Although the balmy days of summer may feel like a lifetime away, in just a few short months we’ll be able to leave the house without donning several layers of clothing. We don’t know about you, but the promise of long days spent languishing on the sands of some secluded cove is truly the only thing sustaining us at this point.
However, try as we might, we have yet to attain the ability to speed up time, so in the efforts of transporting ourselves to warmer climes and beaches beyond, we’re getting ahead of the curve and taking care of the skin on our bodies now, before we bare it all come summer. We’ve spent a good deal of our spare time curating the perfect winter body care routine to prep our skin for all the slinky garments and boat days on the inevitable horizon.
We’ve tested out sumptuous scrubs, nourishing body oils, and glow-enhancing self-tanners, in our efforts to discover the exact steps to glossier skin come summer; we’ve even committed to lengthy lymphatic drainage massage treatments (all in the name of research of course).
Ready to delve into marie claire’s extensive findings? Here, our simple but effective four step winter body care routine. Let the prepping and primping begin…
1/ Use a body scrub to exfoliate and promote circulation
Saya Coconut Body Polish
from $30 (usually $55) at Saya
Not only are body scrubs an excellent way to gently exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells, they also help to stimulate blood flow when they are vigorously massaged into the skin. Saya’s Coconut Body Polish utilises an invigorating blend of raw sugar, coconut and sea salt, plus nourishing shea butter and coconut to aid in refining the skin’s tone and texture, and minimise the first visible signs of ageing.
Sizes: 300g
Key features:
- Contains an exfoliating blend of raw sugar, coconut and sea salt
- Enriched with nourishing shea butter and coconut
- Refines skin tone and texture
- Sloughs away dead skin cells
- Minimises the first visible signs of ageing
Available at:
- $30 (usually $55) from Saya
2/ Improve skin clarity with a treatment essence
Par Kie Super Collagen Moisture Dew
from $43.40 (usually $62) at Par Kie
Although we’d usually reserve our skin care products for the skin on our face and décolletage, when it comes to prepping for the warmer months, there’s no better way to improve the overall clarity of your skin than with the splash of a lightweight essence. Par Kie’s Super Collagen Moisture Dew contains a slew of skin-loving ingredients, which aid in helping to create the conditions necessary for healthy, clear and balanced skin anywhere on your body.
Sizes: 120ml
Key features:
- Lactobacillus and fermented hydrolyzed marine collagen nourishes, hydrates and balances the skin’s microbiome
- Enriched with moisture-replenishing amino acids and peptides
- Smooths texture
- Reduces redness
- Deeply hydrates
Available at:
- $43.40 (usually $62) from Par Kie
3/ Try a lymphatic massage with a nourishing oil
Little Bay Beauty Rejuvenation Body Oil
from $49 at Little Bay Beauty
Although we love getting pampered by a professional who knows the ins and outs of lymphatic massage, we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty and put some of the same techniques into practice from the comfort of our own homes. Mastering lymphatic massage goes beyond technique though — having the right body oil on hand is what really changes the game. Little Bay Beauty’s Rejuvenation Body Oil is rich in antioxidants, and boasts anti-inflammatory properties, so not only does it help to rejuvenate the overall appearance of skin, it also assists in healing scars and dark marks.
Sizes: 100ml
Key features:
- Rich in vitamins A, B, C, D and E and omega 3
- Moisturises, nourishes and rejuvenates skin
- Minimises the appearance of scars and dark marks
- Reduces the appearance of stretch marks
- Anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory
Available at:
- $49 from Little Bay Beauty
4/ Enhance radiance with a glowy self-tanner
Unreal Skin Self Tanning Cream
from $39.95 at Unreal Skin
Self-tanning in the traditional sense has always sounded far too messy and faux pas-prone to hold our interest year-round, but then we met Unreal Skin’s Self Tanning Cream and all of that changed. With no smell, colour or sticky feeling to speak of, this pick feels more like a lightweight body moisturiser than a fake tan. Simply apply it all over post-shower and let it develop over four to ten hours depending on your desired depth of colour, without having to worry about transferring any residue onto your clothes or bed sheets. What a time to be alive.
Sizes: 150ml
Key features:
- For a medium glow, leave on for 4-6 hours
- For a deeper glow, leave on for 8-10 hours
- Transfer-proof
- Fragrance and smell free
- Lightweight, non-sticky formula
Available at:
- $39.95 from Unreal Skin
How do you make your skin flawless in winter?
Since winter tends to be dryer than other seasons, it’s important to use products that aid in replenishing moisture in the skin. Whilst a thick or rich-textured moisturiser will help you do that, if your skin is dehydrated, rather than dry, opting for lightweight formulas, which utilise ingredients that help to reinforce the skin’s natural moisture barrier will always be of more benefit. Similarly, regular physical or chemical exfoliation is important in winter in order to remove any dead skin cells that may be sitting on the top of the skin, as they can inhibit product absorption and hinder hydration.
Looking to save money on winter body care products? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Sephora and more.
Main image credit: @lauraharrier
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
