Author: BODYCAMP editors
In this article you will learn the difference between mousse and cream, what is the best way to moisturize your skin in summer, as well as the secrets of properly applying body moisturizer. Our experts will tell you why you need to smear yourself with something after a shower and how to properly care for your body skin at home.
Moisturizing the body after a shower: products, advice from cosmetologists
Every girl and woman strives for her skin to be perfect: clean, elastic, pleasant color. However, while cleansing and scrubbing the body, many forget about the need to moisturize.
The epidermis of a city dweller loses moisture every day. This is accompanied by poor nutrition (especially a lack of healthy fats and essential amino acids in the diet), tap water, ultraviolet radiation, dust and smog in the city, and air conditioning.
To prevent your skin from fading and aging prematurely, you should:
- drink more water (maintaining balance within the body);
- moisturize the epidermis after water procedures (fixing the result externally).
It is especially important to moisturize your body skin after visiting a pool with chlorinated water. Therefore, if you prefer regular swimming to lose weight, do not forget to take care of the elasticity of your skin.
Who needs body skin moisturizers?
About 50% of the fair sex surveyed believe that the body does not need hydration, especially with oily skin types. But that's not true. With a lack of water in the cells, disruptions in the functioning of the sebaceous glands occur, which worsens the appearance of the epidermis. Therefore, you need to saturate it with moisture yourself, or help by holding what you already have.
Every skin type needs hydration and protection, especially if you live in a city where the number of negative factors is much higher. Accordingly, everyone needs to use cosmetics after a shower. But we will tell you which one and how often later.
Types of moisturizers after shower
The beauty industry has expanded its range of cosmetics so much that when choosing body skin care at home for the first time, you can easily get confused and buy something that is absolutely not suitable for your type. In order not to pay with your health for the experience gained, we suggest considering and evaluating existing types of cosmetics after a shower.
1. Body milk
Not greasy, light in texture, silky to the touch. Apply to a damp body and absorb quickly. Suitable for normal and combination types, for daytime use. You can use it regularly or once every 2-3 days, depending on individual sensations and the specific manufacturer.
2. Moisturizing body lotion
It also has a light texture and is instantly absorbed. It will be relevant for those with oily, combination, problem skin. Unlike milk, lotion may contain components that perform additional functions: antibacterial, antioxidant, sun protection. Apply after your morning shower.
3. Body cream
Divided by type, it has a denser texture than milk or lotions. Moisturizes well, but may not be completely absorbed. You should not overuse the cream, as it can clog pores and cause inflammation. It is better to “zone” the application rather than smear it all over, because it will leave greasy marks and unpleasant stickiness. The cream is applied both during the day and in the evening, depending on the type.
4. Body oil
Deeply moisturizes and nourishes the skin if it is of natural origin. The disadvantage of cosmetic oil is incomplete absorption. It is better to use for dry epidermis. At night, to soften and restore, can be applied to normal and combination skin. Suitable for the autumn-winter season, in the summer it can create a “bathhouse effect”. Ideal for caring for the skin of the body during weight loss, when the body receives fewer nutrients and the epidermis needs external replenishment. In addition, it is perfect as a base for anti-cellulite massage with a vacuum jar.
5. Moisturizing body spray
Thanks to spraying onto micro particles, it is not felt and does not leave a feeling of stickiness. Often has an intricate aromatic composition that lasts throughout the day. An excellent option in the summer season, after a morning shower. Not suitable for dry skin. Tones, refreshes, slightly moisturizes.
6. Body mousse
It has a non-greasy texture, similar in appearance to yogurt. Melts at body temperature and is absorbed without a trace. Suitable for summer, for any skin type. Moisturizes better than a spray, used during the day. Mousse is less nutritious than cream, and its effect will not last all day.
How to properly moisturize your skin after a shower, based on your skin type?
When moisturizing your body after a shower, pay attention to the function of the chosen product: moisture retention or additional hydration. The first is applied to wet skin, the second after drying with a towel.
Regarding type, choose lighter options for cosmetic products for normal, combination and oily skin, and more nourishing ones for dry skin. If you have acne or other problems, use lotions with additional ingredients. But for sensitive epidermis, it is better to choose a moisturizer with a minimum content of additives to avoid irritation.
When using the cream, remember that it will not be absorbed evenly over the entire surface of the epithelium; it is better to apply it to “problem areas” where there is tightness. Products with a greasy texture should not be applied during the day; if they are immediately absorbed, then after a couple of hours they will “delight” you with greasy stains on your clothes.
If you already know how to properly take a bath for weight loss, then using fortified creams after this procedure will be most useful. The skin will be steamed, the pores will be open and ready to absorb nutrients into the deeper layers.
Choosing the perfect beauty product for the cold season
Moisturizing is the basis of any care. In autumn, it takes on special significance - dehydrated after exposure to the sun, our skin needs careful preparation for winter. ELLE has selected 15 ideal body creams in different price categories, each of which is guaranteed to revive even the driest and tired skin.
