It may go without saying that the way you take care of the skin on your face is the way you should take care of the skin on your entire body. After all, it ages in the same way.
Dr. Erum Illyas, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in Pennsylvania, said that sun spots on your shoulders or thinning skin on the underside of your arms are some of the most common indicators of skin aging on the body.
“In fact, the number one complaint I hear amongst men and women alike when it comes to body skin is the tissue paper-like wrinkling or crepe-like quality of the skin,” she said.
So, how can you combat that?
According to Dr. Heidi Prather, a board-certified dermatologist with Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, fighting premature aging of the skin comes down to three key principles: protection, preservation and repair.
“Translated into skin care, we think of these three principles as sunscreen and antioxidants (to protect), retinols (to preserve) and peptides and growth factors (to repair),” Prather said.
You should also avoid using physical scrubs because it can break down the skin barrier of already aging skin, according to Dr. Elaine F. Kung, a board-certified dermatologist with Future Bright Dermatology in New York City.
Illyas said that other essential ingredients such as argan oil or lactic acid can also be helpful in creating a well-rounded skin care routine. Read on to learn more about which ingredients you should look for, how they work for aging skin, and some great products that contain them.
The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.
The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.
Retinol
“Retinoids can actually help reverse the signs of aging that come from sun damage. They are known to improve fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen production in addition to helping to retain water in the skin. They can also work to minimize discoloration in the skin and give the skin more of a glow.” ― IIlyas
A skin-smoothing body lotion with encapsulated retinol
We spoke to Dr. Illyas about the ever-popular retinoids: “Retinoids can actually help reverse the signs of aging that come from sun damage. They are known to improve fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen production in addition to helping to retain water in the skin. They can also work to minimize discoloration in the skin and give the skin more of a glow.”
Based on this advice, we selected the non-greasy, lightweight lotion by Versed. The formula contains 0.10% encapsulated retinol, a more stable delivery method of the ingredient, to brighten skin and improve elasticity. It also includes a blend of cocoa butter and vitamin E, which can help protect skin from environmental damage at a cellular level.
An argan oil body butter with a gentle pro-retinol and antioxidants
Illyas explained that argan oil, which is rich in triglycerides, has hydrating, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties and has even shown evidence of improving skin’s elasticity. For this reason, she recommends products like this whipped body butter by Josie Maran, which contains a heavy dose of argan oil, powerful antioxidants to promote youthful skin and a pro-retinol in the form of pink algae extract.
Hyaluronic acid
“This sugar molecule occurs naturally in the skin and helps it to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that it can appear plumper and more hydrated.” ― Kung
A fragile skin cream that helps address thinning and crepey skin
Another hero ingredient is hyaluronic acid. Kung says, “This sugar molecule occurs naturally in the skin and helps it to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that it can appear plumper and more hydrated.”
This nourishing cream by DerMend was specifically intended to help address the most common signs of aging skin, such as thinning, loss of elasticity, and fragility. It is notably formulated with hyaluronic acid, however, it also contains retinol, glycolic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide for a holistic approach to caring for the skin.
Peptides
“The most sophisticated and newest ingredient on the market for body repair are peptides. [These] are synthetic proteins with targeted functions in the skin, largely meant to replace growth factors.” ― Prather
A skin-toning moisturizer formulated with a blend of peptides
We spoke to experts about peptides. “The most sophisticated and newest ingredient on the market for body repair are peptides. [These] are synthetic proteins with targeted functions in the skin, largely meant to replace growth factors,” said Dr. Prather.
Based on that advice, we’re highlighting the Advanced Clinicals body cream that features a collagen and peptide complex to tone and plump the skin, hydrate, and help address any crepey texture that can happen with age. The rich, velvety-textured cream is also enriched with deeply nourishing shea butter, vitamin E, and green tea extract — two antioxidant-rich ingredients that can help neutralize the environmental stressors that contribute to skin aging.
