Just as a skilled mixologist creates the perfect drink by combining the right spirits, liqueurs and bitters and finishing with the right garnishes, you can layer body care products to address your skin’s deepest concerns. When applied in the optimal order and mixed correctly, the cocktail of body products works synergistically to treat dryness, fine lines and hyperpigmentation, and maintain skin’s firm and bouncy shape. You can.
As we enter the colder months of the year, now is the perfect time to start taking care of the skin on your body, just like you do on your face. PS asked experts about their favorite “recipes” for dealing with the most common skin concerns from the neck down. It’s time to take care of your body bar.
Experts introduced in this article
Dr. Michelle Henry, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist with a Manhattan dermatology and cosmetic surgery practice.
Kristen May Lee is the lead esthetician at ONDA Beauty in New York City.
Evelyn Ramirez is the founder and chief medical esthetician at Evelyn Aesthetics in New York City.
Concerns: Dryness, tight skin
It’s not just the skin on your face that can suffer from dryness, especially in the winter. The dry air and heat that warms your home strips moisture from your entire body, and your skin produces far less oil than the rest of your body. “Sebaceous glands are most concentrated on the scalp, forehead, cheeks and chin, with numbers ranging from 400 to 900 per square centimeter, compared to fewer than 100 per square centimeter on other parts of the body,” says dermatologist Michelle.・Henry says.
Cocktail: Exfoliating Scrub + Moisturizing Serum + Moisturizing Cream + Body Oil
To get the most benefit from your body cocktail, esthetician Evelyn Ramirez recommends using an exfoliating scrub while showering to remove dead skin cells and increase subsequent product absorption. Masu. Oak Essentials Perfecting Body Scrub ($38) utilizes biodegradable sugar beads to polish your skin and nourish it with baobab seed oil.
Remove towels and use products that don’t rinse off immediately to trap moisture from the shower. “Dry skin is often accompanied by dehydration, so it’s best to start with a hydrating serum to replenish cellular thirst,” says esthetician Kristen Mei Lee. She recommends applying a serum containing hyaluronic acid, which attracts moisture to the skin, such as Necessea’s The Body Serum ($48) or Epicutis’ Lipid Body Treatment ($225). Next, apply a moisturizing cream with ceramides and glycerin, like Kiehl’s Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalane Cream ($49).
Thanks to the body oil, it seals the skin with long-lasting occlusive moisture. Lee recommends Biography’s Sea Chrome Revitalize Body Oil ($78). “Jojoba mimics the skin’s natural oils, and cucumber oil absorbs smoothly into the skin barrier. It is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that strengthens the skin barrier, and is a great moisturizer.”
Concerns: Lines and wrinkles
Like the skin on your face, the skin on your body loses elastin and collagen over time, but it’s usually less exposed to the elements. Generally, you can tolerate and benefit from the active ingredients. Just as retinol is the gold standard for anti-aging on the face, applying it to your body can boost collagen production and cell turnover, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Cocktail: Retinol body lotion + antioxidant serum + moisturizing cream + sunscreen (AM) or body oil (PM)
After you shower, start with a body retinol, like Dove’s Cream Serum Pro-Retinol + Firming ($11) or Versed Press Start Gentle Retinol Body Lotion ($20). Or you can get a little creative and DIY. “One of the best tips I’ve ever heard is to take some (prescribed) retinol, mix it with lotion, and apply it to your body. I especially use this combination on my hands, knees, and elbows. “These areas need the care they need,” says Lee. “They age faster and are often ignored in the rush to protect time.”
Choose your favorite retinol lotion or blend it with an antioxidant serum like Osea’s Hyaluronic Acid Body Serum ($22) to protect against free radical damage. Next, apply your favorite moisturizer. Look for formulas with peptides and hyaluronic acid, like Advanced Clinicals Collagen Lotion + Peptide Cream ($15).
For a nightcap, top it off with a nourishing body oil like Burt’s Bees Shea & Tropical Fruit Glowing Body Oil ($18). Retinol can sensitize skin everywhere and increase the risk of sun damage, so if you’re doing a body cocktail in the morning, finish off with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sunbum Daily Body SPF 50 ($24) is a moisturizing formula intended for daily use.
Concerns: Dark spots and hyperpigmentation
Treating dark spots and hyperpigmentation on the body can be frustrating because it takes time to see noticeable results. These stubborn marks result from years of sitting in the sun and not applying enough sunscreen, or from not applying it at all. However, with targeted body cocktails, you can start treating unwanted spots right away. “To reduce blemishes, it’s important to have a good exfoliation using an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and then inject a lightening or lightening agent into the skin,” says Lee.
Cocktail: exfoliating scrub + brightening serum + retinol body lotion + moisturizing cream + sunscreen (AM) or body oil (PM)
Start in the shower with a physical exfoliating scrub like Sol de Janeiro’s Bom Dia Body Scrub ($42), which contains both alpha and beta hydroxy acids, or Epi.logic’s The Clean Reveal Gel Cleanser ($65). “Glycolic acid removes the top layer of dead skin cells and helps reverse sun damage,” says Lee.
Follow with a brightening serum like Vaseline Pro VitaB3 Serum Burst Lotion Luminous Glow ($6), which uses niacinamide to eliminate dark spots, or Venn’s Vitamin B Activate All-in-One Concentrate ($195). “It contains six types of B vitamins, which have a powerful skin-whitening effect,” says Lee.
Finally, layer your moisturizer and oil with a retinol body lotion or a combination of prescription retinol and moisturizer. “Always lock in these ingredients with oil,” says Lee. “And if you’re going to be out in the sun, SPF is a must, otherwise you’re wasting your time and money.”
Trouble: Sagging
Collagen and elastin are proteins that give your skin its youthful elasticity. As we age, the amount of secretion decreases and sagging occurs. “Resilience is highly dependent on cell turnover and regenerative components,” Lee says. Although the skin on your body does not age as quickly as the skin on your face, promoting collagen and elastin production in your skin with effective products can help combat natural decline.
Cocktail: Exfoliating Scrub + Collagen Serum + Firming Cream + Body Oil
Start with an exfoliating scrub in the shower to help the active ingredients penetrate better. SheaMoisture’s Manuka Honey Oatmeal Smooth & Exfoliating Body Wash ($12) gently exfoliates dead skin cells so your skin won’t feel tight.
After showering, apply a collagen serum to improve skin structure and elasticity. Ramirez recommends formulas with peptides and hyaluronic acid, such as Alastin Skincare’s TransFORM Body Treatment ($216) with TriHex technology and RescueMD Revitalizing Body Cream ($248). Peptides are amino acids that act as messengers, signaling your skin to produce more collagen and elastin.
Once absorbed, massage with a cream containing Centella asiatica (also known as Cica). Promotes microcirculation in the skin to tighten and tighten the skin. Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Cream ($68) and Beauty Body Factory Cica Body Lotion ($30) are packed with anti-inflammatory ingredients. And of course, the final step in any cocktail is the finishing touch. It’s a body oil that locks in all the hard-working ingredients.
Taryn Brooke is a beauty writer and editor born and raised in New York City and has been working in digital media for over 10 years. She is a contributing beauty writer to PS, Allure, Byrdie, and Well+Good.
