Alright, let’s talk about these body care trends. It feels like one minute you’re just using soap and water, and the next, your bathroom looks like a science lab, and you need a PhD to figure out your shower routine. I went down that rabbit hole, let me tell you.
My Simple Beginnings
For years, I was pretty basic. A bar of soap, maybe some lotion if my skin felt like sandpaper, especially in winter. That was it. Honestly, I didn’t think much about it. Body care? That was for fancy people, or so I thought. My skin was… well, it was skin. It did its job.
Then Came the Internet…
Then I started seeing all this stuff online. Everyone was talking about “glowing skin,” “lymphatic drainage,” and having the “softest skin ever.” Videos of people with these elaborate routines, using like ten different products just for their body. And I thought, huh, maybe I’m missing out. Maybe my skin could be… glowier? So, I decided to dip my toes in. Or, well, my whole body, as it turned out.
First up was dry brushing. Seemed easy enough. Bought a brush with stiff bristles. The instructions said to brush towards the heart before showering. Felt weird, man. Like I was grooming a horse. My skin turned red. They said it was good for circulation and exfoliation. Did it help? Maybe a little? My skin felt a bit smoother, but it wasn’t some miracle transformation. I kept it up for a few weeks, mostly because I’d bought the brush.
Then I got into scrubs and oils. Oh boy.
- Coffee scrubs that made my shower look like a mud pit.
- Sugar scrubs that were sticky but smelled amazing.
- Salt scrubs that stung if I had any tiny cuts.
I tried them all. My drain probably hated me. After scrubbing, I’d douse myself in oils. Coconut oil (too greasy, stained my clothes), almond oil (better, but still kinda heavy), and then those fancy “dry oils” that cost a fortune. My skin was definitely moisturized, I’ll give them that. But I was also spending a ton of time and making a mess. My towels? They never felt truly clean again.
The “More is More” Trap
It didn’t stop there. I started hearing about “body serums” and “body masks.” Like, what? I was already doing face serums, now my arms and legs needed them too? I even tried layering products. A light hydrating mist, then a serum, then an oil, then a lotion. It was exhausting! My morning routine, which used to be quick, stretched out forever. My bathroom counter was overflowing with bottles and tubs. It was a proper mess, a jumble of products, and I wasn’t even sure what half of them were really doing anymore. It felt like I was just collecting them.
I remember standing there one day, looking at all the stuff, and thinking, “What am I even doing?” My skin was soft, sure. But was it that much different from when I just used a decent lotion regularly? Probably not. And the cost! Don’t even get me started. I was basically funding some CEO’s third holiday home with my body oil obsession.
Back to Reality (and Simplicity)
So, I started to pull back. Drastically. I realized a lot of it was just clever marketing preying on insecurities. You don’t need a ten-step body care routine to have healthy skin. It was a bit of a relief, actually.
What did I keep? Well, I still like a good scrub once or twice a week. Sometimes I buy one, sometimes I just mix sugar with some olive oil from the kitchen. Works just fine. I found a good, no-nonsense moisturizer that doesn’t cost the earth and use it after I shower. That’s pretty much my core routine now. If my skin is feeling extra dry, especially my elbows and knees, I’ll use a bit of a richer cream or a simple body oil I actually like and that doesn’t make me feel like a greased-up chicken.
The biggest takeaway for me? Listen to your skin, not the internet hype. Most of these body care trends are just that – trends. They come and go. What really matters is finding a simple routine that works for you, makes your skin feel comfortable, and doesn’t turn your bathroom into a product graveyard or drain your bank account. My skin’s doing fine, and I have way more time (and money) for other things. And that, my friends, is a trend I can definitely get behind.
