Your Guide to a Full Body Skincare Routine

Believe it or not, skin care doesn’t stop at the chin — or even the neck! Sure, you might slather your entire body in SPF and moisturizer when it’s swimsuit season, but what about ski season and all the rest of the seasons for that matter?

Your body deserves a skincare routine that’s equally as effective as the one for your face. It doesn’t need to be complicated and involve a dozen or more steps. It does, however, need to be consistent and contain a few key skincare products to ensure you’re buffing, moisturizing, and treating.

Ahead, the five steps (and products!) you and your skin need right now for all over glow.

Why Your Body Needs a Skincare Routine

Your body faces many of the same skin concerns as your face: fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne, and dryness. Alongside this, there’s also cellulite and stretch marks to bear in mind — concerns that don’t affect the face.

Then there’s the matter of sun-related issues. Areas of your body that are exposed (think hands, cleavage etc.) are vulnerable to UV-induced lines and dark spots. To prevent and combat these issues, you’ll need both a sunscreen and topical treatment.

Whether you’re experiencing dryness, discoloration, body acne, or cellulite, the right skincare products can help to alleviate these concerns. You will need to be consistent, though.

Try this Full Body Skincare Routine

Below, a step-by-step full body skincare routine you can start today.

Step #1: Buff

Exfoliation is just as fundamental for your body as it for your face. By buffing away the buildup of dead skin cells, whether via a body scrub or exfoliating body wash, both your skin tone and texture will improve. If you’re going with an exfoliating body cleanser, opt for one formulated with hydroxy acids such as glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acid. These will gently remove dead cells to brighten, unclog pores, and prevent breakouts.

Alternatively, go with a gentle salt or sugar scrub to slough away dead skin and excess sebum. You only need to use an exfoliator twice a week, and it’ll leave your skin feeling so much smoother. Plus, it offers brightening effects to leave you glowing all over! Oh, and another little bonus: freshly buffed skin absorbs product better. Exfoliate = maximized skincare product effectiveness! Woo-hoo!

Buff with: Rainbow’s Exfoliate Body Scrub, a salt-based scrub formulated with AHAs and mango to buff away uneven texture, rejuvenate and brighten.

Step #2: Lavish Your Lady Lumps

Don’t forget your tush and tatas! They need some TLC too! These areas are prone to skin concerns like stretch marks, cellulite, sagging, and blemishes. Counteract these concerns by investing in boob and butt skincare products that contain active ingredients to resurface, hydrate, and tighten, like retinol, AHAs, and vitamin C.

In addition to products, you can also try introducing a tool or two into your routine to improve the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite. A dry brush, for instance, is a handy tool for stimulating circulation and making lumps and bumps appear less visible.

Lavish your lady lumps with: Rainbow’s Firm Boob Mask + Tighten Butt Mask, both of which contain retinol which helps to boost collagen and elastin for firmer, more lifted lady lumps.

Step #3: Introduce the Actives

Unless you’re one super rare and lucky babe, you’re probably dealing with some kind of skin concern. Stretch marks? Cellulite? Sagging? Acne? Active ingredients help with all these skin complaints — as long as you choose the right ones.

Retinol is by far one of the best for sculpting sagging, while vitamin C aids in brightening and fading discoloration. Acne-prone skin types would benefit from salicylic acid, while those with dry skin should look for hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides. As for those who are on the sensitive side, look for body serums that contain soothing ingredients like aloe to combat any irritation causes by actives.

Treat skin concerns with: Rainbow’s Hydrate Serum + Smooth Serum. You’ll find hyaluronic acid in the first and vitamin C and vegan collagen in the second.

Step #4: Moisturize

Everyone should be moisturising daily! According to dermatologists, your body cream, body butter, or body lotion should contain hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides (or all!) in order to hydrate skin and seal in moisture. Alternatively, pair a hyaluronic acid-based serum with an emollient-based cream or butter enriched with shea or cocoa butter. And for the best results, apply it straight after your shower while your skin’s still damp.

If you’re still a little dry, finish your routine with body oil. Simply layer it on top of your moisturizer for extra dewiness.

Moisturize with: Rainbow’s Hydrate Body Butter, a luxuriously rich moisturizer featuring shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E which work together to deeply nourish and hydrate your skin.

Step #5: Protect

Last but certainly not least, sunscreen! Without a doubt, you should be applying SPF 30 or higher on any part of your body exposed to the sun. You should know by now how damaging UV rays are to the skin. In fact, UV exposure is the leading cause of premature aging — and skin cancer.

You might think you don’t need sunscreen during the winter months, but you should still be slathering it over those areas that see the sun, like your hands and chest. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, be sure to pick an oil-free, non-comedogenic formula that won’t clog your pores or leave you greasy.

To make your SPF work even harder, pair it with a vitamin C serum. A potent antioxidant, vitamin C makes your daily sunscreen work twice as hard, offering extra protection against damaging UV rays.

Starting a full body skincare routine might sound like a lot of work. Once you make it a habit, it won’t feel like a chore at all. Rather a well-deserved self-care moment! By taking care of the skin on your body now, you ward off a lot of future skincare woes.

You’ll find a wide selection of body care products by Rainbow at Walmart, CVS, and on our official website Rainbowbeauty.com.