Treating patients from around the world at his iconic Harley St. clinic, London plastic surgeon Yannis Alexandrides, MD keeps a solid pulse on aesthetic trends. The latest buzz coming from all corners of the globe? A spotlight on body care, which is precisely why his celebrity-adored skincare line, 111SKIN, chose now to launch its first-ever commercial body product.
Topicals for below the neck isn’t the only trend experts are spotting. Fort Lauderdale, FL dermatologist Dr. Matthew Elias says body treatments are currently more popular than ever in his practice, and predicts the wave to continue to rise. This shift, he says, is an expected one: “Body treatments like Coolsculpting, CoolTone, Emsculpt NEO, and radiofrequency microneedling have been trending over the past few years, so now there is a focus by skin-care manufacturers on pairing safe and effective skin-care topicals with these treatments to yield synergistic effects.”
Ahead, a guide to the potent, active-infused topicals filling our beauty aisles.
BODY BASICS
Skin is the body’s largest organ, and Dr. Alexandrides reminds us that its main function is to act as a barrier to the environment and pollutants. But, certain areas of the skin (read: the face, scalp and body) have different sets of requirements needed to thrive.
For example, Dr. Alexandrides says the skin on the body not only requires rehydration, but also its own antioxidants, especially if it’s exposed to the sun. “The skin of the body is thicker than on the face, although there are exceptions to that rule, and it is usually less sensitive than skin on the face and neck. However, it still needs hydration, vitamin A and all of the ingredients to stay healthy.”
Time Table
For maximum efficacy and absorption, Dr. Alexandrides says the best time to apply body-care products is right after taking a bath or shower. “This is when your pores are open, which will allow for better absorption into the skin,” he explains.
01: A 360 Approach
We’ve learned not to neglect the skin on our chest, hands or neck in our daily routines, so why would we abandon our body? This new wave of skin-care launches points back to a bottom line of having a more holistic approach to skin care, says Dr. Alexandrides. “We don’t want to be in a situation where we have kept our face and neck in pristine condition, but our body looks older and dehydrated.”
02: Ingredient Intel
Similar to your facial skin-care routine, the ingredients to look for in your body care will vary depending on your skin’s needs. Generally speaking, “the best products for the body will contain a blend of peptides, antioxidants and caffeine,” says Dr. Elias. While some products will spotlight these ingredients alone, you might catch a name of a proprietary complex instead—NAC Y² in the case of 111SKIN, or SkinMedica’s Firm & Tone Technology—which often bundles hard-hitting ingredients in a balanced, clinically proven manner, explains Dr. Elias.
Took Kit
