Although I adore the winter months for the crisp air, cosy evenings and fashion styling, I hate that I inevitably start to get lazy in terms of body care once the party season is over and the new year rolls around. When there's less bare skin on show, I fall into the mindset that I don't need to spend so long moisturising, shaving, tanning, etc., but then I always start to feel a bit bleurgh and realise that keeping on top of my self-care body routine is just as important at this time of year. It just helps you to feel a bit more confident on those wet, grey days, you know? If you're also looking to amp up your self-care routine to keep the winter uglies at bay, keep reading for some of my top body care recommendations!
The first thing on the agenda when transforming dry winter skin is getting rid of any dead skin cells to reveal the softer, smoother skin underneath. There's no point slathering yourself in body lotion if it can't penetrate through a rough outer layer, so incorporating some exfoliating products into your shower routine twice a week is paramount to keep flakes away. With your scrub of choice and some trusty Exfoliating Gloves, start by giving your entire body a thorough buff.
My favourite scrub has to be one I've used for years - the AHAVA Softening Butter Dead Sea Salt Scrub - as the the brand's trademarked ingredient, Osmoter (a blend of minerals sourced from the nutrient-rich waters of the Dead Sea), along with salt and sugar particles within the buttery formula aren't too coarse and never leave skin feeling red raw. The initially dense formula melts to a rich, balmy consistency on contact with water to leave skin so, so, so soft. And the creamy scent? It's heaven. I know it's tempting to hunt down the most intense scrub available to get rid of all dryness in one fell swoop, but using harsher, aggravating formulas can cause skin barrier issues and even trigger painful dermatitis. Combining a gentler scrub with some exfoliating gloves (and not pressing too hard when buffing) really works wonders to keep skin smooth when used consistently. Just make sure to wash and dry your exfoliating gloves after every use to ensure they don't harbour bacteria!
If you prefer to use chemical rather than physical exfoliants, then CeraVe's SA Smoothing Cleanser is pretty hard to beat in the smoothing stakes. I use this foaming wash once or twice a week as either a maintenance exfoliator or targeted treatment for body acne and ingrown hairs. Ceramides and hyaluronic acid within the cleanser help to protect the skin barrier, whilst the star of the show, salicylic acid, deep cleans your pores from the inside out - you just have to leave this cleanser on your skin for a couple of minutes before rinsing to give it enough time to get to work. This wash also doubles up as a face cleanser, too, suiting oilier and acne-prone skin-types best. It works really well to shift stubborn congestion, blackheads and closed comedones, but I find it slightly too drying for daily use as my skin is already on the dry side.
After exfoliating, follow up with an additional moisturising body wash to remove any last scrub residues and lock in another layer of hydration. For this step, I adore the Bioderma Atoderm Ultra-Soothing Body Wash. It may not be a glamorous option as the foaming shower gel is hypoallergenic, soap free and fragrance free, but it's great for anyone suffering with extremely dry, atopic skin. It's specifically formulated to strengthen your skin barrier and gently cleanses without stripping, making it perfect for the winter months. It doesn't feel as intensely nourishing as the shower oil from the same range, however I prefer something a little less heavy to give me that really clean, fresh feeling when I plan to go all out with body moisturisers afterwards.
And speaking of moisturisation, as soon as I'm out of the bath or shower, I'll coat my entire body in my all-time favourite body product - the haruharu wonder BLACK BAMBOO Daily Smoothing Body Oil*. Now, this body oil isn't really a body oil in the traditional sense. It's basically the perfect body moisturiser - just as nourishing as an oil but with a light, milky texture that isn't at all greasy and leaves skin plumped, soothed and feeling like velvet. The lightweight lotion sinks into the skin in seconds, too, so you don't need to be standing around for ages in the cold whilst it absorbs before getting dressed! Containing urea and mandelic acid, the haruharu wonder BLACK BAMBOO Daily Smoothing Body Oil continues to soften rough areas and exfoliate dead skin cells long after application. Used regularly, it really evens out the appearance of your skin, taking care of persistent dryness, keratosis pilaris and even discolouration around knees, elbows, etc. Honestly, you won't believe just how incredible this body oil makes your skin look and feel until you've tried it for yourself!
Whenever my feet are in a really sorry state, I'll start by applying glycolic acid to any rough patches with a cotton pad. To be honest, I'll just use whichever glycolic acid product I have open at the time, but the no-frills The Ordinary Glycolic 7% Acid Toner is a particularly cheap and cheerful option that gets the job done. I'll then coat my feet in the L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream (the thickest, richest and most effective foot cream I've ever used) before putting on a pair of cotton socks to lock in all that nourishment. If you need your feet to be sandal or heel ready in a flash, this treatment duo has your back.
For hands, you must get into the habit of massaging a rich cuticle oil into your cuticles every evening before slathering them in a heavy-duty hand cream. You need something thick, that provides a protective barrier from the elements and deeply conditions your hands for hours after application, and the Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve does exactly that. The balmy texture is a total dream, as it's rich and full of skin-loving oils and waxes, but it sinks in so quickly considering its initial consistency, without leaving a greasy film behind. If your hands ever get to the point where they're dry enough to flake, first use an exfoliating scrub to softly slough away any dead skin and then finish your moisturising routine with a layer of occlusive ointment, such as the CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, to prevent further moisture loss. Be sure to skip the exfoliating step if they're cracked, sore or bleeding, though!
Once any of the sun-kissed colour I've picked up during the summer fades, I can start to look deathly ill. To perk up my naturally alabaster complexion, I'll crack open the self tan, but I'll go for a different formula than usual. Rather than go straight in with an intense mousse in the darkest shade I can find, I'll opt for a gradual formula to provide a buildable hint of colour. Garnier's Summer Body Hydrating Gradual Tan Moisturiser is one I've always come back to since purchasing my first bottle when gradual tans became a thing in my teens. It's an oldie but a goodie. The apricot scent is so nostalgic, the formula adds a nice, healthy glow to the skin without being 'too much' for paler skin tones, and the creamy gel consistency hydrates rather than dries the skin out as it develops. If you're new to tanning or aren't a huge fan of a fake bake because of the faff, gradual tans are a great option as they're easy to apply (like a standard body moisturiser), pretty infallible and rarely transfer onto clothes or bedsheets. As they're more moisturising than standard fake tans, they also fade more evenly and require less maintenance to stay looking flawless. The colour can eventually build up in drier areas and needs fully removing from time to time if used daily over a longer period of time, but I find that if I keep up with my regular exfoliating routine and use the gradual tan every other day, then I never have to worry about unsightly patchiness.
What are your favourite body care products for banishing dry winter skin?
AGB X
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