Lotion, oil, or butter, the choice is extensive. How do you make the right choice to hydrate and nourish your skin? Each body treatment corresponds to a need to have healthy, soft, and supple skin.
We can find body oils, body lotions, and body balms (or butter) among these treatments. But what differentiates one treatment from the other? And what should I choose for my skin since some treatments are better suited to certain skin types for extreme hydration and nourishment? But first of all, it's important to know when your skin needs nourishment and moisture.
What is body hydration?
Skin hydration means to restore water in the skin. The body constantly needs to be hydrated. Hydration is necessary for the proper functioning of the body, but it is also vital for maintaining soft, supple, and healthy skin. When skin is dehydrated, it needs water, and body care composed mainly of powerful moisturizing active ingredients.
How to recognize dehydrated skin? Many signs appear on the skin when it is lacking in hydration. Do you lack flexibility? Do you feel tight, itchy, or feel discomfort? Or do streaks appear when you pinch your skin? If you answered yes to any of these then you probably need to moisturize your skin. Hydrated skin does not have patches of dryness or peeling skin.
What is skin nourishing?
Nourishing means to feed our skin. Unlike hydration, skin that needs to be nourished will prefer to be pampered with oilier products such as body oil or body butter. Lack of nutrition is a lack of fat. Skin lacking nutrition is particularly sensitive to all external aggressions. Dry skin is generally the skin most affected by a lack of nutrition. They also have areas of dryness and flaking with irritation and tightness. The older we get, the more nutrition our skin cells need. This is because when we get older, we progressively stop regenerating cells, thus we need extra help to be able to do so. The result can lead to wrinkles and lack of elasticity.
The best treatments for your skin type
There are many body treatments adapted to the need and the type of skin. Choosing a treatment adapted to your skin type allows you to provide the skin with what it really needs pretty quickly. Between body lotions, body oil, and body butter: which cares for which skin? The ideal skincare routine would involve using both a moisturizing routine along with a nourishing routine, especially for those of us who are over the age of 30.
Although there is no certain age to start using nutrient rich skincare it's always best to start early. Nutritive products should be used at night to help with the cell renewal process. Hydrating products should be used during the day to provide skin with the necessary water to protect it from free radicals and prevent premature ageing.
BODY LOTION: best for normal to combination skin
The body lotion (a water based product) is composed of a much lighter and more fluid formula than the other treatments. It is thus absorbed more quickly by the skin and does not leave a greasy film on the surface of the skin. It is ideal for daily care for normal skin. If your skin lacks hydration, we recommend a body lotion. Its lighter texture than that of body butter is perfect for softening the skin and giving it more suppleness. Lotion is more hydrating and non-sticky. The water content in lotion is higher, which spreads more and carries less fatty matter. Lotions can be used both during day and night. They are non-comedogenic and do not clog pores.
Pros:
hydration without greasy effect
easy to apply
Cons:
Hydration is mainly on the surface.
BODY OIL: best for normal to dry skin
The oil is smoother and more supple and applies very easily too. It is more nourishing than a lotion and allows the skin to be well hydrated and nourished. It is perfect for dry skin. A body oil generally contains fatty substances or rich oils to promote good nourishment for the skin. It will create a protective skin barrier to prevent skin dryness and protect the skin from external aggressions.
Pros:
restores suppleness to the skin
can be used on the hair
satin effect
Cons:
Oily texture
It takes time to dry.
BODY BALM OR BUTTER: best for very dry or even damaged skin
Body butter is much richer than body oils and lotions. The balm is composed of butter and various oils, making its texture thicker and greasy. It is used more in repair rather than in daily care. It works amazing on rough elbows, knees, hands, legs and feet. You do not want to use a butter on your face as this can clog pores. It is perfect for very dry and damaged skin for deep repair. For better penetration, apply the butter to damp skin just after showering. If your skin is really lacking in nutrition, favor body butter formulations enriched with vegetable oils such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, or even glycerin and vegetable butter. These ingredients are not only great for restoring the skin's surface, they are also effective for deep nourishment of dry, irritated, and sensitive skin. You can also choose a body oil for intense nutrition if you don't like the texture of the body butter.
Pros:
very hydrating
ultra-creamy texture
more natural components
Cons:
very greasy
It takes longer to penetrate the skin.
Final Note
For optimal skincare, Don't forget to do a body scrub between 1 and 2 times a week prior to moisturizing or repairing the skin. This will smooth the skin's texture allowing moisturizers to penetrate the skin well. A body scrub will also remove all the impurities from the skin that can attack it from day to day. If you have sensitive skin, gentle natural exfoliation to be done only once a week will be best.
Another amazing ingredient to incorporate into your skincare routine is CBD (cannabinoids). Check out our blog about how CBD can benefit your skin here. Our skincare line is both natural and packed with cannabinoids for a premium skincare line that is sure to help pamper your toughest skin conditions.