Best Body Care Routine for Glowing Skin

Most people view solid facial care as a non-negotiable but often neglect a full-body skincare routine. While a structured body care routine is undoubtedly more significant and more difficult than merely caring for your face, having one can serve as the first line of defense against infection and diseases while also providing a healthy glow.

However, it goes beyond understanding the importance of a body care routine. It’s also worth identifying the best processes and products that work for the skin to keep it feeling healthy. Over time, skin care experts and enthusiasts have come up with various routines, and while the processes may be slightly distinct, they all incorporate similar elements. We’ll be highlighting these elements, as well as some of the best products to incorporate into your body care routine for glowing skin.

Why do I need a Body Care Routine?

Most people only consider the face when developing a proper care routine. However, the effect of a dedicated body care routine cannot be overstated. Firstly, the skin is the largest organ, serving as a protective barrier to shield the body from harmful environmental factors, including pollutants, pathogens, and UV radiation.

As such, the best way to enhance the skin’s effectiveness against infections, irritations, and other skin issues is by maintaining its health. Furthermore, a structured body care routine keeps the skin hydrated, which is critical for supporting its elasticity and promoting a radiant overall glow, not just facially.

Finally, those who prioritize body care routines are better placed to engage in healthy and beneficial skin care practices. For instance, understanding the impact of UV radiation can trigger the use of sunscreen, which can be useful in preventing serious skin issues associated with sun exposure.

What Makes a Good Routine

A body care routine is only as effective as the products used. Hence, more than anything else, it’s crucial to always consider the product you’re incorporating into your routine and how well it suits your skin.

To be on the safe side, we recommend considering more organic products free of harsh chemicals, toxins, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, fragrances, and other harmful additives. For those dealing with specific skin conditions, clinical skincare products can be a good choice; however, it’s best to consult a dermatologist before selecting any clinical product.

The routine itself should also include all the necessary steps required to maintain healthy and youthful skin. We’ve put together some steps and effective products to help you with your body care journey.

#Step1: Exfoliation

Every routine emphasizes exfoliation, and for a good reason. Not only does it unclog skin pores, but it also helps to remove impurities, improve skin texture and promote cell turnover. Exfoliation has also proven effective in improving blood circulation in the skin and stimulating collagen production, a particularly helpful characteristic for getting firm and more radiant skin. 

However, unlike other steps in a body care routine, exfoliation should not be done daily, as it can be harsh and irritating. Typically, how frequently you exfoliate will depend on your skin type and sensitivity; still, no one should exfoliate more than twice weekly. In some cases, once is enough.

Furthermore, this process doesn’t always have to include chemical exfoliators; a scrub is also effective; in fact, we recommend you go for scrubs. But if you must get a chemical exfoliator, opt for products with ingredients that help to promote cell turnover and improve its texture, like glycolic acid, lactic acid, or salicylic acid.

Some great body exfoliators include the Bare Botanicals Coconut Vanilla Body Scrub, Necessaire’s The Body Exfoliator, and Osea Salts of the Earth Body Scrub.

#Step2: Cleansing

All skincare routines, whether for the face or the entire body, should always emphasize cleansing. Cleansers help to clear dirt, oil, and impurities from the surface of the skin before other products are applied. To put it plainly, cleansers ensure the skin better absorbs and reaps the full benefits of other skincare products.

That said, the process for body care is different from common facial cleansing. In the context of body care, we’re thinking more in the line of a shower. Every great body care routine should always incorporate a good shower at least twice daily. Try as much as possible to avoid hot showers; colder water can be more beneficial to the skin, helping to tighten pores, foster healing, and retain natural oils.

You should be considering a gentle body wash, formulated with moisturizing ingredients and skin barrier enhancers. It’s best to stay away from products with sulfates, particularly for dry and sensitive skin, as these ingredients can further dry and irritate the skin.

Now you might be wondering; Can I use facial cleanser on the body? Well, you can, but it may not be very effective. Typically, the skin on our bodies is a lot thicker than that on our faces; as such, delicate facial cleansers will most likely not yield the desired result when used on the body. We recommend versatile products like Dove Instant Foaming Body Wash and CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash.

