I’m well aware that this summer isn’t going to be a typical summer. We will probably still be social distancing and wearing face masks but nonetheless, I thought I’d share some of my favorite products to get my skin ready to be seen. We’ve all been in the house these last few months and perhaps not taking the best care of the skin on our bodies. Usually in the winter when we are clad in a ton of clothing we tend to forget about the skin on our bodies. It’s not until warm weather hits, that we start shaving and getting our feet right for sandals and moisturizing our legs and wearing sunscreen. But with everything going on outside from covid to police brutality and the murders of Black folk, I’ve been using a lot of my body products as a form of self care and self love. I’ve chosen to take care of my body even though no one is seeing it but me. I’ve also chosen to find peace & joy during this time however I can and sometimes that’s found in simple things like oiling my legs while sitting in my favorite chair or taking a few minutes to moisturize and massage my scalp. Loving yourself wholly and completely, especially if you are Black, is also a radical form of protest. Here are a few of my favorite body products for every part of your body.
GET THE GLOW
If you want super moisturized and gleaming summer skin then these 3 products are where it’s at. The Kopari Coconut Melt will have your looking like you’re ready for a swimsuit covershoot for Sports Illustrated. I’m convinced this is what models use for those types of shoots. It’s also vegan and cruelty free. It’s multipurpose as well so you can use it for hair, bath & body. One jar will probably last you the whole year. Next up is the Keihls Dry Body Oil. What I love about this oil is that its spray on. It also smells amazing. I like to carry a mini bottle around for those ashy moments. Last but not least is my favorite Caudalie Thé Des Vignes Oil. I always pick up a few of these when I’m in Paris. The oil is super hydrating and smells divine. I use it on my hair, nails and skin.
IN THE SHOWER
I recently celebrated my birthday and a good friend of mine mailed me an amazing gift. It was a box filled with really cool snacks, products and books. One of the products in that box has become my new favorite soap. It’s the Herbivore Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Soap Bar. I’ve already finished the bar and it has changed my life. I suffer from a lot of acne and acne scaring on my upper back and shoulders and using this bar for two weeks has already drastically changed that issue. Not only that it’s changed the skin on my body as well. If body acne is an issue for you try this brand.
To exfoliate my body while in the shower I’m pretty obsessed with Cleanlogic Exfoliating Gloves. They do a great job at exfoliating the dead skin off your body as well as exfoliating any areas you may shave where ingrown hairs can form. I love using them for my pubic area and under my arms as well. They are also great for exfoliating the bottom of your feet while in the shower. They are my trick for maintaining smooth and baby soft bottoms of my feet and heels.
To add a little more moisture to my body and if I plan on shaving I use the Dove Body Wash Mouse with Coconut Oil. Not only does it smell amazing and leaves my skin feeling moisturized and supple after a shower it can also double as nourishing shaving cream.
Last but not least, I do not use any form of soap on my vagina. Soaps can really alter the pH of your special area and cause all kinds of problems. I only use products formulated with a special pH for my lady parts. I already have extremely sensitive skin and dyes and fragrances can really do a number on my skin including the skin down there. So I only use Vagisil pH balanced products for my lady bits.
These Area’s Need Love Too (Feet, Pubic Area, & Underarms )
In addition to using the exfoliating gloves on my feet I also use Vaseline Cracked Heel Rescue Foot cream every single day after I get out of the shower to make my feet smooth as a babies bottom. This is a must for those suffering with dry and cracked feet and heels.
Now when it comes to my pubic area there are only 2 products I use: Vanish pfb + chroma bright to reduce ingrown hairs, razor bumps and dark spots after shaving and Two Lips Blackout Charcoal Mask (to detox and soothe your vulva). Yes, its a face mask for your vagina and it’s awesome.
Finally, we tend to really neglect our underarms. We scrub them, we shave them and we don’t show them much love, but the skin of the underarms might be the most delicate on your body. To prevent razor bumps and scaring from shaving I use Dove Even Tone with Vitamin B3 antiperspirant. I love that it helps with the discoloration from shaving and it moisturizes that delicate skin.
