Summer might be a couple months away, but I've already started my beauty prep. I'm transitioning my skin care (I just found the most incredible SPF moisturizer for only $18.99), and even my makeup is getting more seasonally relevant. Think: radiant blush, pastel pops and monochrome everything. But the biggest change I'm making? Leaning heavily into body care to prepare for my summer shorts and dresses. As a result, I'm really digging deep into the treatments I've been saving up all winter long—and I just had to share.
Step 1: Treat
My legs have texture and pores, and that's a great thing! But I'm as clumsy as a baby giraffe, and often run into, well, anything and everything. (I swear, you would think I'm the quirky lead of a rom-com, but... well, okay, maybe I am.) As a result, there are a few scars on my legs. While I'm not quite ready to commit to a laser resurfacing treatment like the viral Morpheus8 just yet, I'd like to try and treat these scars at home. My scars are closer to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), so they need to be handled with care and caution.
To tackle them, I'm using chemical exfoliating pads post shower, like DERMAdoctor's KP Duty Body Peel Pads or Bliss' That's Incredi-Peel Spa-Strength Glycolic Resurfacing Pads, which both boast exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids. On days when my skin needs a little more moisture, I'll reach for a body serum such as OUI The People's Cheat Sheet (with exfoliating AHAs, BHAs and PHAs) or Soft Services Smoothing Solution, where the star ingredient is gentle exfoliant, lactic acid.
If you're ready to add an exfoliant into your body-care routine, I'd recommend looking for products with ingredients like azelaic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid to help exfoliate skin. Or you could opt for retinoids to speed up cell turnover, niacinamide to target uneven tone and rough texture, and either vitamin C or kojic acid, which brighten dull skin. It pays to stick to just one of these ingredients to avoid irritation, and I'd always recommend following the instructions on the label. For scars which are difficult to budge, I have also considered asking a dermatologist about hydroquinone, however the ingredient is particularly controversial when it comes to treating pigmentation. It must be prescribed by a qualified dermatologist and used under supervision.
Step 2: Protect
If I'm doing all of the above, I have to commit to finally getting a really dope body sunscreen. Even if I'm spending all of my time indoors (and for the most part, fully clothed in one of my many house dresses) I have to make sure that I'm keeping my skin protected at all costs. For me, any body sunscreen has to be hydrating and it must dry down quickly. I'm looking forward to Kopari Beauty's Rose Gold Sun Shield Body Glow and Coco & Eve's Body Sunscreen SPF 50. I've also been using the Kate McLeod Body Stone as my skin is upsettingly dry, and I can definitely see a difference.
Step 3: Glow
Ever since I got my first spray tan with Sophie Evans from St. Tropez, I have been obsessed with them, and I'm not alone: Black women are all over TikTok getting their self-tan on for various reasons, like wanting more of a glow to the skin and combating hyperpigmentation. I've gathered an arsenal of tanning lotions, creams, sprays, and everything in between to finally figure out the best way to really develop that bronzy glow I always want without going to the beach. I'm most excited to try the Bondi Sands Technicolor Self Tan (which the brand claims to be the most inclusive self-tanning range on the market) and the Typology Paris Self-Tanning Body Gel.
Lastly, on days when I'm really in my "Summer Girl" by HAIM era, body oil is a must-have. I've been using the CAY SKIN Isle Body Oil SPF 30 and OSEA's Undaria Algae Body Oil for a long time, but I've heard good things about the Ellis Brooklyn Glistening Golden Scented Body Oil and Perricone MD's Essential Fx Acyl Glutathione Chia Oil. If I'm feeling particularly extra (something I am prone to), I'm looking forward to incorporating body makeup and balms like the Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector, or Patrick Ta's Major Glow Balm, especially on those nights when I have no plans of going home, so I must go big.
Here's to the warmer weather,
