You’ve finally mastered your glowing skin through your skincare routine, and now you’re ready to tackle your glow from the neck down! Being in my mid-20s, I’m starting to realize just how important it is to take care of my skin NOW, so I don’t have to un-do any damage later. But I’ve noticed while I take a lot of time on my face, I tend to rush through my shower routine and neglect my body’s skin. Can you relate? Or maybe you already take time to tend to your body, but you’re ready to amp up your body skin care routine. If you’re looking for a body routine for glowing skin, I’m here to help you get your body glow on! This post will help you get beautiful, glowing and hydrated skin by using the best products and methods to get beautiful skin for life!
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Start with dry brushing
One of the latest trends in getting naturally glowing skin is with dry brushing (even though it’s been around for centuries). If you’re new to the term, dry brushing is when you use a dry brush–usually made with boar hair–to gently exfoliate your body to get rid of dead skin cells and increase circulation. Like the name sounds, there is no water involved. Just you and the brush.
You can also apply some oil to your skin first, like coconut oil or jojoba oil if you prefer.
Dry brushing is a really great way to give your body a natural glow because by removing dead skin cells and increasing circulation, it results in smoother and softer skin while promoting a natural glow.
To dry brush, simply brush your skin in long strokes starting at your feet. Brush in soft, but firm upwards motions towards your heart. For women, don’t use a dry brush on your breasts since the area is so sensitive. Use lighter pressure when dry brushing your stomach and chest since those areas have naturally softer and thin skin.
The good news is dry brushes are pretty affordable, like this dry brush best seller from Amazon. You can also probably find one at a local health food store or beauty shop. I’ve even seen them at Wholefoods and Sprouts!
Dry brushing only takes about 5 minutes, so it’s usually not too much trouble to squeeze into your schedule! Do it daily, weekly, or however often you like. Just don’t do it more than once a day.
Important note: If you have sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, wounds, sunburn or irritated skin, do not dry brush!!
Wash your body with a hydrating cleanser
If you wanna have glowing skin, then using the right body wash is an essential step. Hydrating body washes can have an illuminating effect on your skin, while harsh body washes might dull or even irritate your skin.
So, when you’re finished dry brushing, grab your hydrating body wash and hop in the shower or bath like normal.
I personally love Native Coconut & Vanilla Body Wash. It doesn’t contain any harsh or synthetic ingredients, so it’s not drying and it’s perfect for sensitive skin.
You do not have to shower after dry brushing if you don’t want to. But for a full body care routine to get glowing skin, it’s the next step!
To avoid overdrying your skin, look for a body wash without harsh ingredients that might cause a negative reaction. Ingredients you might consider avoiding, according to Poosh, include,Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), “fragrance,” petroleum and mineral oil. These ingredients can be harsh or irritable on sensitive skin, while ingredients like petroleum can suffocate your skin.
The best ingredients for a hydrating body wash are those that are natural and as close to the earth as possible. Some good ingredients include ceramides, olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, shea butter and safflower.
For hydrated, glowing skin I’m going to mention that you shouldn’t shower in super hot water because it’ll dry out your skin…
But at the same time, I’ll be 100% honest and say I never, ever shower in cold water. I’m just not there yet emotionally. 😬
Exfoliate your body–if you skipped dry brushing
If you skipped out on dry brushing for whatever reason, you can always use your shower time to exfoliate.
Physical exfoliators
Find a body scrub that works for you, or make a DIY body scrub with your favorite scents. This article offers 5 super easy DIY body scrub recipes. You can use coffee grounds, sugar, or sea salt for exfoliation. Then, mix it up with an oil like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil. Finally, add some special touches like essential oils, honey or green tea.
I used to use Victoria’s Secret Coco Scrub. I bought it during a Christmas sale when it was on sale and I absolutely love it. It smells like a dream, and makes my skin feel super soft and nourished thanks to the coconut oil. For me, it’s a gentle scrub and the sugar dissolves fairy quickly in the hot water.
If you want a body scrub with exfoliating ingredients that last long, try a coffee body scrub like this one from Frank Body. It’s made with a blend of coffee, vitamin E, and antioxidant-rich oils, so it helps keep your skin soft while fighting scars and promoting an even skin tone. Frank Body is one of my favorite brands for anything beauty related.
Considering I’m absolutely coffee-obsessed, Frank Body’s addition of coffee and caffeine to most of their products has made me a die-hard fan. f you’re a coffee fanatic like myself, this is the brand for you.
Chemical exfoliators
You can also try a chemical exfoliation if you don’t want to physically scrub your body. This body treatment from REN Clean Skincare got positive reviews for being effective, though not everyone was crazy about the smell. I haven’t used it personally.
Make sure not to over-exfoliate your skin, though. While dry brushing can be done daily, using a body scrub is suggested only for 1-2 or 2-3 times a week, depending on your skin sensitivity.
Don’t forget to exfoliate your feet!
You can have the brightest, glowing skin the world, but if you have ashy and dry feet, then you’re missing one of the most important touches!
To exfoliate your feet, use a pumice stone on the bottom of your feet while in the shower to soften calluses and scrub off the dead skin. For a more spa like experience, you can also use a foot exfoliator mask. There are a lot of options that come with socks to peel your feet like a snake and leave ‘em baby soft. Check out Amazon to find a good one!
Shave (if you’re into that)
Shaving after using a body scrub is one of the most satisfying, gross experiences you can have, but it’s a great step to add to your body care routine if you want truly glowing skin.
After exfoliating, you’ll be left with dead skin on the surface, even after you rinse it down the drain (ick). Shave your legs after exfoliating, and you’ll see how the razor sloughs off the old skin. It’ll leave you with super soft and glowing legs that basically look like you’re wearing pantyhose.
