The vast majority of us have our facial skincare routine pinned down to a tee. Even those of us with the simplest of routines, will cleanse and moisturise our faces daily. But how many of us pay the same due diligence to the rest of our bodies? Are you amongst the few who have a daily body care regime? Or are you like the majority, do you neglect the skin below your chin?

As any good skincare expert will tell you maintaining a simple, regular routine is far more beneficial than a short term, sporadic, complicated one and this mantra is equally applicable to your body care routine. Over at soapNskin HQ we like to keep our routines simple and effective, its easier to maintain that way!

It’s pretty important that we invest time in looking after ALL of our skin including the bits that get covered by clothes and being a brand dedicated to body care, we thought we’d spend some time to explain simple effective steps worth incorporating into you body care routine. Adopt these now and maintain throughout the winter for smooth, buff skin when its time to go bare come summer.

 

Gentle Cleansing.

Yup, this is pretty basic stuff and we’re confident that you cleanse your skin daily in the shower. But the focus here is on gentle cleansing. Slathering on soap or body wash containing synthetic fragrances and toxic ingredients is not gentle cleansing. Being mindful of ingredients is the first step to really looking after ALL of your skin. Avoid sulphates, parabens, mineral oils and synthetic fragrances. They only contribute towards drying your skin and accelerating aging, which quite frankly, we all want to avoid. Look for products which have a high natural oil content like castile soap, they offer cleansing whilst moisturising.

If you have the luxury of time, consider a 20 min bath. A soak in mineral rich salts is an effective way to gently cleanse.

 

Watch the temp.

As tempting as it is to have a hot shower or bath, its one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Hot water actually strips the skin of its natural oils and exacerbates dry skin conditions and itchy skin. Dermatologists have advocated the use of tepid water in showers and baths.

 

Moisturise.

How many of you skip this part? Or if you’re diligent, you may still be doing it wrong. Wait. There’s a right and wrong way to moisturise?

Yup, you’ve read correctly.

Moisturising your body is key in maintaining over all skin health. Choose body oils and butters over lotions as these have higher moisturising properties. But the key is to moisturise while your skin is still damp from your shower or bath. Apply liberally to moist skin in your damp bathroom… your skin will literally drink the moisture you’ve applied as it dries.

 

Exfoliate.

Exfoliating is a great way to boost circulation and slough away dead skin cells. Easy does it and once a week is more than enough. There are a variety of ways you can get your exfoliating fix. Natural body scrubs can offer a gentle exfoliation whilst also benefitting from other active, skin softening ingredients. A loofah and brush can be just as effective, simply use gentle circular motions starting from the feet and working your way up.

 

If you are using a loofah, do remember to replace it every four weeks and give it time to dry in between showers (they can breed bacteria!).

 

SPF.

Yup. Don’t forget sun protection, even in the winter when you’re covered… your hands usually aren’t, unless it’s bitter and you’ve got gloves.