Bodycare

Body care is looking after the skin below your neck, and it mostly comes down to washing gently and moisturising afterwards. It matters because body skin dries out and gets rough, just like the skin on your face. A few minutes after your shower makes a real difference.

Once or twice a week suits most skin. Any more than that can leave it sore and dry. Go gently, and moisturise straight afterwards so the skin you've just smoothed stays comfortable.

A richer lotion or cream usually works best, ideally with an ingredient that holds moisture in the skin, such as shea butter or urea. Put it on while your skin is still damp after the shower. For skin that stays dry whatever you try, browse products for dry skin.

Some can, yes. Facial skin is finer, so face products are usually gentler. Body products tend to be richer, which suits elbows and knees but can feel heavy on your face, so check the label before you swap.

Wash with a gentle cleanser after you've been sweating, and don't scrub hard. Salicylic acid can help keep pores clear. Loose, breathable clothing helps too. If it doesn't improve or it's painful, speak to your GP or pharmacist.

Yes, and it's easy to forget. The skin on your arms and legs gets UV damage just like your face does, even on cloudy days. Use SPF 30 or higher on any skin that's uncovered, and reapply through the day. You can browse sunscreens here.

Gentle exfoliation helps, and so do ingredients like vitamin C and niacinamide. Body skin is slow to change, so be patient. If you'd rather even out the colour quickly, a gradual tan is the easy route. Have a look at our self tanning products.

Body oils seal in moisture, so they work well over a lotion or on damp skin after a shower. They leave skin soft with a little glow, and they tend to suit dry or mature skin best. If oils feel too greasy for you, a light lotion is the easier option.

Choose refillable or recyclable packaging where you can, and finish what you have before buying more. A few products you actually use up beat a cupboard full of half-empty bottles.

Yes. The skin on your neck and chest tends to show age first, so look after those areas too. Body creams with peptides or antioxidants are a good place to start. Retinol can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so use it carefully and wear sunscreen.