Forget investing all your time and money in crazy multi-step facial skin care routines. 2024 is all about elaborate body care routines, according to beauty influencers.
Multi-step body care has officially entered the chat.
For years, facial care has reigned supreme as the face of beauty. Content creators have shown themselves double-cleansing, slathering serums, layering creams, donning sheet masks, mud masks, high-tech LED face masks and other devices, nearly turning skincare routines into a competitive sport.
Influencers boast the benefits of intricate, product-laden, multi-step beauty routines that seemed so shockingly time-consuming, expensive and at times obsessive that audiences gobbled up the content and the bought products. The hashtag #skincare has billions of views across TikTok, Instagram and Youtube and the beauty industry has profited big time.
According to McKinsey and Company “In 2022 the beauty market generated approximately $430 billion in revenue. Today, beauty is on an upward trajectory across all categories. It has proven to be resilient amid global economic crises and in a turbulent macroeconomic environment. Beauty is now an industry that many people, from top-tier financiers to A-list celebrities, want to be a part of—and with good reason. Following a solid recovery since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the beauty market is expected to reach approximately $580 billion by 2027.”
So why limit skincare to the face when we’re covered in skin from head to toe?
That’s exactly what trendsetters and beauty industry is aiming to address with multi-step body care routines re-branded as the new “must do” skincare routine de jour.
What is a body care routine?
A body care routine is the regular practice of caring for your skin beyond just your face. It involves cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, protecting and pampering the skin on your body to keep it just as healthy, hydrated, radiant and important as the skin we see from the neck up.
What are the main stages of a multi-step body care routine?
A multi-step body care routine can be as simple as being more mindful of the products you put on your body during your morning or nighttime shower or it can be a full-blown body bonanza. Here are some common steps seen in popular body care videos on social media.
The 10 step ultimate body care routine
1. Cleansing: Just like your face, your body needs to be cleansed regularly to remove dirt, sweat, bacteria and dead skin cells. Use a gentle body wash or soap specially formulated for your skin type. Experts say to avoid harsh ingredients that may dehydrate and strip the skin of its natural oils.
2. Exfoliating: Some beauty experts say the secret to super soft skin is using chemical exfoliants such as body lotions or body serums that contain glycolic acid or retinol instead of using physical exfoliation methods like scrubs.
For most people, using a gentle body scrub with or without an exfoliating mitt once or twice a month focusing on rough areas like the elbows, knees and heels is enough. Whether you use a chemical or physical method, exfoliation helps to slough off dead skin cells, revealing smoother and softer skin underneath. Exfoliation is all about knowing which type works with your skin and within your budget. People who have sensitive skin, eczema, contact dermatitis or rosacea should consider asking a Dermatologist or aesthetician what they recommend for your skin in terms of exfoliation.
Should you exfoliate your arm pits? Yes!
Some influencers swear exfoliating their arm-pits scrubs away bacterial build-up that leads to undesirable body odor and also makes it easier to shave your pits, if hair removal is your thing. NalaCare says added benefits of exfoliating your arm pits include removal of dead skin cells, reduction of ingrown hairs, prevention of body odor and enhanced deodorant absorption.
3. Hair Removal (shaving, waxing or laser hair removal): To be or not to be hairy, that is the question and the answer is entirely up to you. Waxing or investing in laser hair removal are luxurious choices for a multi-step body care routine but simply shaving can be self-care too. This YouTube video “How to Shave Your Legs Perfectly” has 15 million views and can be applied to most body parts.
3. Serum: Similar to facial serums for skincare, body care serums are exploding in popularity and are now considered a critical step in a luxury body care routine. Skincare experts say the same basic rules apply for body serums as facial serums. Choose a serum based on the results you want. For body acne, back acne or “bacne” or skin prone to breakouts, find one with salicylic acid. If you’re looking to see anti-aging effects, try a serum that contains hyaluronic acid, ceramides or peptides. If you want brightening benefits, use a serum with vitamin C.
Note: If you’re using an exfoliating serum, you can skip the exfoliation step.
4. Moisturizing: Step out of the shower for the most posh part of a multi-step body care routine. After cleansing it’s important to replenish moisture to your skin. Choose a light body lotion for normal to oily skin, if you’re moisturizing in the morning, during warmer weather or before a day of heavy physical activity. Drier or mature skin or body care during the dry winter months may require a rich body cream. For extremely dry patches of skin, consider an ointment or body butter.
5. Sun Protection: Clothing doesn’t necessarily protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, especially if you’re wearing a light layer of clothes on a sunny day or have areas of exposed skin during peak daylight hours. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when going outside, even on cloudy days. Skip the sunscreen if this is your nighttime routine.
6. Prescriptions: Depending on your individual needs, specialized skincare from a doctor might be part of your best body care routine. This could include prescriptions formulated for conditions like eczema or psoriasis, or a prescription like hydroquinone cream, which is a skin lightening agent used to treat melasma, solar lentigines (the condition commonly referred to as “age spots” or “liver spots”), sun freckles and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
7. Hydration: In addition to adding external hydration to your skin, it’s important to stay hydrated from the inside out. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
How much water should you drink every day?
According to Trifecta Nutrition “most people need to drink roughly half of their weight (in pounds) in ounces. For example, a 200-pound adult needs approximately 100 ounces of water each day. Of course, your water needs will increase with any physical activity. So you’ll need to add 12 ounces of water for every 30 minutes of daily activity.”
8. Healthy lifestyle habits: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also contribute to the overall health of your skin. This includes eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, getting regular exercise, managing stress levels and getting enough sleep each night.
9. Home saunas, ice baths and cold plunges: New research shows heat therapy and cold therapy, via sauna, steam rooms, cold plunges and ice baths are excellent for your physical and mental health. They’re also great for glowing skin. Adding a cold shower followed by a steamed up bathroom is a simple way to add this to your body care routine. Adding a home sauna or home cold plunge or ice bath is the ultimate in luxury multi-step body care.
10. In-office Dermatologist or MedSpa treatments: The cherry on top of a multi-step body care routine might involve special skin treatments that require a professional setting.
What is the most important step in a full body care routine?
Consistency is key when it comes to a body care routine but the most important step is to get started.
It might not be easy or practical to maintain a daily multi-step body care routine. This is why influencers who entertain us with long, intricate and even ridiculous routines rack up so many views on social media.
If you’d like to boost your body care choose the steps that you resonate most with you and go for it. Don’t put pressure on yourself to achieve perfection. This is a trend, not a requirement for a healthier life.
