Just as you would for your face, be sure to consult a dermatologist or trusted skin expert for guidance on proper treatment. Engelman emphasizes this point, especially to tackle concerns like folliculitis, eczema, and psoriasis, which may require prescription or over-the-counter medications. “If you don’t have any particular skin concerns and just want to give your body a little more TLC, you can start a body-care routine when you’re ready,” Dendy notes, recommending giving it 4-8 weeks (which is 1-2 skin cycles) to see results. “You’ll want to implement a steady routine of cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing (and do not forget the SPF!) to ensure that you not only appear healthy, but feel it, too.”
That said, we’ve combed through the vast marketplace to curateVogue’s edit of this year’s best body-care solutions with a little help from brands like Mutha, Osea, Costa Brazil, and Tata Harper. Whether you’re looking to firm sagging skin or just want to quell flaky, dry skin for good, there’s a product for everyone. Here, all you need to create your personalized body care routine.
The Cleansing Wash
Just like the face, body care begins with a thorough cleanse. Though you might currently have a formula you’ve used for years, there are several new marketplace additions worth using instead. “I think it is great how body washes have begun to become more targeted to specific skin needs and skin types, similarly to how face wash has been marketed and constructed in the past,” says Engelman. “As we move from bar soap to a body wash that includes ingredients such as smoothing salicylic acid, we can take into account exactly what our skin needs and reap the most benefits!”
Nécessaire’s wash is a cult-favorite, featuring a blend of botanical oils and niacinamide to gently condition the skin. The three fragrance versions are just an added bonus. Similarly, Byredo has turned its classic parfums into acclaimed washes too, meaning you can lather on Gypsy Water’s bergamot lemon scent even before you step out of the shower. On the other hand, one could pick their body wash for its skin-nourishing benefits. There’s Dr. Barbara Sturm’s pick which is powered by prickly pear extract, hyaluronic acid, almond oil, and purslane extract to protect and nourish. Or, Olay’s wash, which is enriched with vitamin B3 and hyaluronic acid, to promote long-lasting hydration.
Nécessaire The Body Wash
Dr. Barbara Sturm Body Wash
Olay Cleansing & Nourishing Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin B3 Body Wash
The Exfoliant
We already know thebest exfoliants to reveal bright, glowing skin by sloughing away dead skin cells from the outermost layer of the skin. Fans of Dr. Dennis Gross’s facial pads might reach for its body treatment which transforms dull skin through a blend of salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acid. Its single-use pads make these easy to throw in your travel beauty bag. Exfoliating serums are another way to go. There’s Topicals’s sought-after formula powered by AHAs, urea, and a gentle form of retinol to soften skin texture and even skin tone. Tata Harper’s is a plant-based alternative to smooth and hydrate, enriched with exfoliating acids, vitamin C, orange peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Those partial to body scrubs should consider the True Botanicals option, which uses physical exfoliation through a blend of organic sugar, sandalwood, camellia, jojoba oils, and kaolin clay to reveal polished skin.
Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum
True Botanicals Pure Radiance Sugar Exfoliating Body Scrub
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment
The Neck Treatment
When you’re looking to curb signs of aging, you might want to consider neck and décolletage maintenance. Engelman is a fan of SiO’s medical-grade silicone smoothing patches for an overnight or hours-long treatment. “The patches help lock in hydration and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she explains. Pre-moisturizer, you might look towards 111Skin or La Mer’s formulas. The former serum uses the brand’s NAC Y² antioxidant trio to improve the look of wrinkles and sagging skin, while addressing texture and discoloration concerns. The latter, on the other hand, is powered by La Mer’s beloved Miracle Broth complex to rejuvenate the neckline. As a final step in your routine, Tatcha’s neck cream promises firmer-looking skin over time through botanical actives, vitamin C, and Japanese superfoods.
La Mer The Neck & Décolleté Concentrate
Tatcha Revitalizing Neck Cream
111Skin Intensive Celestial Black Diamond Neck & Décolletage Serum
SiO Plunging Neckline Pack Reusable Wrinkle-Smoothing Patches
The Firm & Sculpt
To address firming and sculpting concerns across the rest of your body, these solutions work wonders. The Mutha Body Contour Serum is a Vogue editor favorite as it tightens, exfoliates, and nourishes through a supercharged cocktail of ceramides, fruit extracts, and niacinamide. U Beauty’s compound is another top pick to target the arms specifically. Powered by the brand’s Siren Capsule technology, the treatment promises to help depuff and tone by counteracting the effects of gravity. SkinCeuticals Body Tightening Concentrate does this too, but through a blend of peptides, yeast extract, hydrolyzed rice protein leaving an instant cooling effect. For a multipurpose treatment, though, RéVive’s cream solves for hydration and lifting thanks to the featured hyaluronic acid and firming proteins.
SkinCeuticals Body Tightening Concentrate
U Beauty The Sculpt Arm Compound
Mutha Body Contour Serum
RéVive Body Supérieur Renewal Firming Cream
The Hydrator
There’s never a wrong time to revisit yourbody lotions and creams, especially with so many excellent variants to choose from. Remember: it’s essential to lock in moisture and support your skin barrier after cleansing. The U Beauty Hydrator or Augustinus Bader cream are good year-round as both of these are infused with powerhouse skin ingredients to instantly quench thirsty skin without feeling too heavy or greasy. Then, Pharrell’s Humanrace and Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty hydrators have left a lasting impression if you’re interested in a celebrity take on photoshoot-ready skin.
U Beauty The Super Body Hydrator
Augustinus Bader The Body Cream
Fenty Beauty Whipped Oil Body Cream
Humanrace Humidifying Body Cream
The Rich Butter
Especially in winter, a body butter takes the hydration up a notch. While it certainly varies from brand to brand, these formulas tend to be much thicker and richer than their cream counterparts. Smith explains that Mutha’s butter continues to be the brand’s best-selling product and a mainstay in her personal regimen. “I’ve always had stretch marks and, using this during pregnancy, prevented new stretch marks and diminished the appearance of old ones,” she says. “It’s clinically proven to hydrate for 48 hours and reduce the color and fine lines inside a stretch mark by 76%.”