There are so many articles out there about facial skincare and then come bikini season a plethora of prep for the beach articles focused on tanning and flip flop ready feet.
But day to day bodycare is often forgotten. My aim is to make my routine as simple as possible whilst obtaining the maximum results.
Handcare
I am obsessed with L'occitane Shea butter hand creams and I pretty much have one in every bag as long as a huge tube by the sink. By carrying tubes of handcream around with me I am able to slap it one whenever my hands feel dry.
I also use the L'occitane Shea butter liquid soap (£19.00) at home which has a soft sweet scent without being too girly or flowery but still moisturising.
I also carry a cuticle oil pen either from Nails inc or Sally Hansen with me got some specialist care as needed. Although I confess I'm rather bad at using it day to day.
Bath and Shower
With dry skin I have two prongs of attack; exfoliate and moisturise. On the exfoliating front my favourite product is Cliniques sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator (£18.50 for 200ml) which is a gritty minty zingy feast. But is on the pricy treat so I use it once a week and rely upon exfoliating gloves on a day to day basis that can be worn whilst soaping up in the shower.
R who always heads to my clinque stash when She stays at mine swears by apricot body scrub which is a fraction of the cost.
As for body wash I favour L'occitane Almond shower oil (£17.50) which is a body wash, shaving oil and moisturiser all in one. A little goes a very long way and is a thick silky oil that turns beautifully milky when added to water. It works equally well in the shower and bath despite being marketed as a shower oil.
So mild it is suitable for even the most sensitive of skins and the scent is equally appealing to men and women. On the occasion that friends have stayed they have often commented upon the unusualness of this product and how much they like the scent. Best of all L'occitane do a Eco refill so you can top up your bottle at a reduced cost.
So mild it is suitable for even the most sensitive of skins and the scent is equally appealing to men and women. On the occasion that friends have stayed they have often commented upon the unusualness of this product and how much they like the scent. Best of all L'occitane do a Eco refill so you can top up your bottle at a reduced cost.
Lotions and potions
Ok so although I try and keep the routine simply this is where I fall down a little. If my skin is especially dry aka those months when my legs and arms have no idea what sunlight is, I spray myself with body oil before exiting the shower and then slather on body lotion once I'm dry. Oddly I find the body oil actually helps my skin dry quicker as one of the effects is to encourage water to run off the skin. Currently I have been using Garnier Body Ultimate Beauty Oil but if money is tight put Johnstone baby oil in a spray bottle. In the past I've tried neutrogena body oil but the smell didn't work for me and I felt like a walking sesame bun.
I also indulge in Clinique Deep Comfort Body Lotion (£28.00 for 400ml) which is suitably thick and moisturising but sinks in easily with the added benefit of being practically fragrance free.
For days where I want to feel extra special have a tub of the scented Body Creme from Jo Malone in Peony & Blush, the same fragrance as my purfume. At £50 a tub it is not for everyday use.
Plus a spray bottle of Vaseline spray and go moisturiser for lazy days when my skin requires less attention or I need to run out in a hurry and don't have time for a product to sink in.
