If you’re paying attention to your below-the-chin skin only in the summer, it’s begging you for some love right now. Swimsuit or ski suit, your body deserves a skincare routine that’s just as comprehensive and effective as the one for your face—just not as complicated. Think of this story as your guide to the essentials for building a derm-approved body-care routine that you’ll actually be able to follow and stick to. Ahead, the 4 don’t-skip steps (spoiler alert, you need body SPF year-round), 21 must-try products, and 6 trending treatments you and your skin need right now.
The core tenets of a good body-care routine: cleansing, moisturizing, and slathering on SPF. Here’s how it’s done.
Cleanse: The only hard-and-fast rule here is to avoid body soaps and washes with sulfates (typically noted as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate on ingredient lists). They can strip away your skin’s natural oils and compromise its protective skin barrier, says dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD. So pls, do your skin a favor and wash with a sulfate-free formula like the three below.
This Drugstore Option
Moisturize: Everyone—yes, literally you, the human reading these words this very second!—should use a body moisturizer, says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD: “To effectively hydrate your skin and lock in moisture, look for a formula that contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and/or ceramides.” You can find them in everything from lightweight gel creams to thick body butters, like the three products below. Find one you love and apply it as soon as you get out of the shower (when your skin is still damp) and then as needed throughout the day.
While we’re on the topic of skin hydration, let’s talk about body oil for a sec. This trendy fave complements moisturizer—but doesn’t replace it. Massage it into damp skin and then layer your regular lotion on top, or mix the two together for extra dewiness, Dr. Hartman says. Shop our favorite body oils, below.
Protect: Without question, you should be applying sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on any part of your body that sees the sun, says Dr. Hartman: “UV exposure is the leading cause of premature aging, not to mention skin cancer—whether it’s July or January.” Look for a lightweight lotion formula with a fast-absorbing texture (like the editor favorites, below) to make applying and reapplying easier.
This Sweatproof SPF 50
EleVen by Venus Williams Game. Set. Match. Body Lotion SPF 50
Everything you just read will keep your skin healthy and happy. But the serums and treatments below—all with potent, high-performing active ingredients like niacinamide and retinol—do the heavy lifting when it comes to things like brightening skin tone or fighting acne, Dr. Hartman says.
“If you’re outside even briefly, antioxidants are a must,” Dr. Rogers says. They can neutralize inflammatory free radicals (supple skin’s number one enemy) to help prevent things like redness and sun spots.
A Retinol Treatment
There’s no better anti-aging ingredient than retinol. It’s proven to stimulate cell turnover (aka your skin’s natural renewal process) and collagen and elastin production, which plump fine lines and firm up your skin. Hello, baby-soft skin.
This one is ideal for getting rid of whiteheads and blackheads on your shoulders, chest, back, and butt—caused by sweat, bacteria, or too-tight workout clothes. The secret sauce: oil-regulating zinc and salicylic acid.
Made with calming colloidal oatmeal and barrier-friendly hydrators, this gel helps minimize the itch and irritation associated with eczema. And thanks to the cooling metal tip applicator, the relief is nearly instant.
Online medical provider Musely creates custom prescription-strength body creams (no IRL doctor visit or insurance needed) to treat stubborn issues, like KP and hyperpigmentation, that haven’t responded to over-the-counter options.
Your one-stop shop for glazed-doughnut limbs, this moisturizes with aloe, evening primrose, and sea moss. Plus, it’s infused with tiny golden particles that reflect light to give your skin a natural-looking glow.
Using a chemical exfoliator a few times a week is the move here, according to Dr. Hartman and Dr. Rogers. Ingredients like glycolic and salicylic acids dissolve dulling dead skin cells, smooth rough or bumpy texture, and unclog pores. Ahead, three derm-approved body exfoliators to try ASAP.
Packed with glycolic acid and 2 percent salicylic acid (the highest amount you can get OTC), this body wash removes sweat and buildup on skin while de-gunking pores.
Time-released retinol, AHAs, and urea come together in this body serum to resurface your skin and improve its tone and texture. Use it if your biggest issues are hyperpigmentation and scarring.
Keratosis pilaris (KP)—the medical name for the red or brown bumps on your arms, thighs, and tush—can be stubborn. Luckily, these AHA- and BHA-soaked peel pads exist to help erase it.
You may have noticed we didn’t include any body scrubs here, and that’s because they aren’t our experts’ preferred method of exfoliation (Dr. Rogers says they can cause inflammation and micro-tears in the skin). But we get it: Scrubs are just…incredibly satisfying to use. So if you’re set on using one, opt for a formula that’s made with nonabrasive jojoba beads or bamboo powder (like Drunk Elephant Scrubbi Bamboes Body Cleanser) instead of jagged shells or seeds and use it once a week max.
This step is for bonus points. These six at-home devices and in-office therapies are your “nice to haves,” because while you don’t need them, they will absolutely level up your body-skin game.
Inspired by spa treatments, this jade stone can be used to tone, ease muscle tension, and promote better circulation.
Meet the DIY laser to end all DIY lasers. It’s $$$$, but its brightening and smoothing effects are comparable to what you’d get from a series of pro laser sessions.
This soft, flexible mask is embedded with red LED lights to help reverse signs of aging on your neck and chest. Wear it for 10 minutes five times a week for smoother, more even-toned skin in about a month.
Electrical muscle stimulation and radiofrequency technologies come together to strengthen ab, arm, and butt muscles and firm skin in as few as three painless 30-minute sessions.
Dr. Hartman—and Kim K., FWIW—are fans of this radiofrequency microneedling treatment for fading scars and stretch marks and giving skin a tighter, smoother appearance.
Depending on the settings and handpiece used, this multitasking machine can do everything from minimize stretch marks to lift and contour skin. The lymphatic drainage benefits are really great for contouring and de-puffing too.
Lauren Balsamo
Deputy Beauty Director
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for nine years at Cosmopolitan and has contributed to Women’s Health and Seventeen magazines as well. Follow her on Instagram.
