The body care rituals of beauty experts

Cleanse, exfoliate, treat, mask, hydrate, moisturise, protect… Let's face it, when it comes to our daily skincare routine most of us pamper our complexions with indulgent multi-step routines. 
However, when it comes to the skin on the rest of our bodies, many of us don't give it quite the attention it deserves. Incorporating certain body care rituals into your routine is key to achieving and maintaining healthy skin overall wellbeing. To help you elevate your body care game we caught up with a few seasoned beauty professionals to uncover the secrets behind their radiant skin.

Jade Leggat-Smith, beauty director and makeup artist

“I can't stress enough how important it is to look after your body,” says Jade. “Because skin is the largest organ, skincare shouldn't be limited to just your face,” she says. These are some of her daily and weekly rituals:

Don’t neglect your hands: Often overlooked, your hands need just as much care as your face. “I keep a hand cream in every bag, my car, and next to my bed, applying it as often as possible. Additionally, I store sunscreen in my car to protect my hands and arms from sun exposure while driving,” she says.

Extend your skincare to your neck and décolletage: “My top tip is to always extend your skincare routine beyond your face. Apply serums, creams, and most importantly, sunscreen, down your neck and onto your décolletage to maintain a youthful appearance all over,” she says.

Exfoliate weekly: Incorporate a gentle scrub into your body care routine once a week. This helps to slough off dead skin cells, ensuring that your moisturiser can penetrate deeply and work more effectively.

Chereen Gibson, former beauty editor and beauty blogger

Beauty expert and busy mom of four, Chereen believes that incorporating daily body care rituals is a holistic practice that nurtures both your skin and your mental health. While not a body care ritual as such, she does consider her daily yoga classes a great help for her body, mind and skin. Other rituals she swears by include:

Treating dry feet: For an effective overnight treatment that will leave your feet super smooth, Chereen applies a thick layer of Vaseline to her feet after a bath or shower and then pops on a pair of cotton socks to keep the jelly in place.

Sunscreen every day: Wearing sunscreen, even in winter, is vital to protect the skin from premature ageing, sunspots, and of course skin cancer. Chereen uses her daily facial sunscreen and applies it to her neck, back of her neck, back of her hands, and any other exposed areas.

Sunday self-care: As she has limited time in the week, Chereen does an everything-shower on a Sunday where is shaves, exfoliates, and gives her body extra care and nourishment. 

Leila Petersen, beauty editor

I love pampering body rituals! Not only do they make my skin look and feel its best but by dedicating time each day to care for my skin, I am also prioritising self-care and mindfulness. Moreover, the sensory experience of body care - whether it's the feel of luxurious body butter or the aroma of rich body oils - can be incredibly therapeutic. These rituals provide opportunities to destress, slow down, breathe deeply, and be more present. Some of my all-time favourite body rituals include:

Dry brushing: This is a real game-changer! Ever since I started dry-brushing my skin has been so much smoother and more radiant. A form of mechanical exfoliation, this ancient technique involves running a dry brush in circular motions over your body to help remove dead skin cells, boost circulation and leave your skin feeling smoother, softer and ready to receive the nourishing benefits of the rest of your body care.

Body oil application: To help lock in moisture and prevent dryness I love applying a body oil as a final step in my nighttime routine. I especially adore formulas that are lightly fragranced as they leave my skin radiant and beautifully scented.

Foot care: As one of the most hardworking parts of my body, giving my feet some extra TLC is such a treat! I always start by using a good quality foot file or pumice stone on my dry skin to remove hard skin and calluses followed by a good foot soak or exfoliating scrub. Afterwards, I apply a rich balm or cream to keep them moisturised and soft. 

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com