What is Body Care, and What are the Benefits of a Body Care Routine?
Many of us have a curated, multi-step skincare regime for our faces – but when was the last time you spared a thought for body care? Our bodies do a lot for us, and they’re exposed to multiple skin stressors throughout the day that can deteriorate the look and feel of our skin.
So, what is body care and what does it look like in practice? In this expert guide, we’re unpacking five key body care benefits – and how you can integrate nourishing products into your daily routine for softer, smoother skin.
What is body care?
Like the skin on your face, your body is prone to a buildup of sweat, dirt, oil, and grime – all of which can block your pores, disrupt your hydration levels or impact skin sensitivity.
The skin on the body is thicker and varies in texture from one body part to the next, so one of the many body care benefits is that you can target different skin concerns with a range of products. A body care routine can include:
- A cleanser
- An exfoliator
- A body moisturiser
- Hand cream
- Body oils
- Sunscreen
5 body care benefits
Incorporating body care into your shower and post-shower routine can benefit your skin in many ways: particularly if you have concerns that are unique to your skin type, such as excess sebum, blocked pores, poor moisture retention and rough texture.
We recommend that you identify what your skin needs and build your routine around these concerns. Below are five body care benefits, which we’ll unpack in more detail below.
Body care:
- Removes impurities like sweat, dirt and other bacteria from the skin
- Smooths rough skin and improves radiance
- Hydrates the skin surface and supports the skin moisture barrier
- Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Protects the skin from environmental stressors like UV rays
Below, we’ll explore how you can enjoy these body care benefits with the help of Kiehl’s’ beloved formulas.
1. Removes impurities
It’s natural for the skin on your body to accumulate a buildup of sweat, sebum and other grime throughout the day. Even if you are a nighttime showerer, it’s also common to sweat while you sleep. A body cleanser is the best way to refresh your skin and remove impurities.
Women can opt for a gentle body cleanser that supports hydration while purifying the skin. For men, we recommend Body Fuel Wash – our targeted body cleanser that’s formulated with menthol, zinc and caffeine to refresh and invigorate the skin. This is a daily body care benefit that you can deliver to the skin during your shower routine.
2. Smooths skin and boosts radiance
Exfoliation is one of the major body care benefits because it can help slough dead skin cells (which cause dullness and rough patches) and unclog pores.
The result? Smoother, softer and brighter skin.
For all-over exfoliation, we recommend a gentle body scrub of your choice a few times per week. We also suggest shaving your body before you exfoliate – this will help you get a closer shave and avoid clogging your razor with dead skin cells.
For an extra smooth hair-removal experience, our Ingrown Hair & Tone-Correcting Intimate Drops is formulated for use on areas prone to ingrown hair, bumps or uneven skin tone. Harnessing the power of gentle AHAs, this treatment can help minimise the appearance of ingrown hairs in as little as 90 minutes*.
*Cosmeto-clinical study, 77 subjects, 90 mins after application3. Nourishes and supports the skin moisture barrier
We place so much emphasis on supporting the skin moisture barrier on our faces that the rest of our bodies can often take a backseat. But what is body care without moisturiser?
Your skin will often go through periods of dryness, whether from swimming at the beach in summer or hunkering down in front of the heater in winter. That’s why it’s important to prioritise year-round hydration. To this end, we suggest introducing the Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalane Cream into your routine to maximise nourishing body care benefits for your skin. This squalane- and ceramide-rich formula provides ultra-lightweight nourishment for all skin types, softening dry patches and locking in hydration at the skin surface.
If you’re someone who battles dry, rough hands, we also suggest the Ultimate Strength Hand Salve to give your skin a ‘glove-like’ protective barrier against moisture loss. This can be applied liberally throughout the day as needed.
4. Diminishes visible signs of ageing
When the skin is dry and dull, it can accentuate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, body care benefits the appearance of aging skin by plumping the skin surface and diminishing visible signs of aging.
In addition to your body moisturiser, you can top up hydration with the Crème de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil. Enriched with squalane and grape seed oil, this dry body oil helps keep skin soft, supple and moisturised throughout the day. Simply mist onto clean, dry skin in the morning and at night.
5. Protects from environmental stressors
Living in Australia, most of us know that SPF is a staple of a summer body care routine. However, UVA and UVB rays are prevalent all year long – even when the sun isn’t shining. That’s why we recommend getting into the daily habit of applying sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage.
Apply a broad-spectrum SPF50 sunscreen onto dry skin at least 20 minutes before sun exposure – this will allow enough time for the product to absorb into the skin. Be sure to reapply throughout the day and after swimming or sweating.
Now that you’ve unlocked body care benefits for your skin, discover our tips for building an effective night time skincare routine.
SHOP THIS ARTICLE
Body Fuel Wash
An invigorating hair and body wash for men for head-to-toe cleansing.
Ultimate Strength Hand Salve
A rich, moisturising hand salve for active, dry hands.
Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalane Cream
An ultra-lightweight, nourishing body lotion infused with Squalane and Pro-Ceramides for deep hydration. Its fast-absorbing formula replenishes the skin, delivering long-lasting moisture for up to 3 days.