Make sure you rinse the razor after each stroke, ‘cause the blades will get clogged up a lot faster after exfoliating.
For shaving cream, I highly suggest Cremo shaving cream that’s available at Target, or on Amazon. It’s a concentrated formula that lasts way, way longer than most shaving creams (90 days to be precise).
Side note: I recently made the switch to the Billie razor.
I used to shave with a men’s Gilette razor, until I started switching to brands that are cruelty-free. Then, I tried the Flamingo razors available at Target. Truthfully, Flamingo razors just didn’t work for me. When I shaved around corners and curves, I felt like the razor’s plastic edges were really uncomfortable and snagged my skin. So I tried the Billie razor and honestly, wow.
The difference is crazy. It’s smooth, doesn’t irritate my skin, and gives me a super close shave. Plus, Billie is slightly cheaper than Flamingo since they offer free shipping, making it just $9! If you’re ready for a new brand of razor, try out the Billie razor here.
Tips to get a smooth shave in the bikini area
Remember to shave your bikini area last, so your pores are open and your hair is softest.
You can even use your body scrub along your bikini lines to get the hair completely out of their follicles. This will reduce the chance of ingrown hairs. But be very careful not to get any sugar “down there.” Sugar + vagina = yeast infection. Which is more or less the least fun thing ever.
When you’re done shaving your bikini area, run cold water over the area to close up the pores and prevent ingrown hairs. While drying off, make sure to PAT the area dry (for the love of goodness, don’t rub!!), and immediately moisturize your shaved bikini area.
If you’re not about that shaving life, cool! Go rock your pits au natural, like Julia Roberts at the Notting Hill premiere in ‘99!
Moisturizing body lotion
I used to buy body lotions based on whether or not I liked how it smelled. Now, I try to buy body lotion based on the ingredients and how they can give me the healthiest, most beautiful skin.
Some of the best ingredients to look for in a moisturizing body lotion is hyaluronic acid, shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, ceramides, or cocoa butter.
You need a lotion that will not only moisturize your skin, but nourish it! Look for ingredients that’ll restore the skin barrier, and lock that moisture in good and tight. If you’re building a glowing body skincare routine, you might as well go big with a body lotion that goes above and beyond.
My new favorite brand for body lotion is Hempz Beauty. Right now, I’m using the Hempz Koa & Sweet Almond body lotion, which is made with pure hemp seed oil to protect your skin and seal in moisture, sweet almond extract, and avocado extract for a boost of vitamins and antioxidants. It’s also made with shea butter to protect your skin from free radicals.
It smells amazing, feels amazing, and is a crucial step in my body care routine. My skin always feels super hydrated after I use it, but without feeling greasy or slippery.
I even keep a travel sized bottle of it in my purse for my hands, which have been crazy dry lately.
For extra dry days, I switch it up and use my Cerave Moisturizing Cream. It’s made with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, making it my go-to lotion on my driest skin days.
Want a discount on any full priced Hempz product? Use code DUFFY to get 25% off! ☺️
Top your skin off with shimmery body oil
After moisturizing your body with lotion (and putting on sunscreen after that!), the finishing touch to a body care routine that gives you glowing skin is… body oil! You know how those models with dewy skin always look like they’re perfectly sunkissed and glowy all over? It’s all in the body oil, fam.
Adding a body oil after applying your moisturizer is gonna give you that glazy, radiant glow you’re looking for. But besides that, the oil’s going to help lock in all the moisture from your body lotion.
For a natural glow, you can try a coconut oil blend like Shea Moisture’s 100% Virgin Coconut Oil, or just rub some virgin coconut oil directly into your skin. You’ll smell like a dream vacation and look like you’ve been on one, too.
You can also opt for a more shimmery option, like the Tom Ford Mini Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil. I haven’t tried this one personally, but after reading a ton of reviews, this one seems like the best quality while being in an average price range.
You can apply your body oil all over, but especially to your shoulders, chest, elbows, knees and legs.
Extra additions to your glowing body care routine
To finish off this post, I wanted to share a couple more tips for glowing skin, that might not directly relate to a body care routine.
- First off, get more green tea. Drink more green tea, and find clean beauty products made with green tea extract. Studies referenced in this article show that green tea’s antioxidant properties help fight signs of aging, and promote skin elasticity. Not to mention green tea helps fight acne as well.
- Secondly, get more Vitamin D.
- Thirdly, get some sunlight on your skin! If you want the sunkissed glow, go out and let the sun kiss ya. Always, always wear sunscreen though so your glow doesn’t turn into a lobster color (now) or turn you into a raisin (30 years from now).
- And finally, get your exercise. Regular exercise is proven to give your skin a healthy, natural glow from the increased circulation and blood flow. Do some cardio, swim laps at your local swimming pool, lift weights, join a gym, etc.
Conclusion to Body Routine for Glowing Skin
There ya have it, lovelies! The 6 primary steps to a body routine for glowing skin. Let’s recap:
- Dry brushing for improved circulation and letting new skin shine,
- Hydrating body wash for clean & soft skin;
- Exfoliating when needed;
- Shaving for a smooth surface;
- Body lotion for softness and hydration;
- And topping it off with a body oil to seal in moisture and give yourself the ultimate glow.
You now have the tools and know-how to make your body glow with natural radiance that’ll be seen from a mile away.
Now go light a delicious smelling candle, play some music and indulge in a full-on Saturday vibe with this body-lovin’ routine. You deserve it.
Til next time, you (glowing) hot tamales.
Love, hugs and good vibes,
