Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

How To Combat Crepey Skin On The Body In 3 Steps

Hannah Frye
Author:
October 09, 2024
Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
By Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
Woman putting lotion on her legs
Image by Stocksy | Guille Faingold
October 09, 2024

My body skin used to be half as smooth as my face—and it's no wonder why. When it came to facial skin care, I was diligent with serums, creams, and plenty of SPF, but I neglected my body.

Once I decided to give my skin equal care from head to toe, everything changed for the better.

I battled plenty of texture and sagging skin on areas like my knees, upper arms, and inner thighs—but by focusing on the three steps below, I've seen significant improvement, especially in texture.

Naturally, I'm here to share what made the biggest difference:

1.

Find a body lotion with firming ingredients

First, choose your body lotion wisely. Rather than solely focusing on hydration, look for ingredients that specialize in tightening and lifting the skin, such as:

  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Squalane
  • Caffeine
  • Peptides
  • AHAs
  • Retinol

The last two can cause irritation when used in excess, so it's wise to have one daily lotion and one treatment lotion with retinol or AHAs in your beauty cabinet.

These firming ingredients will likely be paired with a rich butter or oil—shea, coconut, cocoa, and so on. This will ensure the lotion is easy to spread and keeps your skin soft throughout the day.

2.

Make inside-out collagen support a daily ritual

At mindbodygreen, we're all about skin care from the inside out—and crepey skin is one area where this is particularly true. Here's a short explanation of why:

Crepey skin is caused, in part, by the degradation of collagen and elastin fibers in the skin. This happens for a number of reasons, including normal, healthy aging. This process is accelerated by excess time in the sun, lack of topical care, and yes, even your diet.

Your natural collagen bank can benefit from supplements, but you'll want to make sure they're hydrolyzed collagen peptides so they can be effectively absorbed into the body.

When scanning the supplement market, look for additional ingredients like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to boost skin laxity and support overall hydration.

3.

Exfoliate once or twice a week

Last but certainly not least, exfoliation is essential for crepey skin—in fact, it's a must for your skin in general, from face to body to feet and more. This step ensures a healthy rate of cell turnover and helps to slough off dead skin, revealing your brightest, smoothest layer.

When it comes to body exfoliation, you have a couple of options:

  • Physical exfoliation: You can use a dry brush, an in-shower scrubby pad, or body scrubs with salt or sugar granules. No matter which method you choose, make sure to let the tool or product do the work by applying light pressure. If your skin is bright red afterward, you may have pressed too hard, so keep it gentle.
  • Chemical exfoliation: You can use chemical exfoliants like alpha-hydroxy acids on the body as well. Opt for a body lotion or body serum with ingredients like glycolic acid, lactic acid, urea, and so on. Use these products a day or two before shaving, rather than right after, to avoid irritation and potentially worsening texture.

Generally, body skin can tolerate stronger exfoliation than facial skin, but it's still best to patch-test any new products, especially those containing AHAs or retinol.

To ensure your crepey skin gets the attention it needs to tighten up, exfoliate at least once a week in your body care routine. Follow up with your firming body lotion and you'll be set—no need for a 10-step body care routine (unless you want to, of course).

The takeaway

Just like any skin concern, tackling crepey skin on the body takes time and attention. Start with a simple but effective body care routine, focusing on exfoliation and hydration.

For inside-out support, consider a hydrolyzed collagen supplement. Now if you really want to get into the science of crepey skin, you can read all about why it happens here, from dermatologists.  

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Lifestyle
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.