Your Body Deserves a Skincare Routine Too

When I ask someone about their skincare routine, they list the eye cream that got rid of their dark circles or the sunscreen that changed their life. The irony is that the majority of our skin exists below the chin. “While skin on our body is different and a bit more resilient than areas like the face, it still needs TLC,” says board-certified dermatologist Georgina Ferzli, M.D.. “Skin on our body is more prone to dryness, roughness, and, eventually, loss of elasticity.”

A solid body skincare routine will contain the three basics: A good cleanse, occasional exfoliation, and regular hydration. From there, you can add extra steps to target personal concerns, ranging from an itchy scalp (yes, your scalp is considered skin, too) to dark spots on the chest or loose skin around the knees. Finding a cream, lotion, or mask for every niche concern you could possibly have isn’t difficult. In fact, it can be a little overwhelming at times.

The body care industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the beauty space, and it has been expanding rapidly since 2021. Collectively, it’s worth well over $27 billion, with a projected 5.9 percent growth rate by 2028. That means body care technology is advancing, innovations are being rolled out weekly, and there’s truly a product for every skin type and concern. “These products will be tailored to skin that is thicker than facial skin and can handle harsher active ingredients—and heavier creams to stay hydrated,” explains board-certified dermatologist Nava Greenfield, M.D.. “Still, body routines will be different for each person.”