As we start our month-long education and celebration of self-care, I was thinking about my skincare routine and when I think about aging and skincare, what do I think of first? I know, dumb question. Mostly my face and then sometimes, my extremities.
When most people want to fight the signs of aging, we think of smoothing out crows’ feet and expression lines, tightening up our jawlines, or erasing sunspots on our cheeks. But your skin doesn’t stop aging at your chin, and there are a few telltale areas that could be giving away your age. Your neck, hands, and feet show your years just as much as your smile lines or the tiny wrinkles between your eyebrows. Let’s talk about how to address these overlooked areas!
1. Take years off your face – by caring for your neck
I was scrolling through TikTok the other night, and I stopped on a woman’s video of her nightly skincare routine. I love watching videos like this because I never know when or where I’ll get inspired or learn something new. In this case, I had to watch because this woman had absolutely glowing skin, and I was definitely curious. As I was watching, she caught me with one sentence: “And remember, ladies, your face ends at your nipples.” I love this!
I spend so much time worrying about my expression lines and crows’ feet. I have multi-step skincare routines to battle the signs of aging, and they work beautifully. But sometimes I’ve noticed that I stop at the chin, and it shows! Women who extend the same level of care down to their neck and chest will see much better results.
2. Don’t ignore the signs of aging on your hands
Because of my heritage, I've had wrinkled hands pretty much all my life so mine is an uphill battle! Take a look at your own hands. Do you take care of them all year-round? Or do you wait to exfoliate and moisturize until winter when they’re already dry and chapped? Not only are dry hands painful, but they also age you. Cracked skin and dry, ragged cuticles are uncomfortable, and they’re not exactly a pleasure to gaze upon. And that’s not all. Your hands get as much sun exposure on a daily basis as your face, but do you apply any kind of protection to them? Hands that are constantly exposed to dry air and UV rays are going to look wrinkled and blotchy with sun spots.
I know what you’re thinking: You don’t want to slather greasy sunscreen all over your hands to protect them. Fortunately, you don’t have to go with traditional sunscreens – which are often laden with harmful chemicals that can damage coral reefs and have been associated with hormone disruption. Instead, opt for a natural mineral sunscreen. There are a lot of options available that will protect your skin while avoiding potentially harmful chemicals like oxybenzone, octinoxate, phthalates, and parabens.
3. Get your feet ready for sandal season
Your feet might not get quite as much sun exposure as your hands and neck, but they’re still vulnerable to harmful UV rays. Not only that, but because we don’t show off our feet every day, many of us neglect them in our skincare routine. In fact, for many of us, the only time our feet get any kind of love is when we treat ourselves to a pedicure. Don’t be that girl! Include your feet in your daily (and nightly) skincare routine. Give them a little extra exfoliating attention with a scented sugar scrub, and don’t forget to moisturize and soften them when you dry off.
Do this regularly and your tootsies will be in prime shape for sandal season. And, speaking of sandals, don’t forget to apply some SPF protection before you leave the house to keep your feet looking young and fresh.
My best tips for all-over rejuvenation
Now that we’ve talked about how neglecting your neck, hands, and feet can show your age, let’s get into how to keep your whole body looking and feeling young and gorgeous. Including this elevated level of body care into your routine doesn’t have to take hours or a lot of extra work. In fact, it can be really simple. So, let’s walk through a day in the life of your new body care routine:
Exfoliate regularly (at least once a week)
When you exfoliate, you’re breaking up the barrier of dead cells covering your new, healthy skin cells. This prepares your skin to better absorb moisture for a healthier, more youthful look. That’s why we add hydrating oils to our sugar scrubs. We developed a sugar scrub that not only cleans and exfoliates your skin, but it also helps hydrate and protect it too. Plus, with its hydrating properties, you can massage your favorite sugar scrub on your feet, around your fingernails and toenails to hydrate and rejuvenate your cuticles.
Of course, a good sugar scrub isn’t the only thing you’ll need for exfoliation. Give your hands and feet a little extra TLC in the shower with a quality pumice stone every day. I’m also a fan of foot masks, as well. There are several to choose from online and in stores, but you can also make natural DIY foot masks yourself too.
Keep your skin moisturized
As soon as I step out of the shower, I apply our scented body oil everywhere. With freshly exfoliated skin, it can really absorb and do its job to hydrate my skin and protect it from drying out throughout the day. Whether you use a body oil or a moisturizing lotion, look for something with squalane and lupeol. Squalane mimics the structure of the natural oils in your skin, which allows it to absorb and replenish moisture, especially in dry skin. Lupeol is a natural seed extract that increases elasticity and firmness in your skin, keeping it smooth and soft throughout the day (and targeting areas where skin is losing its elasticity and beginning to sag or wrinkle).
Protect your skin against UV rays and free radicals
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and its main function is to protect you from harmful external elements, like bacteria and viruses, free radicals, chemicals, and extreme temperatures. By protecting your skin, you can help it do its job, while looking younger and more vibrant at the same time. And never leave the house without applying SPF to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Pack your diet with skin-friendly nutrients
Never underestimate the power of a nutrient-rich diet. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day not only keeps you healthy, but it’ll help keep your skin hydrated, as well. Along with good hydration, keep sodium and sugar intake to a minimum, as salty and sugary foods can lead to bloat and puffiness. Add a few servings of your favorite fruits and veggies to increase your intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, and omega-3 fats to promote firm, youthful skin. And, before bed, I take a magnesium supplement to promote relaxation and higher quality sleep. You know those quality Z’s are essential for good skin!
Be picky about your skincare products
Every skincare product on the shelf today makes promises about helping you look younger, reduce wrinkles, brighten skin, and eliminate sagginess. But so many of these claims simply aren’t true. Many of these products don’t include the most effective ingredients to help reverse the signs of aging, and – worse – they’re packed with potentially harmful chemicals that could do just the opposite. When you’re shopping for products to add to your body care routine, be sure to avoid harmful and toxic ingredients like acetone, camphor, ethanol, talc, ethyl acetate, phthalates, mineral oils, ammonium, and sodium laureth sulfate. Naturally hydrating and protective ingredients (like the ones we use in our products) include hemp seed oil, shea nut butter, kaolin clay, squalane, lupeol, and pomegranate sterol.
Conclusion: Start your full-body skincare journey today
The good news is, with the right body care products, you can reverse the signs of aging in these telltale areas. Spend a little more time exfoliating with your favorite scented sugar scrub in the shower. Soften your skin and relax in the bath with one of our bath bombs. And, whether you’re getting ready to leave the house after a refreshing shower or you’re doing your nightly skincare routine, don’t forget to apply body oil for lasting hydration and soft, youthful skin.
Till next time ~ Jen