Hairy Situations
I like to get waxed but since being at home for the past few months, I’ve taken up waxing myself (only on my upper lip though). I do not have the strength or mental capacity to wax my own pubic region lol. My favorite at home waxing products are most definitely the Flamingo Wax Kits. They have kits for the body and also kits for the face. I love that their wax kits come with post wax clothes that remove the wax and calming balm. There’s no heat necessary either and the wax really works, even for very course hair. They also have really amazing shaving kits as well.
Now when it comes to my hair and eyebrows my go-to product is Jamaican Black Castor Oil. I spend atleast 2-3 minutes a day massaging Jamaican Black Castor oil into my temples (where I have very thin hair). I’ve seen a massive improvement of hair growth in those areas by doing this every night as part of my nighttime skincare routine before wrapping my hair up for bed. I also use the same oil on my eyebrows and lashes to keep them nice and thick.
Pain Relievers
I have some of the worst period cramps and lower back pain when menstruating but I’ve found a CBD product that really helps and its the Prima R+R Cream an Intensive Treatment for Muscles and Joints. Y’all this stuff is amazing. I just put some on my lower back and it gets to work.
Speaking of muscle pain, I’ve started to work out more regularly and often wake up with stiff and sore muscles after an intense workout. Taking a nice long hot bath with Aveda Stress-Fix soaking salts instantly makes me feel looser and less sore. I live for the calming smell and relaxing self reflective moments.
Balms, Creams & Sunscreens
PRID Homeopathic Drawing Salve should be in your medicine cabinet. I use this for nearly everything like when I have a splinter, a pesky pimple that won’t come to a head, an ingrown hair that won’t come to a head, bug bites and more. It literally works for everything and the best part is that it’s all natural. It smells like death, but it works like a charm.
When it comes to moisturizers, I love so many but a few of my favorite body creams & butters are: Dove Nourishing Body Care Cream Oil with Shea Butter for Extra Dry Skin, L’Occitane Ultra Rich Cream and Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Body Butter. All of which smell divine and are super hydrating and moisturizing.
And then there’s sunscreen, for your face and for your body. My go-to for my face is the Supergoop SPF 40 Daily Moisturizer. It doesn’t leave a chalky film and is generally amazing. I also use it under makeup too. When it comes to my body I love the Aveeno Protect & Hydrate SPF 70. It has antioxidant oat, smells amazing and is sweat & water resistant for up to 80 minutes. It’s perfect for those beach, pool and picnic days.
Alright loves that’s it! I never really realized how many products I use for my body until I wrote this post! It’s quite a lot but I hope it’s helpful. Drop some of your favorite products for your body below in the comments. And let me know if you’ve ever used and of the above products and what you thought of them. You can check out my full skincare routine blog here and video here.
xx
Monroe
This summer is definitely going to look different but I’m determined to safely make the most of it that I can. Thanks for sharing these recommendations. Also, love that suit on you!!
xoxo – Kelly
http://www.dreaminlace.com
LOVE Monroe!
I am definitely going to try out some of the products you shared here! I wanted to ask if you’ve ever tried Honey Pot feminine products? I’ve been using their pads for a year or so and very recently started using their feminine wash & its 100% natural! I LOVE it! Thank you for sharing!
What a fantastic blog in support of self care in these trying times! Thank you Monroe. I tried to look at and purchase some of the items via the links you provided and for some reason I got an error message. In any case, I looked for the links on internet and purchased 2 bottles of the Caudalie The de Vignes body/hair oil – I can’t wait for them arrive! I have the Jamaican Black Castor Oil already. I think the next area I need to tackle is care of my lady parts – who knew there was a mask????
Sis, I need the glow!!! Gotta have the glow! About to get in on that Keihls and Kapori, plus those gloves. I will be in need of some serious exfoliation after I finally remove the hair from my nether regions. Yeah, its been a while, but since I live alone and no one has been seeing down their lately but me, I could get away with it! :)))
What a great post. Thank you, now I have some shopping to do.