5 Tips for Full Body Nourishment
BeautyYou may have your winter facial skincare routine looked after, but is your body feeling a little on the dull, dehydrated and malnourished side?
This is not uncommon, particularly during colder months when it can be difficult to expose our skin for more than a few minutes pre- and post-bathing!
Forgoing body care may feel relatively inconsequential, we see concerns arise much more noticeably on our faces after all. Pigmentation, sagging, wrinkles, flakiness, redness, large pores, and pimples are right there staring us back in the mirror as we get ready for each day and little attention is paid to the skin on our bodies by comparison.
However, there are several more reasons to pay closer attention to body care than you may have previously thought. The skin on our bodies is still susceptible to skin conditions and signs of ageing, and a few extra minutes spent nourishing your arms, neck, chest and legs can play a significant role in your overall confidence later down the track. Here are some of our favourite body care techniques and their benefits.
1.Dry body brushing
Many celebrities swear by this tried-and-tested technique, and with good reason. Dry body brushing comes with countless benefits and is suitable for just about anyone. It acts as a superficial exfoliant, sloughing off surface dead skin cells by way of manual abrasion. Carrying out this technique on oneself at home means as much or as little pressure can be applied as needed, tailoring the degree of exfoliation.
It also effectively increases circulation, feeding the tissue with nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood. Spider veins and varicose veins on the legs are a major concern for countless women, and these occur when circulation slows and blood pools within the vasculature for longer than usual. Keeping up circulation in the legs, which is a natural occurrence of exercise but can also be done with body brushing, is beneficial in delaying onset of varicose veins.
Finally, lymphatic drainage is another wonderful benefit of dry body brushing, given the technique used follows lymphatic pathways. This can aid in the removal of waste/toxins, and the transportation of stagnant lymph that leads to swelling and fluid retention.
2.Ambient showers
Nothing strips moisture from the skin quite like a piping hot shower. Resist the winter urge to take your showers boiling hot and aim for a more ambient temperature with the aim of retaining your skin’s hydration levels as much as possible. Creating too much heat in the skin also leads to inflammation and free radicals, ageing the skin faster.
3.Bath oil
The same principle goes for baths. If you’re a bathing fan, while this is exceptionally soothing for the body and mind, it can be extremely drying on the skin, and can irritate some inflammatory skin conditions. Try combatting skin dryness that occurs from a hot bath by adding some oil. This will cling to the skin once you enter the bath, and provide moisturisation and protection.
We have created our Bioactive Bath & Body Elixir to nurture the skin after bathing, but you can also add a few drops to your tub for a skin-softening spa experience. You’ll find an exotic infusion of 18 precious botanical oils brimming with skin-loving benefits. Prickly Pear, Baobab, Sea Buckthorn Berries, Rosella and Kangaroo Paw Flowers and just some of these indulgent oils. They are exceptionally hydrating, and rich in essential fatty acids, phytonutrients and phytoceramides to enhance overall skin health, improve brightness, stimulate cell turnover, boost elasticity, and protect against free radical damage.
4.Spot treat dry patches
If you only experience dryness on specific patches, such as elbows, knees, hands and feet, try keeping a rich hydrating product next to your bedside or coffee table. Keeping it within sight and reach will encourage more regular use, applying it as soon as you see it instead of having to remember it. Our Marigold Hydrating Crème is an indulgent and rich buttery formula designed for ultimate skin nourishment. Use it globally throughout both face and body, or as a spot treatment where needed, for long-lasting hydration and suppleness.
5.Use textures you love
Many individuals are discouraged from using products for the body, even if they enjoy facial care, due to texture or fragrance. Historically, body care has predominantly been created with thick, slimy textures that don’t absorb particularly well, and with strong artificial fragrances.
Formulations for body care have improved vastly within the past several years, and expanded not only to encompass more enjoyable textures and natural scents, but a wider range of product types. You can now find body serums, oils, creams and emulsions, just as you would for facial products. Once you find a product that you really enjoy using, with a smell and feeling that you love, you will be significantly more inclined to use it regularly.
Remember, our bodies are just as prone to ageing as our faces are - we simply don’t see it as clearly until it is too late. By taking good care of the skin on our bodies and keeping it well hydrated, we will not only delay skin sagging in the areas prone to this (such as backs of hands, neck and chest etc) but also prevent the risk of skin damage and scarring. Skin that is well hydrated and healthy will always heal more optimally than tissue that is dry and neglected. With daily nourishment, circulation-boosting massage, and exfoliation where needed, you can retain your skin’s health and quality for longer, and give yourself the confidence and radiance you deserve, at any age!
