring radiance. It’s also ideal for soothing irritation from waxing and shaving. Make sure you have this product with you to calm conditions like psoriasis or eczema at and to keep your skin look its best in this year’s spring fashions!
4. Certain areas of the body require special care.
Take a look at your cuticles, elbows, heels, knees, and the knuckles of your hands. How do they look? Are they smooth and healthy looking, or are they dry, dull, cracked, and flaky?
These areas of body skin often need extra care to look and feel their best. The skin on the feet, for instance, has no oil glands, which means it can easily become dry and itchy. If you go barefoot often, you’re exposing that skin to a variety of surfaces. Having strong, healthy skin is important for avoiding infections and other issues.
In your body care routine, it’s best to tend to these areas at least once a day. We recommend our Restorative Skin Balm for areas like your elbows, cuticles, and heels. It’s extra moisturizing and helps treat severely dry and chapped skin. Apply it to your heels, knuckles, cuticles, and anywhere else that needs a little extra attention every night.
5. Body skin ages too.
Regular body care helps to care for your skin as you get older. Older skin tends to be dry, dull, and flaky, thus making you more vulnerable to dangerous infections. If you have edema in your legs, regular skin care becomes even more important, as edema increases the risk of cellulitis—a serious skin infection that can cause hospitalization.
As we age, the sun damage we’ve accumulated over the years can begin to show up as well. You may notice more dark spots, dry patches, and saggy skin. Skin cancer is also a concern for everyone, and may start to develop as you get older.
Regularly caring for your body skin helps your skin to better cope with aging, and also allows you to check on any dark spots or moles that may signal developing skin cancer. Addressing these areas early gives you the greatest chance for successful skin care treatment.
How to Create a Body Care Routine
If you don’t have a body care routine yet, it’s very easy to do. Follow these steps:
Start with Dry Brushing
Dry brushing allows you to slough off old dead skin cells on your body skin, preparing it for moisture. Read more about dry brushing here.
Use a Gentle Cleanser
Just as you don’t want to be too harsh with your face skin, you want to be gentle with your body skin too. Choose a moisturizing body wash that cleanses your skin without stripping it of moisture.
Moisturize Daily
Use our Body Repair Lotion to moisturize the skin all over your body at least once a day. The best time is after a shower or bath when your skin is already damp. This allows the skin to hang onto more moisture than it would when it’s dry.
Tend to Dry Areas
You may need more moisture on areas like the elbows, heels, knees, and hands. Try our Restorative Skin Balm on these areas before you go to bed.
Protect Your Skin
Enjoy your spring and summer fashions, but take care to protect your skin from the sun. Don’t allow yourself to burn, and use sunscreen as needed.
Do you have a body care routine?
Featured image by Sora Shimazaki via Pexels.
