Your body skin is different to your face. Here’s how to treat it according to an expert

There are two ways to approach your daily shower: as a task necessary to maintain good hygiene, or as a ritual that incorporates both cleaning and care.

The process begins even before you turn on the tap, with dry-brushing to exfoliate dead skin and improve circulation. Always work the body brush up the body, paying particular attention to elbows, knees and backs of the arms.

Next, choose a shower product that mimics the active ingredients in some skincare ones – retinol, BHAs and AHAs, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide are all beneficial. The skin on the body is thicker than that on the face, and so it can usually tolerate stronger or thicker moisturiser formulations, according to Sydney dermatologist Dr Ritu Gupta, “particularly moisturiser for the legs, which have a low number of sebaceous glands, making them prone to dryness”.

Gupta also advises keeping shower time to less than five minutes, “to avoid drying skin out and degrading skin-barrier function”.

So let’s go, starting with a double cleanse. Begin with a lukewarm rinse to prep the skin. Then use a foaming cleanser to wash away sweat, dirt and exfoliated dead skin cells from the dry brushing. Our favourites include Nécessaire The Body Wash Fragrance-Free ($48), a gel-oil hybrid that contains skincare-based ingredients, including niacinamide and vitamins C and E. For the best application, choose either a mitt for extra exfoliation, a soft washcloth (good for sensitive skin), or simply your hands.

Next, apply an oil-based cleanser to rebalance lipids and add back moisture. Try Avène XeraCalm A.D Cleansing Oil ($40).

After showering, while your skin is still wet, seal in moisture with an all-over body oil. One of our favourites is Aveeno Daily Moisturising Oil Mist ($17) for its easy application. Applying the oil directly to soaked skin dilutes it and helps with absorption, giving a non-greasy finish.

After towel-drying, add more moisture with a hyaluronic acid body serum like Bali Body Hydrating Body Serum ($31). For sensitive or dry skin, focus on balancing the microbiome with products based on inulin, a probiotic, such as The Ordinary Body Lotion ($24), which targets irritation.

Finally, apply a body sunscreen, paying particular attention to the décolletage and the backs of your hands. Gupta says the best body sunscreens are chemical absorbers “as they absorb the UV light, which can affect the skin’s DNA, combined with physical blockers, either zinc or titanium”. We like La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Spray SPF50+ ($37).

ASK STEPH
How do you apply fragrance to hair?
Spritz your hairbrush and let it air-dry for a minute so the alcohol from the fragrance evaporates, then brush. Or try a dedicated hair mist. Our favourite find is Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil ($43).

Send questions via Instagram, @mrssdarling.

Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.