A Full Body Care Routine For Glowing Skin

I’m very guilty of spending the majority of my time, money and attention on skincare for my face while neglecting the rest of my body. It’s easy to do when there are so many great skincare products out there to try!

But I’ve recently made it my mission to give the skin on my body a little more TLC… and it’s made a world of difference.

Through some trial and error, I’ve figured out a body care routine that works for me and leaves my previously dull, lacklustre skin looking and feeling hydrated and healthy.

Keen to develop your own body care routine for glowing skin? Check out the steps below…

Pre-shower

Dry brush

A good body care routine starts even before you step into the shower. If you’re looking for smooth, soft, glowing skin, dry brushing is the first step.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of ‘dry brushing’, it’s essentially when you use a dense brush (usually with soft, natural bristles) to massage and manually exfoliate dry skin.

It unclogs pores, sloughs off dead skin cells and even boosts circulation.

The key to dry body brushing is to start from your feet and work your way up. Use small, firm strokes but be careful not to overdo it. Three to five minutes of brushing is usually best. Do this daily and you’ll see glowing skin in no time!

Expect a bit of redness just after you brush, but you shouldn’t experience a massive amount of discomfort. Your skin will likely just feel a bit tingly for a while.

A short brush, like the ESPA Skin Stimulating Body Brush, is great for arms and legs. However, if you want something more versatile, the Professional Dry Skin Body Brush from Hydrea London comes with a detachable handle, so you can get to all those hard-to-reach places.

During shower

Body scrub

If your skin is sensitive and you’ve already dry brushed, you may want to skip this step. If not, keep reading!

The skin on your body is much more hardy than the skin on your face. So, while you might have been warned off physical exfoliation when it comes to facial skincare, it should be a key part of your body care routine (especially if you want glowing skin at the end).

Using a body scrub in the shower two or three times a week has a whole host of benefits, it:

• Buffs away dead skin cells
• Prevents ingrown hairs
• Helps skincare products penetrate deeper into the skin
• Fades post-acne marks

You can exfoliate before or after cleansing, but personally I like to do it before. This way that final cleanse rinses off not only the dirt and dead skin cells you’ve sloughed off, but any remaining body scrub grains too.

My top pick is the Ouai Body & Scalp Scrub St. Bart’s – it’s not too abrasive and it smells amazing!

If you’re looking for something a bit more powerful though, the First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub combines physical and chemical exfoliants to really decongest pores and improve skin texture. It’s specifically targeted at rough, bumpy skin associated with Keratosis Pilaris.

Cleanser or body wash

After dry brushing and exfoliating, you’ll want to give your skin a final freshen up. But a good body cleanser shouldn’t just wash off sweat, dirt and dead skin, it should ideally seal in moisture too.

I’d advise skipping bar soaps which can be quite stripping (not all are I should add!), and opting for a gentle shower gel instead.

I really like the Hello Klean Nourishing Micronutrient Wash which combats dryness caused by hard water. If you live in a hard water area you’ll know how much of an impact this can have on your skin and its hydration level!

For those with acne-prone skin, the Glow Hub Purify and Brighten Body Cleanser is a really nice option. It’s infused with salicylic acid to clear pores and banish breakouts.

And finally, if your skin is particularly dry, you can use a body cleansing oil, like the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil to lock in moisture.

Looking to save your pennies? Q+A’s Vitamin A.C.E Cleansing Shower Oil is an excellent affordable alternative.

Post-shower

Body serum or treatment pads

People often leave this step out of their body care routine, but it’s a must if glowing skin is your goal!

Body serums can usually be split into two categories, though if you’re lucky you’ll find one that gives you the best of both worlds!

You’ve got the serums which primarily focus on hydration. These generally contain humectants, like hyaluronic acid, which help draw moisture into the skin. The Glow Hub Nourish & Hydrate HA Body Serum is a great example.

Or you’ve got the serums which are all about exfoliation. These contain actives, most commonly AHAs and BHAs, that resurface the skin, treat breakouts and even out skin tone. Byoma do a fab Body Smoothing Serum which tackles texture and pigmentation.

Treatment pads are also a great fuss-free option. These are similar to body serums in the sense that they deal with concerns like redness, dullness and bumpiness. I really like the First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Treatment Pads – these are great for reducing irritation after shaving.

You can use a retinol body serum at this point in your body care routine, but be aware that most advise you don’t apply moisturiser over the top!

Body cream or body oil

Moisturised skin is happy, healthy skin. And, if you want skin that glows, you should end your body care routine with an oil, lotion or cream which seals in hydration and strengthens your moisture barrier.

If your skin is particularly dry you can apply a body cream and then an oil, but you don’t have to if the lotion feels moisturising enough by itself!

I love The Body Shop’s Almond Milk Body Butter which is rich and creamy, and smells super luxurious.

When it comes to oils, Gisou’s Honey Infused Body Oil is my go-to. This absorbs into the skin quickly, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated but never greasy or sticky.

There you have it – my body care routine for guaranteed glowing skin! What products are an essential part of your body care routine? Let me know!