Ever given your hands a treat by swapping your everyday hand cream for an expensive face cream, or smoothed your limbs with a premium facial moisturiser?  If so, then you’ll understand why more women are looking for high performance bodycare products to address skin issues the same as they would their complexions.  

This is reflected in the current trend for applying high performance facial skincare principles and ingredients, to body products and treatments. “Women are no longer satisfied with bodycare that simply exfoliates and hydrates,” says Dr Emmaline Ashley, Cosmetic Physician and Founder, Ashley Aesthetics. “Instead, we’re definitely seeing a real shift in consumer expectations around bodycare.”

“Women who regularly use active ingredients such as retinoids, vitamin C and peptides on their faces, are quite reasonably wanting the same level of results from the products they're using on the rest of their skin, particularly, on more visible areas such as the neck, shoulders, upper chest, hands and arms,” continues Dr Ashley. “More people increasingly want products and treatments that address laxity, crepiness, uneven tone, texture, and pigmentation, and the bodycare industry is finally catching up.”

Ingredients for the body 

“Active ingredients that work on the face can absolutely deliver on the body, with the right formulation,” says Dr Ashley.  “Body skin is typically thicker, has fewer sebaceous glands, and a larger surface area than facial skin, so, it’s important to think carefully about concentration and tolerability.”  

Retinoids 

Retinoids can help improve skin texture, hyperpigmentation, and crepey skin. “Prescription-strength retinoids (such as tretinoin) aren't typically advised across large body surface areas due to concerns around irritation and systemic absorption,” shares Dr Ashley. “All retinoids should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Body-specific retinols are usually formulated at lower, cosmetic-grade concentrations and are well-tolerated when introduced gradually.”  
Product pick: Necessaire The Body Retinol is a serum-in-balm for the body, formulated with 0.1% retinol and 10% AHA to repair, reduce crepiness, lines, wrinkles, dark spots, scars, marks and bumps.

Alpha hydroxy acids 

AHAs such as glycolic and lactic acid are excellent for smoothing rough texture, improving keratosis pilaris on the upper arms and thighs, and brightening sun-damaged skin.  
Product pick: Drunk Elephant T.L.C Glycolic Body Lotion is a super-charged, skin smoothing multi-acid blend containing 10% AHA, glycolic, lactic, tartaric and citric acids, plus antioxidant green tea, apricot, marula and passionfruit oils, and niacinamide.

Niacinamide 

Niacinamide supports the skin barrier, reduces inflammation and post-inflammatory pigmentation, and is gentle enough to use across most body areas, including those prone to body acne.
Product pick: Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum contains niacinamide, D-panthenol and prickly pear extract to even skin tone, soothe redness and refine rough skin texture.

Peptides

‘Signal’ peptides like Matrixyl, support collagen production and are increasingly being formulated into body serums and creams to target laxity and firmness.
Product pick: HydroPeptide Firming Body Moisturiser is packed with peptides to target sagging, crepey skin.

Ceramides  

Ceramides are essential for barrier repair, especially as body skin tends to become drier with age and sun exposure.  
Product pick: Epionce Renewal Body Lotion contains botanical ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids to support the skin barrier and improve the visible appearance of photoaged skin on the arms, legs and body.

Urea

Urea in higher percentages (around 10 to 20%) is a brilliant ingredient for rough, keratinised areas like elbows, knees and feet.
Product pick: Eucerin Urea Repair (10%) for very dry, rough skin helps to strengthen the skin's natural barrier.

In-clinic bodycare 

Just like premium facials, the new wave of advanced body treatments use radio frequency, exfoliating acids and targeted ingredients to smooth, firm and rejuvenate the skin. “When booking a body treatment, look for a practitioner who offers a pre-treatment consultation,” says Dr Ashley. “That way your treatment can be tailored exactly to suit your skin needs.”

Baldan’s T-Shape 2 

A new, non-invasive treatment combining multiple advanced technologies including bipolar radio frequency and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to create thermal heat, stimulating collagen production and accelerated cellular metabolism, for firmer, tighter skin and improved elasticity. Circulation and lymphatic drainage are boosted with gentle, pulsating vibration technology and vacuum suction, improving oxygenation and the elimination of toxins.
Best for:  Skin rejuvenation, firming and body contouring. The treatment can be adapted to suit all skin types and specific needs.

Dermalux Tri-Wave MD 

This professional-grade, LED light therapy medical device uses clinically proven wavelengths of light that work at a cellular level. Blue light targets acne-causing bacteria, red light boosts collagen production and calms inflammation, and near-infrared promotes deeper tissue healing, repair and improved circulation. A combination of red and near-infrared light can indirectly help to improve hyperpigmentation (by helping to normalise melanocyte activity).
Best for: To smooth uneven skin texture, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, reduce acne breakouts (eg: on the back, chest and shoulders), calm irritation, promote scar and wound healing, and firm, rejuvenate and brighten the skin. The practitioner can select, combine and control wavelengths of light, which makes the treatment suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, reactive and darker skin tones.

BioRePeel 

This professional-grade chemical peel for the body exfoliates the outer layers of the skin and stimulates collagen production and deeper skin renewal. The key active ingredient is trichloroacetic acid (TCA) around 30-35%, combined with salicylic, lactic and citric acids, vitamins and amino acids. There is no peeling and minimal downtime. Can be used on the back, chest, abdomen, hands, knees and elbows.
Best for: Acne scarring, crepey skin, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin texture, sun damage, fine lines and dull skin.  

Bio-remodelling injectables and skin boosters 

Treatments like Profhilo and polynucleotides work within the dermis to intensely hydrate, improve elasticity and restore firmness.  
Best for: Crepey skin, sun damage and fine lines on the neck and décolletage. To make wrinkly, ‘veiny’ hands look smoother, plumper and more youthful. To improve skin texture and mild laxity on upper arms, abdomen, buttocks and knees.

Body microneedling

Fine needles create tiny, controlled micro-injuries on the skin’s surface to stimulate the body’s natural healing response, boosting collagen and elastin production. Microneedling works well in combination with topical actives, or treatments like BioRePeel applied immediately afterwards.
Best for: Stretch marks, surgical scars, and crepey skin on the upper arms and abdomen.