The difference in the amount of time, love and care we devote to our faces in comparison to our bodies is astronomical. When you think about all the cleaners, creams, serums, and lotions that reside on your bathroom vanity, how many are for your face and how many are for your body?
We’re guessing that your body products are drawing the short straw in this department.
Take your facial cleanser for example. How much time did you spend making sure it was the ideal match for your face? You probably considered several factors in your decision, such as your skin type, imperfections, anti-ageing benefits, texture and smell. The point is, a lot of thought was put into this one purchase. But did you spend as much time thinking about the body wash you use? Or was this a faster decision made as you flew down the supermakret aisle? If it was closer to the latter, you’re about to discover how spending a few more minutes deciding on your wash can lead to smoother, better skin all over.
The skin on your body is different
The skin on your face and the skin on your body are very different. For starters, the body has a slower skin cell turnover rate meaning there is less natural exfoliation, which can lead to thicker, scalier skin. Secondly, the skin on the body has fewer sebaceous glands, which contributes to dryness because the body is producing less oil. And lastly, while the facial epidermis is 0.12mm thick, the skin on the body is approximately 0.60mm thick and while you may think thicker skin would mean more protection, it can actually lead to a build up of dead skin cells and greater bacterial growth.
What does this have to do with my body wash?
No matter what season it is, environmental factors such as wind, overexposure to the sun, dry air and humidity can lead to dry, scaly and dehydrated skin. Combined with the skin differences listed above, the body doesn’t have much natural moisture to play around with. And the problem with some body washes is that they can contain harsh cleansers that strip lipids from the skin, taking this precious natural moisture with it.
Skin lipids are essential for retaining moisture, so without them the skin can become even more dry and dehydrated, leaving it tighter and uncomfortable. Heavy moisturises are often added to these body washes to make up for the loss, but don’t be fooled by the temporary moisture they provide: these moisturising agents aren’t identical to your skin lipids, so the cleansers in the wash are still causing damage to the skin.
How do I make sure I’m picking the right one?
To ensure your skin is being looked after properly, it’s essential to find a body wash that will gently cleanse the skin without stripping any natural moisture away and without causing damage to the lipids. You still need a mild cleanser to wash away the dirt and bacteria accumulated throughout the day, but your body wash should also contain ingredients that mimic the moisture-retaining function of the skin lipids and contain powerful moisturisers that will hydrate and protect the skin, ensuring the smoothest and softest results possible.
The skin cleanser with a difference
Dove Triple Moisturising Deeply Nourishing Body Wash is the creamy, luxurious wash that ticks all the boxes. It is formulated using NutriumMoisture®, a breakthrough technology that combines gentle cleansing with skin identical lipids, that absorb deep into the skin’s surface layer to nourish and help retain moisture. The wash actually mimics the function of the skin’s lipids, instead of stripping them away like some body washes.
The rich, moisturising wash then combines this technology with hydrating ingredients, including sunflower oil and glycerin, to further hydrate the skin, leaving it soft, supple and hydrated. With daily use, Dove Triple Moisturising Nourishing Body Wash with NutriumMoisture®, will help to rectify skin dryness that is caused both naturally and environmentally, by providing skin-natural lipids to help restore and replenish moisture. When you use a wash that protects the skin from dryness, dehydration and damage, you’re a big step closer to restoring some equilibrium between the face and body products in the bathroom.
How many more products do you use on your face than your body? Does your body suffer from dry and scaly skin?
