The same care and attention we lavish on our facial skin should be applied to our bodies. But too often we neglect body skin. Hidden under layers of clothing it is easy to forget that our bodies need tender loving care. Dermatologists believe our body products should be catered to our skin type, just like the products we use on our face. We should choose products specially designed for our skin needs.
Body care is a necessity that does not have to be a chore. It can be a labour of love. Take time to nurture yourself. This is your time and life does not afford enough of these precious moments – so make the most of them.
The same rules apply to men and women and there are excellent products in all price brackets.
Consider body brushing before your bath or shower to flush out toxins, slough off dead skin cells, diminish cellulite and boost micro-circulation. Try Champneys Luxury Body Brush, £10.00 or Superdrug Pebbles Wooden Massager Brush £5.99 Work upwards towards the heart in gentle circular motions.
Most cosmetic houses and beauty companies make granular exfoliators which can be used in the bath or shower. Pay particular attention to your elbows and knees and be gentle.
Follow Cleopatra’s lead and take time to transform the bathing ritual into a sensory experience. Try adding the multi-award winning Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath 400ml £42.00 or Baylis & Harding Silk & Almond Oil Sensuous Bath Foam 500ml £2.00 to your bath water. Or a few drops of pure essential oil such as relaxing Lavender, sensuous Ylang-Ylang, invigorating Eucalyptus or soothing Rose. Try adding a couple of handfuls of sea salt or pour dried skimmed milk to your bath water for a nourishing soak.
If time is pressing, then a quick shower with gel, lotion or oil is a good choice. Choose gentle formulations and be careful not to dry out your skin with blasts of hot water. Try Aveeno Bath & Shower Oil 250ml, £8:19 or Original Source Coconut Shower 250ml £2.30. Sanex (dermo sensitive) products are super gentle for delicate skins .
After bathing, dry your skin carefully and anoint your body with pampering elixirs and unguents. Take time to apply your chosen body cream, lotion or oil to lock in moisture and to nourish the skin cells. Body treatments are available in all price brackets and you can use a treatment with sunscreen for daily use such as Green People Sun Lotion SPF15 100ml £12.99.
Do not forget your feet. A foot file, pumice stone or foot scrub are good options for our often overlooked feet. Or try Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi Electronic Foot File £39.99 Do not forget to use a moisturising foot treatment. Try The Body Shop Peppermint Foot Lotion 250ml £3.00 or Boots Luxury Deep Moisturising Foot Cream100ml £3.99. A good hand cream such as Atrixo Enriched Moisturising Cream 50ml £2.05 will work just as well.
Our hands are another part of our body that we often overlook. Place hand cream in places where you can see it and remember ti apply it – by the sink, on the bedside table, in the office etc. Good choices to consider are Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment 75ml £23.40 and Nivea Q10 plus Age Defying Antiwrinkle Hand Cream 100ml £4.10
A good all round cream for delicate face and body skin is Lavera Basis Sensitiv All-round Cream 150 ml £4.89 or Balm Balm or Balm Balm Rose Geranium Hand Balm 30 ml £6.99.
Take time out to relax and celebrate your body beautiful every day.
Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream 250ml £24.00 (www.clinique.co.uk)
Polishes rough, dry areas such as heels, elbows, knees. Smoothes and refreshes skin; skin feels cool
Garnier Body Tonic Scrub 200ml £6.99 (available nationwide)
Sugar scrub with natural fruit extract, dermatologically tested. Apply evenly throughout to nourish and exfoliate the skin.
Sanctuary Salt Scrub 650g £11.50 (available nationwide)
A blend of skin polishing dead sea salts wrapped in moisturising coconut, jojoba and sweet almond oils to refine and resurface the texture of the skin and leave it super smooth
Molton Brown Gingerlily Body Lotion 300ml £25.00 (www.moltonbrown.co.uk)
Skin-pampering complex (instantly firms, comforts and hydrates). Moisturising white lily extract. Enriching tamanu nut oil from Tahiti.
Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Body Treatment with 2% BHA 7 fl oz 210 ml $25.00 (www.paulaschoice.com)
Resist Weightless Body Treatment with 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid is an exfoliating body lotion designed to significantly improve skin’s texture while supplying lightweight moisture
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Body Oil 250ml £7.99 (www.boots.com)
A natural sesame seed body oil with an ultra-light, non-greasy formulation. This unique, natural formula is especially beneficial to dry skin
Palmer’s Cococa Butter Formula Body Butter 170g £4.99 (available nationwide)
Pure Natural Cocoa Butter combined with restorative Vitamin E and deeply hydrating Urea transform the roughest, driest skin in to silky soft and smooth whilst helping to improve the appearance of marks and scars
Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil 110ml £30.00 (www.renskincare.com)
A bath oil formulated with Moroccan Rose Otto Oil to nourish the skin and leave it lightly fragranced with roses.