Chanel Body Excellence
Chanel Body Excellence Ultra-Moisturizing Milk is a luxurious product that eliminates tightness and leaves the skin feeling incredibly comfortable and firm. The texture of the gentle product is the most delicate: the light, non-greasy milk smells of fresh and floral notes, is instantly absorbed and intensely moisturizes thanks to exclusive ingredients - purple ginger and royal jasmine wax elixir.
Santa Maria Novella >
Idrasol cream from the Florentine brand Santa Maria Novella instantly makes the skin silky thanks to natural avocado and cocoa oils, as well as plant extracts of carrot, rose, orange and aloe juice. A cocktail of healthy ingredients actively moisturizes and tones even the most tired, dry and dehydrated skin. A pleasant bonus is the subtle aroma of rose and gardenia.
Biotherm Baume Corps
Light balm Biotherm Baume Corps with apricot aroma has a texture reminiscent of milk, and the intensity of its effect is in no way inferior to the richest creams. The product nourishes and moisturizes with vitamins E and F, as well as a proprietary ingredient - thermal plankton.
Caudalie
Caudalie Nourishing Body Treatment is a delicate, melting milk that intensely hydrates even the driest skin with grapevine-derived moisturizers and antioxidants. A bottle with a convenient dispenser allows you to use the product economically.
Aveda Stress-Fix
Aveda Stress-Fix Body Cream, as the name suggests, is designed specifically for stressed skin. However, not only your skin will receive a therapeutic effect - the product is a classic of the aromatherapy genre, and its effect is aimed at a general relaxing effect of the soul and body. The composition of the product, as usual with an organic brand, is the most natural (French lavender, lavandin and clary sage), and the packaging is environmentally friendly. By the way, it is this product that the aroma massage masters of the best spa centers in the world use.
Vichy Nutriextra
Extra-nourishing body care Vichy Nutriextra cream is a gentle product for the most sensitive skin. Its hypoallergenic, paraben-free formula based on Vichy thermal water not only deeply nourishes and gives a feeling of comfort for up to 2 days, but also makes even the most capricious skin firm and elastic.
La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+
Lipid replenishing balm Lipikar Baume AP+ from the pharmacy brand La Roche Posay is a classic of the genre when it comes to hydration. It is ideal for even the driest, irritated and itchy skin. The innovative active component in the formula normalizes skin balance, strengthens its protective barrier and soothes. The product can be used on the face and body, and its hypoallergenic formula is suitable even for allergy sufferers and babies.
Dr Pierre Ricaud Lait Hydra Tonifiant
Moisturizing toning body milk from Dr Pierre Ricaud is suitable for those who prefer light, low-fat products. The product deeply nourishes the skin without overloading, leaving a feeling of comfort and hydration without the effect of a sticky film.
Therme Skincare Thalasso Body Butter
Therme Thalasso whipped body butter in a large jar guarantees intense hydration. The product is enriched with moisturizing mineral salts and algae from the Atlantic Ocean and Dead Sea and provides antioxidant benefits. The classic creamy texture melts into the skin, leaving it smooth and soft, with a light sea breeze scent.
Bio-Oil PurCellin Oil
Bio-Oil body oil is a true expert in body skin care. The product, which contains vitamins and natural oils of calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile, works real miracles - just a couple of drops of the product is enough to moisturize the most dehydrated skin of the body. In addition, the product fights scars and stretch marks, unevenness and age-related changes in the skin.
Yves Rocher Expert Repair
Yves Rocher 100% Shea Herbal Body Treatment contains only ingredients of plant origin - or rather, an ingredient: the composition contains pure shea butter, known for its moisturizing properties. The product melts into the palms and provides comfort to even the driest areas of the body - knees, elbows, feet.
Dove Intensive Nutrition
Dove Intensive Nutrition Cream Body Butter has a thick consistency, but despite the fact that the product is based on apricot kernel oil, it does not leave an oily sheen. Vitamin E in the composition is also responsible for hydration and comfort, which helps prevent moisture loss.
Himalaya Herbals Nourishing Cream
Nourishment, hydration and protection - this effect is provided by Himalaya's light, non-greasy cream with aloe. Created in the best traditions of Ayurveda, the cream restores the beauty of the skin using natural ingredients that enhance each other's effects.
Nivea Nourishing milk
Nivea Nourishing Milk for Very Dry Skin is a true SOS product. Intense hydration with the proprietary Hydra IQ component and almond oil eliminates dryness and flaking, eliminates tightness, deeply nourishes and gives a feeling of comfort.
Oriflame Optimals Body
Light refreshing body lotion Oriflame "Body Active" moisturizes the skin, making it silky, soft and radiant. The delicate texture is instantly absorbed, and the water lily aroma will be a real spa treat for those who appreciate beautiful, subtle scents.
