Body-ody-ody: My Winter Body Care Routine Using Black-Owned Products
It’s Black History Month, which means that all of my posts this month will be extra blackity, black, black, black! My first post of the month will be all about how I moisturize my body using my favorite black-owned products.
Last month, I wrote two blog posts dedicated to making sure your face stays moisturized during the winter, and I wanted to make sure I made a post that’s focused on the body as well, because I will not have y’all looking ashy out here in these winter streets.
Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!
Exfoliating your body is extremely important. I know it’s easy to just use the same body wash every day and night, but I’d highly recommend using an exfoliating product 1-3x a week to help to encourage cellular turnover, and get rid of dry, flaky skin. This will help reveal smoother and softer skin. Exfoliating will also help unclog pores, get rid of acne-causing bacteria, prevent ingrown hairs, and allow your moisturizing products to more effectively absorb into the skin.
There are a few different products you can use to exfoliate your body:
Exfoliating Body Wash: Exfoliating body washes contain chemical exfoliators, and are probably the most gentle of the three exfoliating product options. Some exfoliating body washes are even gentle enough to use on an every day basis (make sure you’re following the product instructions).
Exfoliating Scrub: I love me a good body scrub, but I typically only use a scrub on my body once a week. Scrubs are physical exfoliators, which means that they are a bit more aggressive than an exfoliating body wash or serum. I do find that scrubs are the quickest form of exfoliation. I see instant results when I use a scrub; they leave my skin feeling super soft, buttery, and firm.
Exfoliating Serum: I spoke about exfoliating serums in my most recent post. While it was focused on serums for your face, the info I shared in that post stands true for body serums as well. Serums work well and they work fast because they are highly concentrated and easily absorb into the skin. This is my favorite form of exfoliating, because it’s both effective and gentle. I love to target serums on my chest, shoulders, and back, because those are areas that tend to develop body acne.
So take your pick, and experiment with different exfoliators to determine which is best for you, but make sure you’re easing into it. It’s very easy to overdo it when it comes to exfoliating, which can damage your skin barrier and be a recipe for disaster…but when you exfoliate the right way, it’s “chef’s kiss” 😘🤌🏾
I Lather up with a Body Butter While My Skin is Still Damp
I stopped using traditional body lotion a long time ago. Generally speaking, I don’t find lotions to be moisturizing enough for my dry skin, so I like to opt for something that’s thicker in texture, which is why I’ve turned to body butters. If you have never tried a body butter, I highly recommend giving them a go. They are typically made with shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter (or a mix of these) and body oils, such as jojoba, that are good for your skin. Body butter moisturizes, nourishes, and protects the skin. They’re great for those who struggle with dry skin.
My favorite way to apply body butter is after a shower, when my skin is still a tad bit damp.
I Lock in My Body Butter with an Oil
I love me a good body oil, because they do a fantastic job of sealing in moisture. Oils such as jojoba, rosehip seed, and argan oil are packed with vitamins that promote long-term skin health.
Now, body oils aren’t mean to replace lotions, creams or butters, but they are great to mix in with your moisturizer or apply after. I personally like to use body oil as a finishing product after moisturizing my skin with my body butter, because it serves as a sealant and locks in all the moisture. I find it to be super effective at night, and I always wake up with soft, supple, moisturized skin when I follow this routine.
