Only 9 per cent of our skin is on our face, but the other 91 per cent that covers the rest of our body gets paid far less attention. As we age, the discrepancy between how we care for the skin on our faces compared to our body becomes increasingly obvious. Sun damaged, wrinkled hands for example, are a big age giveaway—so too are wrinkly knees and thigh sag.
 
While historically active-packed skincare has been reserved for facial offerings alone, in recent years brands have begun to formulate youth-boosting body products that can slow down signs of ageing.

Research by Google Trends and Meta has shown an 1,025 per cent increase in searches for body skincare, and an 845 per cent growth in overall searches for body care since December 2023. Proving that we’re starting to understand that if we’re concerned about the health and appearance of the skin on our faces, we should employ similar methods of care below the jawline, too.

Here are five gold standard skincare actives that also work wonders for the body…

Retinoids

Derivatives of vitamin A known as retinoids, aka retinol, retinal and retinoic acid (tretinoin), are one of the beauty industries' most researched and effective actives for boosting collagen, reducing acne breakouts, and evening out skin tone.

Retinol converts to retinal and then to retinoic acid in the skin; retinal only has to convert to retinoic acid, while tretinoin is retinoic acid and therefore no conversion is necessary (though it can be more irritating when first used).

Retinoic acid works by increasing cell turnover, effectively exfoliating the skin, clearing out pores and improving the appearance of hyperpigmentation as well as scarring. It also boosts collagen production which helps with scars and firming the skin, which can be incredibly helpful on areas of the body like the hands, knees, arms and thighs.

Glycolic acid 

One of the most popular AHAs, glycolic acid is well known for its exfoliating prowess. However, its abilities don’t stop there. It’s a humectant, so it draws in water to the skin cells, and well hydrated skin appears smooth and plump.

This is further boosted by glycolic acids' ability to protect against ageing, UV damage, improve elastin quality, as well as increase collagen and hyaluronic acid production. This has major skin firming effects, as the structure of the skin is better supported, as it is in youth.

Niacinamide

There really isn’t much niacinamide can’t do. A form of Vitamin B3, niacinamide has become a buzzword in beauty over the last few years and it’s not surprising. Offering a brighter, firmer, smoother and clearer complexion, when it comes to the body it has the ability to bolster the skin barrier, helping to keep skin well hydrated and protect it from ageing environmental aggressors.

Niacinamide also works to regulate pore activity, ensuring pores don’t get clogged, which is great for areas of the body that can develop blackheads or rough, bumpy skin. Plus, it not only reduces existing hyperpigmentation, but helps stop the transfer of melanin to the skin cells to restore your natural skin tone.

Sunscreen

There isn’t a single skincare expert that won’t tell you that one of the best ways to slow down ageing is to protect skin from harmful UV rays. They flood the skin with free radicals that wreak havoc, triggering inflammation and breaking down all important elastin and collagen. This leads to deep wrinkles all over the body, and of course melanin is also activated in an attempt to protect the skin, which leads to sun spots and an uneven skin tone.

Whether your chosen sunscreen absorbs UV or reflects it, it will ensure that your skin is protected from ageing rays. So, don’t just apply your sunscreen to your face on a daily basis, slather any part of the body that’s exposed too.

Peptides

You may have heard of peptides, but do you actually know what they are? Well, if you don’t, we wouldn’t blame you. With hundreds of different types of peptides all with multiple benefits, it can get a tad confusing.

Essentially, peptides are short chains of amino acids, and are the building blocks of much needed proteins within the skin such as collagen and elastin. We naturally produce the amino acids we need, but as we age we start to produce less and less, which is where peptide-packed skincare comes into its own. Peptides help the skin to function as it did in its youth, and you can expect the vast majority used in body care today to slow down collagen loss, protect the skin barrier and reduce hyperpigmentation.