Short answer: Yes, and a much simpler one than your face. Oil-gland distribution varies a lot across the body, and many areas, such as the shins, forearms and hands, have fewer than the face and tend to dry out more easily. Most body skin needs three things: a gentle wash rather than a harsh soap, a moisturizer applied while the skin is still damp from the shower, and sunscreen on whatever the sun reaches. Add gentle exfoliation now and then, and that is the whole routine.
People spend a fortune on their face and then scrub their body with a bar of soap and forget about it. Here is why that is backwards, and what to do instead.
Why body skin is different
Oil glands are not spread evenly. The face, scalp, chest and upper back have a dense supply, which is why those areas can get shiny. Many other areas, including the shins, forearms and hands, have far fewer, so they make less of their own oil and tend to dry out faster. Shins and forearms are the classic trouble spots: itchy, flaky, ashy-looking in winter.
Body skin is also thicker than facial skin in most places, and it spends much of its time covered by clothing that rubs against it. So it needs less in the way of active ingredients and more in the way of basic care: keep it clean without stripping it, keep it moisturized, keep it protected.
Step one: wash gently
A traditional bar soap is alkaline and can leave skin feeling tight and squeaky. That squeak is the sound of your skin’s natural oils going down the drain. A gentle body wash or a mild cleansing bar leaves more of them in place.
Water temperature matters too. Long, very hot showers feel wonderful and are hard on dry skin. Warm rather than hot, and shorter rather than longer, makes a noticeable difference in winter.
Step two: moisturize while damp
This is the habit worth keeping if you keep only one. Pat yourself half-dry after the shower and apply moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp. It helps hold in the water that is already there. Moisturizer still does its job on dry skin; applying it to damp skin is a simple way to get a little more from it.
Many people prefer a lighter texture in summer and a richer one in winter, and a richer cream or butter-based product on shins, elbows, heels and hands; let how your skin feels decide. The same three-part logic that applies to a face moisturizer applies here: something to attract water, something to smooth, something to seal. How to Choose a Moisturizer for Mature Skin explains those three jobs.
Step three: sunscreen where the sun reaches
Arms, the backs of hands, the chest and the neck get years of sun, and they show it. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen on the parts of your body that are exposed has strong evidence behind it: in a four-and-a-half-year randomized trial in Queensland, Australia, adults assigned to daily broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher sunscreen showed 24% less measurable skin aging on the back of the hand than adults who used it as they pleased. Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? explains why. The neck and chest in particular deserve the same care as the face; Crepey Skin on the Neck and Décolleté goes into that.
Step four: exfoliate, gently, sometimes
Dead cells build up on the body just as they do on the face. There are several ways to help them along, and they are alternatives, not a set to combine: a body polish with fine particles, or a dry body brush used lightly before the shower, or a pair of exfoliating gloves. Pick one. Gentle is the word: the aim is smoother skin, not red skin. Follow the directions for the product or tool you are using, both for pressure and for how often, and always moisturize afterward.
What to skip
You do not need a different product for every limb, and you do not need to exfoliate daily. Body skin asks for consistency more than complexity.
Victoria’s approach
Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare and Younger You Clinique, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2004 and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance.
Esenté’s body range includes the Cellaris Body Crème, a rich body crème; the Shea Butter Ultra Rich Hydra Crème; the Shea Butter Exfoliating Body Polish; and two tools, a Body Brush and Exfoliating Massage Gloves. Each is developed collaboratively by Victoria Nash with Esenté’s professional formulation and manufacturing partners, with Victoria providing product direction, ingredient research, professional-use feedback and performance requirements. If you are not sure whether your skin wants a lotion or a crème, the Ask Victoria page is open.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a body skincare routine?
Yes, a simple one. Many areas of body skin have fewer oil glands than the face and dry out more easily. A gentle wash, moisturizer on damp skin and sunscreen on exposed areas covers most needs.
Should I moisturize my body every day?
Most people benefit from daily moisturizing, especially in winter and on the shins, arms and hands. Applying it right after the shower, while skin is still slightly damp, helps hold that water in.
Can I use my face moisturizer on my body?
You can, but it is an expensive way to do it. Body skin needs a simpler, often richer product, and there is a lot more of it to cover.
Why are my shins so dry?
Shins have very few oil glands and thin skin over bone. They are a classic dry spot. A richer cream applied to damp skin, and warmer rather than hot showers, help most.
How often should I exfoliate my body?
Follow the directions on your product or tool. The right frequency depends on the method, the product and your own skin, and red or stinging skin means too much.
Does body skin need sunscreen?
Anywhere the sun reaches, yes. Hands, forearms, neck and chest show sun damage early because they get so much of it.
About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare and Younger You Clinique, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2004 and is an experienced skincare educator.
Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician and founder of Esenté Skincare & Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.
