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You thought my skincare routine was a lot? Wait till you see my body care.
I used to be a one-body-wash girl, and used one lotion after my shower. That was it.
Well, I’ve gotten older, I’ve had to step up my game, and my skin shows it. I want body products that do more than smell good. I want anti-aging skincare for my body, too, and I went from one shower gel to a whole skincare routine!
I shower in the morning and apply my hydrating body care while my skin is still a little damp; the one little cutout in my shower doesn’t even come close to holding everything I use.
How my body care has changed after 40
Dryness, crepey texture, skin that doesn’t feel as firm… it’s not just happening on our faces.
As we age, changes in collagen and elasticity can contribute to thinner, less firm skin. Dryness adds another layer to that crepey appearance.
Keeping skin moisturized can make fine lines and dry texture look less noticeable. Hydration definitely makes a difference in how my skin looks and feels.
That’s why I look for products that help hold moisture, support my skin barrier, and firm skin. I want to know what’s in the bottle and why I’m putting it on.
My anti-aging body care routine, step by step
Step 1: Body wash that doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped
My favorite is Naturium’s The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Body Wash. It is so good.
Naturium says it’s formulated with 50% glycerin, plant-derived squalane, and a blend of oils. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it helps attract and hold water. Squalane and oils help soften the skin.
That’s what I want from my first wash: cleansing without that dry, tight feeling afterward.
I tried Naturium’s The Smoother Glycolic Acid Body Wash, but I went back to Glow Getter. For my everyday wash, this is the one I love.
Then I go in with a second body wash for the scent. Right now, CYKLAR is my favorite. I’ve tried Vanilla Verve, but Sacred Santal is my favorite at the moment.
The CYKLAR body wash feels rich and moisturizing on my skin, and I love the smell. You don’t need two body wash steps. I just enjoy using both.
Step 2: Skin flooding for the body
Not only do we skin flood the face, we skin flood the body.
I start with my TONYMOLY toner, which I keep in a pump bottle in the shower. Then I layer the CYKLAR Ceramide Milky Essence on top. The CYKLAR Ceramide Milky Essence is so good.
Ceramides are fats naturally found in our skin barrier. They help that barrier hold onto moisture. This essence also has ingredients that help attract and retain water, plus squalane to help soften and smooth the skin.
So I’m getting lightweight hydration and barrier support before my richer products.
Step 3: Body oil and moisturizer
Next comes my Trilipiderm Hydrating All-Body Oil or my CYKLAR body oil.
Oil and a watery toner don’t do exactly the same job. My hydrating layers help supply and hold water; the oil helps soften the skin and reduce moisture loss.
During the summer, sometimes I’ll stop at just my two skin flooding toners and a body oil. But in the winter, I definitely need a moisturizer on top to help seal everything in.
My moisturizer needs to earn its spot in my skincare routine, and the Trilipiderm All-Body Moisture Retention Cream is one of my favorites. It feels lightweight, but it’s so moisturizing.
Its formula includes sunflower, safflower, jojoba, and meadowfoam oils, along with glycerin and panthenol. That gives it a combination of water-holding ingredients and ingredients that soften skin and help retain moisture.
That’s why I reach for it when dryness is the main issue. It’s been great for my sensitive skin, it soaks in well, and it doesn’t leave me feeling oily.
Another product I use is the Nakery Beauty SkinRepair Double Retinol + Collagen Peptide Treatment.
This one has a different role. It contains retinol and another retinoid, plus niacinamide, squalane, shea butter, and a peptide. I’m choosing it as a treatment for the appearance of aging skin as well as a moisturizing step.
Step 4: Exfoliating days and tretinoin days
These steps aren’t included in my daily anti-aging body care routine, but they’re important parts of my rotation: tretinoin and exfoliation.
Tretinoin is a retinoid that can support collagen production and improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven tone, and texture over time. Retinoids may also give a modest improvement in the appearance of firmness. That’s why I like having one in my body care as I get older; I use prescription tretinoin for my body from Musely.
Musely has different body formulas. Some include hydroquinone, which targets dark spots. The ingredients depend on the prescription, so check your bottle rather than assuming every formula is the same.
On separate days, I use Platinum Skin Care’s Triple Treat Body Lotion.
I ordered it on a whim, and now I’m hooked.
It contains a 25% blend of glycolic, mandelic, and lactic acids. These are alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, which exfoliate the skin’s surface. That’s why this step is about rough texture and smoother-feeling skin, rather than just adding moisture.
This is a strong treatment, not a plain everyday lotion. I’m able to use it two to three times per week, but you need to see how your own skin reacts. Irritation is a reason to cut back, not use more.
It can also be a little spicy when you’re first starting or if you’ve just shaved. I recommend you skip freshly shaved or irritated skin rather than pushing through the sting.
Note: While I rotate my treatments, I would not layer prescription tretinoin, a retinol cream, and an acid lotion together.
Finally, let’s talk about exfoliation. Once a week, I use an exfoliating washcloth all over my body to help remove dead skin. I keep it gentle and skip any irritated areas.
Bonus: My nighttime body care routine
If I add body care to my nighttime routine, I use the Nakery Beauty SkinRecovery Relax + Repair Body Balm with Magnesium + Melatonin.
It contains glycerin, shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, and dimethicone. Those are the ingredients that make sense to me for moisturizing and keeping my skin soft.
I love that it soaks in without leaving me feeling greasy, and it contains retinol so it counts as another treatment product when planning my routine.
Where to start with your anti-aging body care routine
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t! Because you don’t need my whole shower shelf to start your own body care routine.
Start with a cleanser that leaves your skin comfortable and a moisturizer you’ll use consistently. If dryness is your biggest concern, focus on hydration first. More exfoliation isn’t always the answer.
If you’re using tretinoin, retinol, other retinoids, or exfoliating acids, you need sunscreen on exposed skin when you’re out in the sun. Choose broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. We’re putting all this effort into our skin, and protecting it needs to be part of that.
Educational disclaimer: I’m a registered nurse, but I’m not acting as your healthcare provider here. This is my personal at-home routine, shared for general educational purposes only. It isn’t individualized medical advice, and it doesn’t create a nurse-patient relationship. Always do your own research and talk to a provider before starting any new treatment.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of them, or use one of my codes, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share brands and products I’ve researched and use myself.