We're all for the transformative powers of a quality skincare routine, which starts from the face and should end at your feet. It’s one beauty buy we would never be without, and it turns out the right formula can do more than hydrate the skin. Editor Trudi Brewer shares some of the best.
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Not such a fun fact: Around 25, the skin on our body starts producing less collagen, around one per cent less per year. So, by the time we’re 50, almost no new collagen is being made, and the remaining collagen becomes weak. To explain: Weak collagen leads to sagging skin, which means the skin no longer has bounce and firmness. Specific ingredients help stimulate collagen production, including vitamin A, the gold standard in anti-ageing; it strengthens the skin and stimulates the skin cells to improve collagen production. Others include antioxidants, vitamins, and humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Emollients such as jojoba oil and squalane soften the skin. While, occlusives like ceramides nourish the skin and help trap moisture.
Here are the body creams we rate.
Pure Fiji Nourishing Body Butter, $49.
It is one of our favourite go-to body creams, a perfect antidote for dull winter skin. This cream is loaded with five tropical cold-pressed organic nut oils, including coconut, dilo, and macadamia, which hydrate the skin the moment you slather it on. Rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E and skin-loving omegas, as well as the antioxidant passionflower extract, an anti-inflammatory to help protect the skin against environmental stressors. Finally, this cream comes in nine different tropical scents. My pick is White Gingerliy, pictured here.
Antioxidants are skin savers when it comes to sun damage. Vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 act like fire extinguishers to put out inflammation in the skin caused by free radical damage (from the sun and other environmental assaults), strengthening its barrier to trap moisture deep in the skin.
TRONQUE FIRMING BUTTER, $130.
This decadent cream melts into the skin in seconds. Its natural formulation is NATRUE-certified and stacked with a trio of butter, including shea, cacao and mango, to nourish in seconds. It’s crammed with ceramides, mamaku (black tree fern), niacinamide, vitamin B3, and that famous moisture-magnet hyaluronic acid. The firming effects of NZ red seaweed, maple bark, rosehip, pomegranate, avocado, jojoba and olive oil help firm and give your skin an instant glow. While it’s an investment (a little goes a long way), the luxury doesn’t stop there; the jar is beautiful, too.
Hydroxy acids, like glycolic acid, effectively and gently exfoliate to help brighten the skin while removing those dry, flakey patches. But wait, there is more. The skin-stimulating effects of AHAs help boost collagen in the skin, giving an overall rejuvenated look and feel.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Glycolic Body Lotion, $54.
The blend of AHA acids includes glycolic, tartaric, lactic, and citric acids that gently exfoliate without scrubs or buffing the skin. Marula butter, rich in antioxidant polyphenols, lipids, and fatty acids, helps nourish and repair the skin’s barrier. Shea butter and green tea seed oil, which contain xanthines (like caffeine), nourishes and helps defend skin against UV-generated free radical damage.
Peptides or proteins are hero ingredients in body-firming creams. They stimulate collagen, help reduce inflammation, and help even out uneven skin tone. The peptides typically found in firming creams strengthen the skin to improve its elasticity and firmness.
Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion, $11.
Our style director swears by the nourishing power of this cheeky beauty buy. It's stacked with almond oil, vitamin E, and moisture-locking lipids that help trap nourishing moisture deep in the skin. Ultra-hydrating, it’s indulgent and feels fantastic on the skin, but it won’t break the bank.
Caffeine is one of the most potent brightening ingredients to benefit the skin. But what’s more, it can restrict blood vessels. Some experts believe caffeine can stimulate the enzymes that break down fat while reducing excess fluid in the skin. Finally, as a powerful antioxidant, caffeine protects skin from UV damage by deactivating those unstable molecules (or free radicals in our environment) that break down collagen, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin. Other brightening ingredients include Kakadu plum, willow bark, and fruit extracts such as papaya.
Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream, $61.
If you don’t like a greasy cream but want skin-blurring technology, this body lotion is for you. This creamy skin-blurring wonder is formulated with an antioxidant-rich mix of hydrating plants, including cactus flower extract, prickly pear extract, and yucca extract, which keep the skin nourished all day, sans any residue or stickiness. It’s for every inch of your body, but this is a game-changer on bare legs. It absorbs in seconds so that you can throw your jeans straight away. If you wear skirts, we love the formula’s tiny light-reflecting particles, which leave a dewy, shimmery sheen on the skin. Finally, the subtle orange blossom and neroli smell divine - #love.
While firming body creams can't replace high-tech treatments, they can amplify their results. Unfortunately, they will not remove stretch marks or cellulite. But they will plump the top layer of skin, which temporarily helps the skin look smoother and tighter.
kit: Unwind Body Balm, $46.
Upgrade your bedtime routine by treating your skin with this free-from-nasties, balm-like cream enriched with magnesium, wild indigo and kangaroo paw flower extracts to help revive dry, stressed skin. It’s also stacked with Shea Butter to give skin the most divine cocooning nourishment. But what makes this balm addictive is the fragrance. It blends essential oils, including myrrh, rosemary, galbanum, spearmint, lavender, eucalyptus, sandalwood, amber and vetiver.
Applying body lotion after a shower helps mitigate the effects of hot water and steams dry out your skin, especially during the winter. It’s also an easy way to remember and make it a daily routine.
For best results, lightly towel dry your skin, ensure it’s still slightly damp, and then apply a generous amount of body lotion or cream and massage in.
mCoBeauty TIGHTENING BODY CREAM, $38.
The new body cream is whipped to perfection and stacked with a blend of skin-firming ingredients. Collagen and squalane firm the skin, while shea butter and coconut oil leave it feeling silky-smooth. This cream is not sticky; it dries in seconds and does have an instant tightening effect on the skin. If you don’t like highly scented lotions or creams, this will work for you; it leaves a subtle tropical lychee scent on the skin.
Ideal for Christmas gifting.