Body Skin Care 101: 5 Tips For Beautiful Skin From Head to Toe!

While fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and dark spots are few of signs of skin aging we associate with the face, they are also all-too-common below the neck. This is why it’s imperative to follow a solid body skin care routine. The best anti-aging skin care plan doesn’t stop with the skin on your face, it focuses on the entire body, too! Ahead, we share five tips to help you devise a plan of action and target aging skin below the chin! 

From tech neck to sun damage, forgetting to take care of our neck and chest can be one of the biggest faux pas in any anti-aging skin care routine. The thin skin on your neck and chest is susceptible to everything from sagging skin to dark spots to fine lines and wrinkles. As a very visible extension of your facial complexion, the last thing you want to do is forget to care for these areas of your body. So, the next time you’re applying your favorite anti-aging serum, extend that care below your chin.

Your skin is constantly renewing itself and shedding thousands of dead skin cells every day, which can lead to a buildup of dry, dead skin cells that may make the skin on your body look a bit dull. Dry brushing is an exfoliating technique that employs a natural-bristle brush to slough off dead skin cells while your skin is dry. You can target specific areas of your body, or give yourself an invigorating all over exfoliation that can wake up tired, lackluster skin. To learn more about this popular spa technique— plus, how to use it in your at-home skin care routines— check out our guide to dry brushing, here.

This tip should come of no surprise to you, as sunscreen is the key component in protecting your skin against the sun’s damaging— and skin aging— UV rays. And, while you may wear SPF on your face every day, you should also be wearing it on your body, especially if you plan to be in direct sunlight. When applying sunscreen to your face in the morning, be sure to continue that protective step on your body. One full shot glass of sunscreen is typically how much you’ll need each time you apply.   

By now, you should know that moisturizing your skin is key when caring for your skin. No matter what your age or your skin concerns may be, keeping your skin hydrated helps to keep dry skin at bay, ward off premature signs of skin aging, and provide your body with an all around comforted feel. Take things a step further and deep condition your body with a skin nourishing oil, like coconut oil. Coconut oil is loaded with hydration, which is truly beneficial for your skin. Before crawling into bed at night, massage a small amount of coconut oil onto the skin on your body (don’t forget your backside!) and allow your skin to soak up its nourishing goodness while you sleep. If coconut oil is too heavy for your tastes, check out one of our favorite body lotions, instead.

TIP #5: PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR HANDS 

Did you know that one of the first areas on your body to show your age are your hands? From dark spots to loose skin, our hands tell all. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent these early signs of aging from happening too soon: exfoliate, hydrate, and protect. The next time you exfoliate your body with your favorite DIY sugar scrub, apply a small amount to your hands, too. This help s to remove dead skin cell buildup on the surface of your hands and leaves them feeling smoother and more supple. Next, follow up with a moisturizing hand cream, like The Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector. We recommend keeping a bottle of hand cream on you at all times (within eyesight), as a way to remind yourself to reapply when your hands start feeling parched. Lastly— and perhaps most importantly— applying sunscreen to your hands is vital in protecting them from the skin damaging sun—here’s why! 

Looking for more body skin care advice? Check out the Body Care section on Skincare.com!