A luxury contouring lotion created to target crepey skin
This body-firming cream contains a patent-pending blend of powerful peptides, botanical extracts, and prebiotics said to help improve the appearance of sagging, crepey skin. It also contains caffeine for antioxidant benefits as well as glucosamine, which can smooth and soften rough, dry skin.
Antioxidants
“Antioxidants are a critical part of skin protection because they capture environmental free radicals present in pollution, ozone and UV exposure.” ―Prather
A shea butter-based body lotion with vitamin E
Dr. Prather told us, “Antioxidants are a critical part of skin protection because they capture environmental free radicals present in pollution, ozone and UV exposure.”
An ideal choice for people with sensitive skin, we selected this shea butter-based lotion. It contains vitamin E, which, according to Kung, is an antioxidant that can protect cells from free radical damage while strengthening the skin barrier. It's also formulated with pycnogenol, which helps to improve elasticity and adds hydration.
A calming and protective complex that promotes skin’s natural exfoliation
Kung also recommended this clinical gel-like lotion, which contains an antioxidant blend of vitamins E, B5, and A to defend skin against damaging free radicals, stimulate collagen production, and improve microcirculation. The fast-absorbing formula also contains salicylic acid to exfoliate skin and reveal a brighter complexion.
Lactic and glycolic acids
“Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that can improve hydration of the skin and promote skin cell turnover, [which] can improve the tightness of the skin and its overall appearance.” ― Illyas
An exfoliating body milk that treats hyperpigmentation and texture
Dr. Illyas also recommend chemical exfoliation: “Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that can improve hydration of the skin and promote skin cell turnover, [which] can improve the tightness of the skin and its overall appearance.”
We chose Saltair’s skin-smoothing body milk because it uses a gentle blend of 10% glycolic acid, 2% salicylic acid, fruit enzymes, and urea to slough away dead skin cell buildup and fade hyperpigmentation, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid draw moisture into the skin and keep it there. It’s also great for skin conditions like keratosis pilaris (KP), which causes roughness and bumps on the skin.
A daily moisturizing lotion with 12% lactic acid that targets rough skin
Helpful for rough and bumpy skin or skin conditions such as keratosis pilaris, this daily lightweight lotion combines 12% lactic acid neutralized with ammonium hydroxide to boost the skin’s natural renewal process through gentle exfoliation.
SPF
“UPF clothing and sunscreen are the most important elements to anti-aging for the body from a preventative standpoint.” ― Illyas
A hydrating and antioxidant-rich sunscreen with a sheer finish
“UPF clothing and sunscreen are the most important elements to anti-aging for the body from a preventative standpoint,” said Dr. Illyas.
For skin prone to dryness, we like this hydrating sunscreen lotion that contains nourishing squalane, which absorbs easily and helps prevent moisture loss. An antioxidant blend of botanicals and caffeine helps repair skin damage caused by environmental stressors and neutralize free radicals.
An everyday sunscreen lotion with sunflower extract
This everyday lotion by Supergoop has an SPF of 50 and is both water- and sweat-resistant, which, according to Prather, is desirable for optimal protection. The formulation is non-greasy and fast-absorbing, unlike some sunscreens for the body, and contains sunflower extract rich in beta-carotene to help protect the skin from environmental elements.
Ceramides
“Ceramides help to moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier, and protect the skin from external aggressors such as weather and pollution.” ― Kung
An ultra-rich reparative cream ideal for compromised skin
“Ceramides help to moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier, and protect the skin from external aggressors such as weather and pollution,” according to Dr. Kung
This bestselling moisture-intensive creamis one of our long time favorites. It has a heroic lineup of skin-loving ingredients, including five different essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, which Kung said can "reduce redness and inflammation, treat acne, protect the skin from UV damage, brighten the skin, and minimize fine lines and wrinkles." The rich and velvety formula is great for extra-dry, compromised, or sensitive skin.