Body Care Essentials

Gone are the days when body care took a backseat to facial regimens. The beauty industry worked its way beyond our heads and curated specialized treatments for everything from our hands, knees, and toes down to every crevice you could possibly imagine. Still, there’s a ton of people who don’t wash their legs when they shower. So let’s answer the important questions - how often should you shower? Should you exfoliate? How to deal with body acne, chicken skin, dry patches, and other nuisances (that are completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of)? And – spoiler alert – yes, you should definitely wash your legs when you shower.

Part 1: Showering isn’t rocket science

But don't sweat if you're getting it wrong. Turns out, probably the rest of us are too. Dermatologists believe most people over-bathe and recommend showering every two, three, or even four days for healthy adults, deeming showering every day is unnecessary and "mostly for aesthetics" -  and there's a plethora of research to back it up.

Showering too often may disrupt your skin's population of immune system-supporting bacteria, but not washing regularly enough can be even worse — accumulation of the "bad bacteria" brings in infections, diseases and various health problems. It's important to find balance and do what works best for us.

Here are two crucial steps to make your showers more effective and your skin's life easier and healthier — pick a gentle body wash or soap without artificial fragrances, and then focus on scrubbing the areas that actually get dirty - feet (yes, you have to scrub between the toes!!), groin, armpits, inside of your belly button, behind the ears, and, pretty please, don't forget the underboob.

Part 2: To exfoliate or not to exfoliate — that is the question

And the answer is complicated. Because getting rid of dead skin cells and other yucky stuff that resides deep within the pores takes a bit of exfoliation. But experts warn against almost all methods known to mankind. Body scrubs are a no-no because dermatologists are afraid of micro-tears in the skin that can quickly turn into inflammations and infections. Same goes for washcloths and loofahs –  they are too abrasive for the majority of people, but the biggest problem is that they are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Usually wet or moist, completely porous, and with so many nooks and crannies — loofahs often harbor Staphylococcus bacteria, Streptococcus bacteria, E coli bacteria, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Really nasty stuff. So, why do people still use them? Because when you exfoliate, your skin turns from dull to radiant real quick. But then the real question remains: HOW to exfoliate safely?! Well, thanks to the brilliant minds of the product development team at FOREO, there’s a device designed to bring non abrasive, gentle, but effective exfoliation everywhere from your neck to your toes — LUNA™ 4 body. FOREO's revolutionary body care device uses iconic T-Sonic™ massage to deep cleanse and gently exfoliate dead skin cells, while promoting blood flow and reducing the appearance of cellulite. But the tech isn’t the only part that makes it incomparable to loofahs and washcloths — it’s the ultra-hygienic, bacteria-resistant silicone it’s made out of that truly takes the cake. 

Part 3: Your body hair, your choice

But is shaving passé? Short answer - duh. 

When it comes to body hair, we’re absolutely pro-choice and we want nothing more than for women everywhere to feel healthy, happy and comfortable in their own bodies. So why then do we renounce shaving so publicly when so many women love the feeling of silky smooth skin? It’s the ingrown hairs, the tiny cuts, the accidental not-so-tiny cuts, the risk of infection, the damaged and irritated skin, the itching, the bleeding all over your towels — we know there’s a better way and so should you. Meet PEACH™ 2 go, the fastest, simplest and most effective way to remove unwanted hair long-term — now with a new, compact design so the hair-haters among us can take their new bestie anywhere. And the best part is that you can permanently reduce hair in just 12 weeks, and kiss the razor goodbye forever (please don’t kiss razors, this is just a metaphor). 

Part 4: Be kind to yourself & your skin

Let’s talk about the small things that really get to us – body acne, chicken skin, dry patches, sun spots and other imperfections. Firstly, you need to know that all of these imperfections are completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of. But we’re human and small things like these get under our skin and easily become insecurities that we desperately try to get rid of. That’s why it’s important to break the stigma surrounding body acne. 

No, the main cause for body acne isn’t hygiene or lack thereof. According to dermatologists, the main causes for body acne are actually genetics, diet and hormones. But body acne could be caused by something as common as stress, or something as banal as your laundry detergent. The best way to deal with body acne is to watch out for possible irritants and monitor the way your body reacts. But if it’s a persisting problem that starts hurting your self-esteem, you should talk to your doctor or visit a dermatologist to really get to the bottom of it. 

When it comes to “chicken skin”, “strawberry skin”, or the actual name - Keratosis Pilaris - remember that it’s a completely harmless skin condition present in about 80% of humans at some point in their lives. The little spots - that can be white, brownish, reddish, a bit itchy and all of the above - are just built up keratin. The experts aren’t really sure what causes it, but they know that it’s more present and more visible in people with dry skin. So the best way to diminish these little imperfections is to moisturize regularly - and don’t use soaps that are too rough or shower too often - both dry out your skin and wash away your body’s natural oils which makes your keratosis pilaris worse. 

And when it comes to sun spots there’s lots of different creams, treatments, serums and other solutions on the market. But light therapy is one of the newest and most advanced solutions that we’re huge fans of – check out UFO™ 3 deep hydration device with revitalizing LED therapy or FAQ™ 200 facial rejuvenation collection if you’re serious about treating sun spots. However, the absolute best way to deal with sun damage is prevention, so…

Part 5: Protect the skin you’re in

There are two basic and vital steps that should be a part of everyone’s body care routine: moisturizer & SPF. Both are the holy grails of body care, the two vital steps that care for and protect your skin from various imperfections and, more importantly, serious diseases like skin cancer. So, whether you’re into body care or not, if you want to protect the skin you’re in - don’t ever, ever, ever skip moisturizer and SPF. You got this! Happy showering, exfoliating, treating, moisturizing and SPFing - we believe in you!