I think bodycare is consistently overlooked. I've talked to friends, family members, and other beauty editors, and so many of them have said the same thing: "I'm way better about caring for the skin on my face than I am about caring for the skin on my body."
I'm not saying I'm any better. Although I've improved upon my bodycare routine in recent years, it's nowhere near perfect. Still, I'm constantly testing new bodycare products to see what can give me smooth, plump, bright, and glowing skin from the neck down. I want to know I'm using products that are actively and holistically treating my skin—not just moisturizing it. Well, recently, a new product came across my desk, and after using it for a mere three weeks, I think I found my latest bodycare obsession. Instead of simply moisturizing my skin like so many other formulas, this body lotion also firms, smooths, strengthens, and protects it from environmental aggressors. It's a one-and-done formula that does so much it almost feels unfair to call it a body lotion at all. Keep scrolling to see which one it is and why I can't shut up about it.
Here it is—the Iota Supermatcha Body Lotion+. I'm sure you can infer from the name that the star ingredient is matcha, the antioxidant powerhouse we all know and love. However, it's also packed with 16 vitamins and minerals from other superfoods and adaptogens.
The brand claims this is an all-in-one product, and I can tell just from glancing at the ingredient list it's true. This body lotion contains more active ingredients than any other bodycare formula I've used—and I've used hundreds. Aside from the matcha, there are prebiotics, probiotics, snow mushrooms, ginseng, cica, turmeric, and face-grade niacinamide. There's also rambutan, a tropical plant used for skin-firming purposes. Together, these ingredients have a holistic skin-improving effect similar to retinol, which is why the brand calls it a retinol alternative.
I've only been using it for about a month, but I can tell the skin on my arms, legs, and chest has improved. Slowly but surely, it's doing a number on my summer sun damage by balancing and plumping up my dry skin. Even in this short time, I can tell the thin skin on my chest and shoulders is slightly firmer. I won't be surprised if one day I wake up and the fine lines and wrinkles on my chest are completely gone. Aside from the impressive retinol-like firming effects, I have to give credit to the texture of the formula. It's not thick or creamy. Instead, it has a milky, runny texture that reminds me of a matcha latte (and yes, it's green like matcha). Because of this, it never feels heavy or sticky on my skin—just hydrating and cooling. The only downside of this is that sometimes I need to apply a body oil over the top of it for extra moisture when my skin feels drier than usual. Not a big deal, but noteworthy nonetheless. All in all, this is a product that gives new meaning to bodycare. Instead of simple hydration or exfoliation, this product offers a wide range of benefits—all in one easy-to-use formula. It makes me feel like the skin on my body is finally getting the same TLC as the skin on my face.
This lymphatic drainage body tool never fails to make my limbs look long and slim, not puffy and (I hate to use this word but) lumpy. Read my full review (and check out some seriously good before-and-after pictures).
Here's another product I've gushed about before. It's a bodywash that has a lightweight texture, lathers up into silky foam, and smells incredible. All of Saltair's products are scented beautifully, but this one has to be my favorite. It smells like palm leaves, lilies, and juicy pears. The best part is it's packed with sea fennel, willowherb, bamboo, and niacinamide to improve skin tone and texture.
If the Lush Greens Body Wash is my favorite, this is a close second. It smells like juicy citrus fruits and treats my skin to yummy ingredients like passion fruit oil, camu camu, and vitamin C. Together, they brighten and even skin tone.
This body butter is packed full of moisturizing oils, shea butter, and squalane, yet it has a lightweight, whipped texture. That means I can apply it liberally over my whole body without feeling a hint of tacky residue. I'm obsessed.
I've been trying to be more consistent with my dry-brushing routine. I find that it makes my skin feel smoother and look brighter. Plus, it just makes me feel good since it has an invigorating effect in the morning.
Another body butter I absolutely love, this one uses coconut, maca, and vegan squalane to provide fatty acids, amino acids, moisture, and firmness to the skin. It also has a whipped texture, so it never feels tacky or sticky. True to the name, every time I use it, I feel like I'm wrapping my skin in a cloud of comfort.
Whenever I'm sweating or working out more often, I use this bodywash. With AHAs (glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids) and fruit enzymes, it wicks away impurities and keeps my pores nice and clean. Translation? I don't break out on my back or chest.
If you're all about a solid, no-frills body oil, I can't recommend this one enough. It's fragrance-free so it won't irritate sensitive skin, and it's rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and omega-6, -7, and -9. It's all the stuff you want in a body oil without any of the stuff you don't.
Why use retinol on your face and not your body? This hand cream, which is also from Nécessaire uses 0.25% retinol, 5% AHAs, and 10 peptides to reverse the effects of time on your hands. Brilliant.
This handwash is so dreamy. It uses active ingredients like sodium PCA and kale, green tea, and spinach extracts to hydrate and protect the skin on the hands. Plus, it smells like walking through a crisp, winter forest. Every time I wash my hands, I find myself creepily sniffing them for a half an hour afterward because they smell that good.
This is my favorite perfume of all time (or my signature scent, if you will), so of course I'm buying and using the hand-cream version of it. Sure, it smells incredible—warm and grounding and slightly spicy—yet it's also rich and moisturizing to comfort dry skin. It's all thanks to hydrating ingredients like snow mushroom, glycerin, and squalane.
Okay, one more body butter and then I'll stop talking about body butter for good (or for now, at least). This one is my absolute and undisputed favorite. It's more expensive than others on the market, but it makes my skin feel comforted, moisturized, and glowy like literally nothing else. Since it's chock-full of rich oils, I usually let it sit for a while before getting dressed since it can feel slightly heavy on the skin. Don't let that deter you, though. This stuff is the best.
