Try 'Shower Cocktailing' Because Your Body Needs Its Own Skincare Routine

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We spend a lot of time perfecting our skincare routine to prevent breakouts, brighten dull skin, reduce acne scarring, and repair our skin barrier, but while we focus so much on our face, we often forget the rest of our body. Our arms, legs, back, and chest are prone to the same effects as our faces if we don't care for them properly. While you might indulge in an everything shower once a week, sometimes it's not enough to keep your body hydrated or nourished. Dermatologists are advocating for folks to start implementing shower cocktailing: Using specific products to target skin concerns in the shower rather than general non-effective products.

Your current shower routine might look like having two to three rinsing days and one to two deep whole-body and hair showers. Entire body and hair showers can include deep conditioning, exfoliating, shaving, hair masks, scalp exfoliating, and moisturizing post-shower. Although dermatologists recommend showering twice a week to prevent over-stripping your skin of oils, it's vital to use skin products with long-lasting effects that get you through non-shower days. Figuring out your skin concerns is the first step to determining which products you should be using to help treat body acne, and improve your skin's texture and overall look.

Your skin is still exposed to dirt, bacteria, and oils, even if it's layered with clothes. If you find yourself dealing with back acne that you've never had before, it could be from sweat buildup or conditioned hair resting on your back, shoulders, or chest that doesn't get washed away correctly. Anything that can clog your pores will cause your skin to break out, therefore it's vital to scrub those hard-to-reach places to prevent acne. 

Using anti-acne body washes will help clear your skin. Look for products that include benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid ingredients. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey Hartman told The Zoe Report he suggests letting the body wash sit on your skin for a few minutes before rinsing to receive all its benefits. Remember to only use anti-acne body wash on areas where you have acne rather than your entire body.

Bumpy skin on your legs is a common condition from shaving and getting razor bumps. However, red bumpy skin on the back of your arms is known as keratosis pilaris (chicken skin), a buildup of dead skin cells clogged in the hair follicles. They're itchy and dry and change color depending on skin tone. Although Dr. Margaret Wat, a dermatology specialist at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, told Banner Health that keratosis pilaris disappears as you age, you can still treat it with a keratolytic product that contains lactic acid, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid.

Body scrubs are contradictory when it comes to using them on your skin. While they feel good, help reduce bumps, and eliminate dead skin cells, some body scrubs can be too harsh. Exfoliating your body is vital to keep your skin feeling smooth and soft, but how often you do it depends on your skin type as you want to prevent damaging your skin barrier. As New York City dermatologist Dr. Robert Anolik told Goop, "If you have very dry or sensitive skin, you might want to do it less frequently. If you're not sensitive or have oily skin, your skin can withstand — and should benefit from — a bit more."

When exfoliating, you don't have to stick to body scrubs; you can also use different physical exfoliators, such as a dry brush or a sugar brush. Chemical exfoliants with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are also an option and are often gentler since they're liquid formulas you apply to the skin. These can help remove dead skin cells and brighten your skin. There are a few products that combine physical and chemical exfoliants into one. Nécessaire's Body Exfoliator includes glycolic acid and works as a scrub. 

You'll want to use different exfoliators for different parts of your body. For example, your back and chest may benefit from chemical types, your legs can withstand physical exfoliators, and your bikini line needs a gentle serum to target ingrown hairs.