By Aliana Moss
One of the best things about March (in addition to fun festivities like Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s day!) is that it’s Women’s History month, a time to celebrate the contributions of trailblazing women and to consider our roles in society today. In that spirit, this month let’s focus on our whole selves from head to toe – and the most important organ that helps us be mobile, healthy, and beautiful, our skin.
We focus so much on our faces that it’s easy to neglect the rest of our skin – but every part of our body needs TLC, too! Did you know that skin is not just our largest organ, but also our most complex? The skin on each part of our body has its own unique needs. Following are some “body parts” to pay special attention to.
The Neck:
The neck, which is both delicate and strong, wins the versatility award. The skin on our neck is the only skin on our body tasked with supporting a full range of motion, twisting and turning in addition to bending. The skin here is also one of the most delicate and thin areas on our bodies, second only to the skin on our eyelids. Necks are more susceptible to aging and irritation because they have fewer hair follicles, sebaceous glands (which produce oils and fat) and pores. The neck is also exposed to the sunlight as much (if not more) than our faces but is often overlooked when it comes to applying sun protection. That, coupled with the already delicate sensitive skin, makes signs of sun damage and aging more noticeable.
The muscle makeup of our necks plays a big part in the way the skin ages. The neck is made up primarily of connective tissue (fascia). Over time the main muscles can lose tone and become particularly vulnerable to the effects of gravity. When this happens the skin can become loose and take on a crepey texture.
So what can we do? Let’s start by becoming more mindful of how we are positioning our necks daily. Avoid “tech neck” from looking down at our phones constantly. Try limiting tablet time (what’s best for our head/mind can be best for our neck as well!). When using our phones try holding them up at a level where we do not have to scrunch our necks to see.
The Decollete:
Similar in characteristics to the skin on our neck, our decollete, or chest area, is more thin and delicate than other parts of the body and more susceptible to show signs of aging. Again, unprotected sun exposure is one of the main culprits in aging symptoms like sun spots and change in texture (wrinkles/crepiness). It is important to give the same care we do to our face (and neck) to our decollete. Cleanse daily with a gentle cleanser. Avoid harsh exfoliation on the delicate skin, use anti aging products (ahas/retinols) at night and sun protection during the day.
Products:
Now that we understand why the neck and decollete have unique needs from the face, let’s look at some ingredients/products that work wonders for this very special body part. We’ll need ingredients that are extra hydrating (think hyaluronic, squalene etc.), help produce collagen (look for products with peptides) and help firm and tighten the skin (think Alpha Hydroxy Acids known as AHA’s & retinols). (A good multi tasker is *Dr Barbara Sturm super anti-aging neck and decollete cream)
Hands:
Our hands are the most hard-working part of our body and they, too, have skin that is significantly thinner than other parts of the body, and is more vulnerable to signs of aging due to constant exposure and use. Frequent hand washing/sanitizing can add another layer of dehydration to amplify dryness and wrinkles.
During the day it is important to protect our hands (everyday activities like driving are times when hands are vulnerable to sun exposure) so wearing physical shields like gloves, or using a hand cream with spf is imperative (I love *Unsun hand cream spf15). At night time don’t forget the hands before going to bed! A thick, anti-aging hand cream can do wonders when left on overnight (I’m obsessed with Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment, which is also refillable/has environmentally friendly packaging)
Whole body rituals:
Lucky for us there are many skincare lines and products today that focus specifically on the whole body. Create a regular body care ritual for yourself. It is an act of self care that goes far beyond just the physical benefits and can be an active meditation that has feel-good benefits for our mind and mood as well!
The goals:
Daily- moisturize with products that not only nourish but protect, have anti aging properties, and scents that make you happy and feel good.
Weekly- create a routine to exfoliate 1-2 times a week. I like to pick a specific day(s) to make it a no-brainer. (I’m obsessed with *Nerra and their Bathhouse Ritual Set which has everything you need to cover your body every step of the way)
Exfoliating for the body 101:
When it comes to the body, there are several options for exfoliating. First and foremost always make sure skin has been softened in warm water for about 5 min before you start exfoliating. Mechanical exfoliation: Using mitts is the most thorough method. How to: First protect and prep skin by applying a pre-exfoliating foam like Nerra step 1. Then use a vertical back and forth motion to slough off dead skin (*Nerra makes 2 mitts, the light beige suitable for sensitive skins, while the black is a bit stronger)
Physical exfoliation: Using a scrub to exfoliate is another option and can sometimes be more gentle, but not as effective as a mitt (The Herbivore Coco Scrubs are delightful and have varied scents depending what suits your style)
Chemical: This method uses lotions with ingredients like AHA’s/BHA’s (Beta Hydroxy Acids) to help skin cell turnover by breaking up and dissolving dead skin cells without any physical scrubbing. AHA’s are better for drier skin types and BHA’s for oilier skin types. This option can be the most suitable for very sensitive skin types. (*Paula’s Choice has several fantastic options for the body containing AHA’s, BHA’s, and retinol)
So this March let’s celebrate the beauty of being a woman and the rituals we can do to celebrate our femininity. Let’s cheer for complete body care and radiant skin from head to toe!
*Any products marked with an asterisk are women founded/owned companies as well!