Hirst Shkulev Publishing
Moscow, st. Shabolovka, building 31b, 6th entrance (entrance from Konny Lane)
When is body cream really necessary?
Experts and consumers have recently been divided on the need for body moisturizers. Some cannot do a single day without their favorite jars marked moisturizing and, with an unquenchable thirst, coat themselves with a thick layer of cream again and again. Others are sure that “humidifiers” are pure evil; they only inhibit the natural exfoliation of the skin and disrupt their own hydration processes. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle.
The skin can truly cope with hydration from the inside and does not need continuous cosmetic help from the outside. However, during the cold season and off-season, dry air in our homes and offices, chlorinated water in bathrooms and especially in swimming pools clearly do not contribute to the successful self-regulation of the dermis. Therefore, we will not harm, but only help her, using a moisturizer in moderation.
How often to use
It is enough to do this only after a shower, applying lotion, milk or cream to clean and still damp skin. Firstly, because hydration products work best when the skin is already hydrated. Secondly, after water procedures, water quickly evaporates from the surface of the body, leaving behind tiny salt crystals that literally draw moisture from the skin. If you regularly notice dry, tight, flaky, or even itchy skin after showering, this is it, and the best way to prevent side effects is to apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Yes, the cream is not a panacea, but it creates a thin film that prevents the evaporation of water from the surface of the body.
Work for five
An important clarification: body cream should be chosen just as carefully as for the face. Now their choice is huge, and the price range is even greater - from a ridiculous 55 rubles. up to astronomical 34,500 rubles. (for example, this is what the Bellefontaine moisturizing emulsion with black caviar extract sells for in Moscow). However, if a cream costs three times the minimum wage, this does not mean that it is three times more effective than its more budget-friendly “colleagues.”
We have selected 5 moisturizers from different price categories that have worked well and do not contain silicones, parabens or mineral oils. Here they are:
NEUTRALE, ultra-moisturizing body lotion with hyaluron
1 The most delicate body lotion with an ultra-moisturizing effect is designed specifically for people prone to allergic reactions, suffering from increased skin dryness and irritation. The pH level of the lotion varies between 4.5–5.5, which is suitable for particularly sensitive skin. The formula with hyaluronic acid restores the natural lipid layer, helps strengthen the skin structure, stimulates the formation of collagen and elastin, prevents premature aging, protects against dehydration, dryness and flaking. Does not contain fragrances, parabens, silicones, dyes.
Recommended retail price – 242 rubles.
OMEGADERM body balm Omega 3, 6, 9 “Intensive recovery”
2 Light body balm with a melting texture moisturizes, softens and nourishes the skin of the body, saturates it with essential nutrients, relieves dryness and flaking, restores firmness and elasticity. A complex of essential unsaturated fatty acids omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 prevents premature aging of the skin, destruction of its collagen structure, moisturizes, restores, smoothes. Their action is enhanced by antioxidant vitamin A, Hydrovance moisturizing complex, aloe vera extract and panthenol, which soothe, strengthen, soften and protect the skin from external influences. Suitable for any skin type. Acid-base balance pH-5.5. Does not contain parabens, dyes, synthetic fragrances.
Recommended retail price – about 600 rubles.
HYDRASOURCE, moisturizing and nourishing body lotion, Bioline JaTo
3 The Italian brand of professional cosmetics released this product in a line for home use, but in terms of the quantity and quality of active ingredients it is in no way inferior to salon products. The lotion contains: sweet almond, avocado, prickly argan oils, white lily extract, tocopherol, panthenol, Irish moss powder, glucose, aloe Barbados juice, white lotus root extract, rice bran oil and hydrolyzed rice proteins. Lightweight, instantly absorbed lotion actively moisturizes, softens and nourishes the skin of the body, prevents dehydration, redness and protects against premature aging.
Recommended retail price – 2666 rubles.
Eau Ressourçante Silky-Smooth Body Cream Clarins
4 A cream with a rich and delicate texture perfectly moisturizes the body and gives a feeling of comfort. The skin instantly “swallows” the life-giving composition, everything is absorbed without residue - no stickiness or greasy marks on the laundry! Extracts of sarsaparilla and hibiscus relieve tension and nourish the dermis with moisture. Robinia extract perfectly softens even rough skin on the elbows and knees. The aroma composition of essential oils gives the body a delicate, soothing aroma of Eau Ressourçante water.
Price in the official online store – 2150 rubles.
Carite, L'Occitane ultra-nourishing body cream
5 Despite the title of “ultra-nourishing”, this cream also copes with deep moisturizing of the skin. Thick in consistency, it is easy to apply without slipping, and is quickly absorbed without leaving an unpleasant greasy film on the body. The high content of shea butter helps relieve skin from flaking, relieves irritation and even itching. Skin is nourished, soft and hydrated for 72 hours.
Price in the official online store – 3300 rubles.