When I started being outdoors a little more than usual, I noticed one thing aside from developing a tan.
The skin on my arms were very dry.
This is one of the side effects of having too much sun exposure, and is similarly something that happens to your facial skin as well, if you don’t treat it well – sunscreen, and a proper hydrating, moisturising skincare routine.
But how do you deal with the skin on your body drying out?
The skin on my arms were looking stretched and aged, and it was not pleasant, I can assure you!
Body creams helped, but I wasn’t noticing much improvement. And then, I remembered a tip I received way back in the past, from my early blogging days, and something clicked!
Body creams or lotions may not absorb well on very dry skin
Body creams and lotions are not made equal.
When I spent more time indoors than out, a regular body cream would serve to keep my skin protected from drying out from the use of air-conditioning.
RELATED READING: This one’s an affordable body cream and a personal favourite that I’m scraping the bottom of READ HERE
But when my skin was already dried, I found that it would not absorb the product well, no matter how much I applied. It would feel soft and moisturised, but by the next morning, it looked dull and dry again.
I tried using body oils instead, to see if it felt better, but it was about the same. Both body creams and body oils tended to sit on the surface of the skin without absorbing.
Mix Body Cream and Body Oils for a more moisturizing blend
One day, I gave myself a good scrub in the shower, to exfoliate the dead skin from my body.
Then, I remembered an old tip I received from the people at REN Skincare.
TIP: For a more moisturizing treatment for your body, mix a few pumps of body oil into your body cream, and massage into your skin.
So, that’s what I did.
I’d pump a few generous pumps of body cream into the palm of my hand, and then pump in a few pumps of body oil. Then, mix it all together, before applying on my skin.
The difference was almost immediately apparent! The mixture just sank into the skin, and it felt soft, smooth and not greasy at all. (I must say here however, that I am very comfortable using oily body oils, which I prefer as a matter of course). It was like my skin just drank it all up!
I applied it this way for a few nights, and within a week, my skin no longer looked dull and tight and stretched. It stopped feeling dry and papery.
I’m still more tanned, but at least my skin looks healthier.
You can do this for your face too, if you are leery about using facial oils. A few drops of facial oil in your moisturisers are game-changing!
RELATED READING: Read more tips on how to use facial oils HERE and HERE
I’m scraping out the last bits of my Cerave Moisturizing Cream, which I mix with the REN Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil for added moisture, or with the Dr. Hauschka Lemon Lemongrass Body Oil for an uplifting, lighter blend. The latter oil is apparently formulated to firm the skin, and it might be my imagination, but my skin does feel a bit firmer and smoother! I’ll update a little more in a while ;)
The next body cream I’ll be using is the Natura Uccuba Firming and Repairing Body Lotion. It is quite thick and feels nice, with a nice scent.
Unscented Body Creams work better if using with scented body oils
Another tip to note is that an unscented body cream will work better if you’re using a scented body oil.
You don’t have to worry as much about scents clashing and giving you a headache just before bed LOL! :P For this reason, I do prefer using something simple like the Cerave Moisturizing Cream.
If using a scented cream, test it first and see if your body oils are compatible scent-wise, before slathering it all over. It’ll be too late once you’ve rubbed it in only to realise you aren’t a fan of how you smell!
Do you have dry skin on your body? What helps?
I’ve never really had to deal with this before as I was always indoors, so this was new to me. I am also a little more diligent with applying sunscreen on my arms and legs before I go out too. I used to be so lazy before, even if I always make sure my face is protected :P
Paris B
Basically, most body creams do not contain enough oil to lock in moisture, and body oils alone do not contain water, mixing the two together would create a body cream that is rich in both oil and water which works effectively to lock moisture under the skin for a really hydrating effect.
Thanks for sharing Terry!
Try to apply cream and oil immediately after shower when skin is still damp, that helps.
I keep meaning to, but oils can get so slippery in the bathroom haha! I’ve tried misting before applying oil and it helps too
I mix jojoba oil or sweet almond oil with Curel or Vaseline intensive care body lotion and apply right after the shower when my skin is damp. I buy the oils from MUJI. They are reasonably priced.
Sounds like a winning combination! :)
Discovered this vitamin c shower attachment called Bodyluv. It’s a Korean product….so moisturizing that I sometimes skip body lotion/oil altogether. Best part is that it doesn’t leave a sticky film on the skin during or after shower. It feels like regular shower in fact. I layer my face products but with body I am kinda lazy and this solution works ;)
Gosh I haven’t come across something like this, but it sounds divine!
Totally true! Lotion AND oil is the only way I can prevent my skin from itching badly in winter here in Europe. My legs always turn into lizard skin if I don’t moisturize regularly, esp. after working out. Shower oil helps too, but it’s not enough. It’s my spa-moment to take time to get cream-oil everywhere from toe to neck (my face get’s its own treat).
Have a nice week !
Sounds divine, and I remember all too well the lizard-scales on my legs in winter! Wish I were as well-versed in apply body lotions/creams/oils back then as I am now
I have to moisturise after a shower or bath. It’s just become a habit now and if I don’t, my skin just doesn’t feel right!
Love the oil and lotion mix trick!
My tip would be to apply body oil on skin right after the shower – BUT – skin has to be wet, don’t bother with a towel. You will then find that the oil spreads MUCH further, you use less and it’s more effective (it absorbs!) <3 I'm sure you could also use this tip with the lotion slash oil mix, so I will have to give this a try :)
Thanks for sharing Sylvia! I tried the oil on skin after shower trick and it works so well, but it can get messy haha! So I apply it just before bed now, so the cream/lotion-oil mix works for me better