#Step3: Moisturize

As exfoliation takes away dead cells from the epidermis, they tend to leave the skin bare and dry. It’s important to rehydrate the skin to mitigate skin damage, which is why we suggest introducing a quality moisturizer after exfoliation.

How you moisturize should depend on your skin type. If your skin’s prone to acne breakouts, then we recommend a lightweight body cream formulated with skin barrier enhancers like shea butter, honey, and botanical oils. Shea butter, in particular, does not tend to clog your pores as it’s rated zero on the comedogenic scale.

You can opt for the Jergens Shea Butter Lotion if you’re prone to acne. On the other hand, people with dry skin will benefit from a thicker cream or body butter like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

#Step4: Body Oil

Including natural oil in your body care routine is also important to provide the skin with essential fatty acids and antioxidants. Usually, the skin’s thickness makes it more demanding when it comes to hydration and locking in moisture. This is why body oils should be used independently or in tandem with moisturizers.

Think of botanical oils like grapeseed, rosehip, safflower, and sunflower oils, all providing the skin with diverse qualities from different plant sources. These oils include antioxidants, vitamins, fatty acids and linoleic acid that help lock in moisture and protect the skin from environmental factors.

Organic body oils are the best option; despite their lightweight nature, they still provide powerful hydration. The OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil is an effective option to consider.

#Step5: Sun-Protection

Sun protection is crucial, and this protection doesn’t only apply to the face, but the entire body as well. While you likely already use sunscreen on your face, do you have one for your body, too; and if you do, are you actually using it?

While there is a preconceived notion that SPF is only useful on body parts that are exposed to the sun, sunscreens are formulated to protect from UV radiations rather than the sun itself. UVA radiations, particularly, are known for their unique travel pattern, which increases their penetrating capabilities even when it’s cloudy

You should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to exposed areas of the body daily, even when the sun is not up. If you’re going to be exposed for long, then reapply your SPF at least every two hours for more extensive protection.

Several quality sunscreens help protect from UV radiation. Versatile products like La Roche-Posay Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60 and Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion are body lotions that also double as effective sunscreens.

#Step6: Diet

Finally, maintaining healthy skin goes beyond the products you apply topically; it’s also influenced by what you consume internally. Our diets play a significant role in maintaining a clear, vibrant, and youthful look.

A balanced diet, rich in whole foods, supports the skin’s glow and resilience. Foods rich in protein, vitamins, and other minerals can help promote collagen synthesis, maintain the skin cell membranes, reduce inflammation, and enhance skin barrier function. On the other hand, excess sugar and processed foods can damage the collagen and elastin fibers, trigger inflammation, and potentially aggravate skin conditions.

Like a balanced diet, proper hydration is also vital for healthy skincare. Drinking enough water helps to improve skin elasticity, prevent dryness, and eliminate toxins. While a body care routine may imply skincare products, you should also understand that what we take in is just as important as what we apply externally.

Planning Your Skincare Routine

All body care routines feature similar processes, all of which we’ve highlighted above. However, the major difference is in how they are customized to suit different needs. If you’re looking to make this routine more personalized, there are some things to consider.

First, knowing your skin type is the most important part of planning a personalized skincare routine. Typically, the skin is categorized into five major types based on how much oil it produces, its sensitivity, and how prone it is to certain skin conditions. Determining if your skin is normal, oily, dry, combination, or sensitive can help to choose the right products and methods for your routine.

You should also consider the specific skin conditions you wish to address with your routine. All skin conditions, from dryness to hyperpigmentation, breakouts, wrinkles, psoriasis, and rosacea, among others, require unique treatment methods; however, some treatment methods may overlap. Nonetheless, you must consider your skin concerns and identify specialized products that will help address them effectively.

Other important considerations include your lifestyle, budget, and product preferences. All these combine to help you make an informed decision on what steps to prioritize and the products to apply. Always remember, a structured body care routine is the holy grail for healthy, radiant skin.