You get facials, you get pedicures. Don’t give your body middle-child syndrome! Although the skin on your face tends to be more exposed to toxins, sunlight, and dry air that can accelerate aging and wrinkles, the skin on your body needs some love too. Meaning you need a bodycare routine too!

However, an effective bodycare routine involves more than applying lotion after you get out of the shower. If you want to take your bodycare to the next level, you can add a few simple steps to make the most of your routine and get glowing skin from head to toe.

A bodycare routine can do more than just give you supple skin, however. It can help prevent dry skin, wrinkles, and signs of aging that are common, especially in exposed areas of the body such as arms and legs. A simple skincare routine for your body can help you leverage the power of anti-aging everywhere.

Let’s look at an easy but effective skincare routine for your body that you can do at home!

Your Easy 5-Step Bodycare Routine 

A good bodycare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, we’ve nailed down the five most important steps in your bodycare routine to help reduce the effects of aging and keep skin looking great at any age. Welcome to your easy five-step bodycare routine.

1. Dry Brush

Dry brushing is underrated when it comes to skincare and bodycare. And yet, it’s a simple process that can change your bodycare routine for the better. Dry brushing can help exfoliate the skin, increase circulation, and even potentially support detoxing the skin via lymph drainage.

All of these changes can help your skin appear more radiant and prevent stripping the skin of its natural oils, which can happen when using very hot water or a harsh cleanser or exfoliant when bathing.

To dry brush, simply choose a brush with stiff bristles and a long handle and start at your extremities (arms and legs), moving towards the heart as you brush. It’s best to dry brush before a shower when the skin is completely dry so you can wash away any dead skin cells and start your day glowing.

Since dry brushing is essentially a form of exfoliation, you don’t need to do it any more than twice a week to keep your skin looking good.

2. Cleanse

Cleansing your skin may sound simple, but the cleanser you use is important. A regular bar of soap usually doesn’t do the trick—although it may clean your skin, it can also strip skin of its protective oils, causing dry, itchy, and irritated skin after a shower or bath.

So what should you use instead when cleansing your body?

The best cleansers for your bodycare routine are ones that won’t dry out your skin. A cleanser should still remove dirt and excess oil—after all, it is a cleanser—but it shouldn’t leave skin feeling dry and tight.

You can still use a bar of soap if you prefer, just look for one that doesn’t have sulfates or surfactants, both of which can dry out the skin and cause irritation. Instead, look for a cleanser that has a natural oil or glycerin base, both of which can help prevent water loss from the skin.

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you may be able to tolerate plant-based surfactants better, but generally, all skin types should shy away from sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and other harsh ingredients such as triclosan and phthalates.

3. Exfoliate

If you have dry brushed your skin, you don’t need to do a separate exfoliation unless you have very congested skin, and even then, don’t do dry brushing and your body exfoliation on the same day. You can simply add another day of exfoliation into your bodycare routine.

A body exfoliator, just like your face, can be physical or chemical. You can use an exfoliator based on your skin type, whether it’s a sugar-based scrub or an AHA/BHA gentle exfoliant. Just be sure to follow the product’s instructions and choose an exfoliant based on your skin type.

4. Apply Body Serum

Once you’ve dry brushed, cleansed, and/or exfoliated, it’s time to apply a body serum. A body serum can have many of the benefits of a face serum: It can help keep skin smooth and moisturized and even balance skin pH to prevent irritation and breakouts. 

Just like with a face serum, you can apply a body serum just after cleansing while the skin is still damp. Choose a serum based on your target concerns, including anti-aging, breakouts, or sun damage. You can use a serum over your whole body or just on problem areas.

A body serum can be a game-changer for your bodycare routine and help amplify the effects of exfoliating, dry brushing, and moisturizer. 

5. Moisturize or Use a Body Oil

The last step in your bodycare routine should be to apply a moisturizer for your skin type. You can also use body oil, or do both—use body oil on top of your body lotion or cream to lock in moisture and amplify that glow.

Remember that a body lotion won’t be quite as thick or as moisturizing as a body cream, so if you have dry or combination skin or the skin barrier on your body is compromised, you may benefit from a body cream as opposed to a lotion.

Body oil should always be the last step in your skincare routine, as it can help prevent moisture loss from the skin. When applying a moisturizer or oil, apply extra to rough or especially dry areas of skin, such as your knees and elbows to help prevent wrinkles and dryness.

Do You Have a Bodycare Routine?

If you want skin on your body that looks just as supple and nourished as the skin on your face, it’s time to consider a bodycare routine. Do YOU have a skincare routine for your body? Leave a comment below and let us know what your process looks like for beautiful, glowing, and healthy skin at any age!