The One Step You're Missing For Softer, Tighter Body Skin

The body care market has been hiding behind the curtain for a while—at least in mainstream beauty culture. Creams, serums, exfoliants, and retinols have all been widely used on facial skin, but rarely do your arms, legs, and chest get the same attention. Well, until now.

Just like you would for your face, you should first identify your skin type and specific goals before heading to the beauty counter. It's important to note that the skin on your body might be slightly different from your face, so don't be surprised if it's drier, less sensitive, etc. 

Perhaps you've used a body scrub to ease tiny bumps and uneven texture, but that's not your only option. Look to chemical exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) to smooth texture and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) to manage breakouts on the back or chest. 

Retinol is a powerhouse ingredient that can truly transform the skin, whether you want to clear breakouts, ease fine lines and wrinkles, or brighten your overall complexion. With all of those benefits at your disposal, why not slather it on your body as well?

Look for retinol body serums and creams that are pre-formulated as such rather than mixing your own retinol into your favorite body cream. Retinol is a notoriously unstable ingredient, so it's best to leave the chemistry projects to the pros. 

Also, your retinol body serum or body lotion should be used every two or three days rather than every single morning or night. On the off days, opt for a simple hydrating formula instead. Think of it like skin cycling but for the whole body. 

In order to spot this ingredient in a lineup, look for vitamin C itself as well as fruit extracts rich in antioxidants. Vitamin C comes in many forms on an ingredient list, including L-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate—but brands will normally call out their vitamin C content, so you likely don't have to hunt for it.