Although I spent years writing about skincare and trying almost every face product under the sun, I'm a tad ashamed to admit that I neglected my bodycare until recently. Previously, I dabbled in a little body lotion, body butter and the occasional treatment serum, but other than that, my routine was pretty unserious (oops). Just like skin on the face, your body skin can start to show signs of ageing if you don't take care of it properly. The person who convinced me I needed a bodycare routine that rivalled my facial skincare was my esthetician, Katie Sobelman.
Sobelman is my most trusted organic esthetician, who stresses the importance of caring for your skin from head to toe. This means investing in youth-enhancing body treatments that do a lot more than just hydrate. She's also introduced me to almost all of my all-time favourite beauty brands, so anything she tells me to use, I'll try it in a heartbeat.
Admittedly, I needed a bit of education on the topic of body skincare because I simply didn't know where to start. As someone in her 30s, I knew that I needed to start doing a little more, and Sobelman was happy to provide everything I'd possibly need to know on this topic. With her help, I've found some next-level treatments that keep my skin silky soft, firm, and dark spot– and breakout-free. For all of her advice and recs, keep scrolling. She shared it all ahead.
What should your bodycare routine include?
There are so many great skincare ingredients out there that help with longevity, but my first question for Sobelman was, "Do we need them all on the body?" Whilst it might seem unnecessary to use actives on your body skin, Sobleman says to think again. "Just like the skin on the face, the skin on the body benefits from many of the same actives—peptides, retinol, and antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E," she explains. "However, the skin on the body is generally thicker, less sebaceous and slower to renew itself, which makes it particularly receptive to rich emollients, ceramides and omega fatty acids that help restore and maintain barrier health. Another unique advantage of bodycare is its ability to support the fascia beneath the skin. Certain lipid-rich formulas may enhance transdermal absorption and improve fascial hydration and glide, which in turn supports healthy circulation, tissue resilience and even the body's own production of hyaluronic acid."
So, if you're simply using an emollient-rich body lotion and nothing else, you're still doing amazing, sweetie! This isn't to say that you have to use tonnes of actives in your bodycare routine, but they can definitely be super beneficial for anyone looking to get serious about preserving the youthful quality of their body skin in addition to the face.
How often should you use bodycare treatments?
Just like skincare, Sobelman says you'll see your best results with your bodycare routine when you incorporate your treatments daily. "Think of it less as a treatment and more as part of your foundational skincare ritual," she says. "Just as the face benefits from consistent application of active ingredients, the body responds best when it’s nourished regularly. Daily use of antioxidant-rich, lipid-replenishing or exfoliating bodycare helps support cellular turnover, skin barrier integrity and overall tissue hydration. If your formula includes stronger actives like retinol, you can alternate or buffer as needed, but for most anti-ageing body products (especially those focused on nourishment and barrier support), daily use creates the most visible and lasting results."
While I previously only used a loofah or African net sponge to exfoliate my body skin, Sobelman's advice prompted me to incorporate exfoliating treatments into the mix, too. Exfoliating can help speed up skin cell turnover, which, Sobelman mentioned above, is already slower on the body than it is on the face. In her opinion, it's best to incorporate some type of exfoliation at least one to three times a week. "[It] can make a big difference in skin tone, texture, and absorption of active ingredients," she adds. "Unlike the face, body skin has a slower cellular turnover rate. While facial skin typically renews every 28 days (a generous estimate, usually closer to a day for every year old you are, slowing as we age), body skin can take up to 45–60 days, especially as we age. That means dead skin cells linger longer, blocking the penetration of nourishing ingredients."
While my personal preference is chemical exfoliation, Sobelman says you can benefit from both physical and chemical exfoliation. "Gentle exfoliation—whether physical (like dry brushing or body scrubs) or chemical (like lactic acid or enzymes)—helps slough away buildup and encourages fresh skin to emerge," she says. "But exfoliation is only half the ritual. Always follow with rich, hydrating products—think ceramides, oils or hyaluronic acid-rich creams—to replenish moisture and support the skin barrier. This not only enhances the benefits of exfoliation, but also helps maintain the suppleness and function f both the skin and the fascia beneath it."
If you're now convinced to invest in a few "fountain of youth"-inducing bodycare items, keep scrolling. All of Sobelman's recs—and a few of our own team's favourites—are below.
The best "fountain of youth" bodycare treatments:
This peptide-packed treatment is deeply nourishing, and, as Sobleman says, "one of the few high-tech body treatments that also feels hydrating and luxurious. OneSkin’s OS-01 Body uses a proprietary peptide, OS-01, to target cellular senescence—hallmarked by the accumulation of 'zombie cells.' These cells have stopped functioning properly but don’t die off, creating inflammation. By reducing these nonfunctioning cells, the OS-01 peptide supports healthier cell turnover, improved barrier function, and more resilient skin."
For dry, parched skin, you really can't go wrong with this bestselling body lotion. It's a favourite amongst beauty editors for its skin-softening formula, rich in bio-lipids, shea butter and omega fatty acids. It absorbs fast, leaving the skin feeling soft and supple, whilst the addition of sodium PCA helps to draw moisture into the skin as it gets to work. Our team has gone through bottles of the stuff, and it's reasonably priced for the large bottle.
Swapping your body wash for a shower oil can make all the difference in hydrating and softening your skin. One of our favourites is the Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil Body Wash. It's designed with sensitive and eczema-prone skin in mind, making it ultra-gentle and nourishing for the skin, especially during the colder months when it requires more hydration.
This body retinol is a staple treatment for me. It contains both retinol and a 10% AHA complex that exfoliates the skin, speeding up cell turnover. I don't use it every night, but it definitely still delivers results. I also try to make sure to use sunscreen often on my body because treatments like this can increase your risk of sunburn if you aren't careful.
Sobelman recommends vitamins A, C and E in your body care routine, and this brilliant body oil contains them all. Its potent formula is effective for improving skin texture and sun damage on the body, while the oil formula leaves skin satiny soft.
If you don't have the budget to drop big bucks on your bodycare, don't worry. Olay's body lotion is packed with niacinamide, vitamin B3, vitamin B5 and glycerin to boost skin elasticity.
This unassuming body lotion has quickly won over many of our editors on the team. In fact, we've all been stockpiling it since first testing it—it's that good. It has a serum-like consistency that quickly sinks in and leaves the skin feeling incredibly hydrated and soft. It comes in a few different variants to address different concerns; however, the Flawless Tone one pictured above makes a noticeable difference in evening the complexion by fading dark spots, whether it be from scarring or sun damage.
This fan-favourite body serum from Dermalogica contains buzzy ingredients like a pro-NAD+ complex to firm, lift and sculpt the skin. It also helps to support the skin's natural ability to renew, giving you a youthful glow.
Sobelman also recommends dry body brushing, which not only helps to exfoliate the skin but also improves lymphatic drainage to help you feel invigorated from top to toe.
"This gentle yet effective tool helps stimulate circulation, release tension, and hydrate the fascia beneath the skin. Regular use can support lymphatic flow and improve overall tone and contour, especially when paired with an oil or body balm. I love using this tool head to toe," says Sobelman.