At this point we all know that it’s a good idea to have an appropriate skincare routine for our faces. It’s also most likely safe to say that many people have a good (or at least decent) routine in place and are experiencing some payoff from the effort. Wonderful. But then there is the rest of the skin on the body which oftentimes gets neglected.

If you are anything like me, this can be the case more than I care to admit. With a power packed schedule, I, of course, do my am/pm skin care routines but for the rest of my body I might only pay attention to what is exposed: an elbow, an ankle, a toe. Throw in the fact that I suffer from EXTREMELY dry, patchy winter skin, particularly on my legs/thighs. which leaves my skin itchy, flaky and blotchy. This is a problem for me when spring and summer rolls around because of the shorter, more revealing clothes I like to wear. My consistent body care neglect then leaves me scrambling to fix the aftermath of my neglect. If only I would take extra time to care for my body skin as much as I do my face. Anywho, in an effort to fix my skin, I have to pull out the most aggressive tactics and artillery to rid myself of this blotchy lizard skin. But sometimes no matter how many concoctions i apply to my skin, it doesn’t alleviate me of what ails me. On top of that, all that harsh and aggressive scrubbing can do more harm than good. I know – I must do better.

So what products and tools have I been using lately on a more intentional and consistent basis to help correct, smooth and even out my skin making it soft, smooth and radiant? Keep reading.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Night Time Body Wash With Retinol.

If you know anything about me, i will always sing the praises of retinol. It is one of the most powerful anti-aging, skincare renewal ingredients that one can use on their skin. I had been seeing advertisements for this body wash but never got around to making the purchase. Then a friend gave me a bottle and I couldn’t wait to get home to use it. Now let me say that I usually try to stay away from skincare that is fragranced but this body wash smells quite exquisite. I have been using this every night for the past 3 weeks and I must say that my skin – especially on my legs/thighs – is smoother and more even in tone than it’s been in quite some time.

Bathing/Exfoliating Gloves.

I believe in the power of a good body exfoliator but many times I don’t feel like taking that extra step in the shower after cleansing. So instead I use exfoliating gloves because they cleanse and exfoliate at the same time. That in addition to using my gloves with my Olay Cleansing & Renewing Night Time Body Wash With Retinol makes for very beautiful skin that I’m always eager to show off.

Dry Brushing

I’ve read numerous articles about celebrities using this particular technique on the regular so I felt it was necessary to do some research and possibly go shopping for a new tool.

Dry brushing is a type of medicine of ayurvedic origin what has been around for centuries. It is an exfoliation technique that is believed to exfoliate dead dry skin so that the body can eliminate toxins through the pores. There isn’t much scientific evidence/research to support dry brushing HOWEVER possible benefits (with the obvious/most noticeable being the first two) (may) include:

• exfoliate the skin
• boost energy and circulation
• eliminate toxins
• help break down cellulite
• help with lymphatic drainage (open pores/sweat)

Now I don’t know about the break down of cellulite, lymphatic drainage or even the elimination of toxins but what I do like is the invigorating and energetic feeling that I experience. Even more important is that I see the dead skin being lifted that I didn’t realize was there. This is the one thing I do in the morning on dry skin to help prep for my shower. For more info on dry brushing, tools and best practices, go here and here.

Nivea Essentially Enriched Body Lotion Deep with Nourishing Serum and Almond Oil

When it comes to body (or hand) lotion, I always look for something unscented (for fragrance layering), rich, emollient and leaves my skin radiant and glowy (maybe slightly greasy) and this body lotion fits the bill. I use it am and pm and when used consistently, the skin on my body looks very beautiful and healthy.

Do you have any body care best practices or is that something you need to add to your current skincare routine?

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