We often give the skin on our face far more attention than the skin on the rest of our body. Yet dryness, rough texture, sensitivity and seasonal changes don't stop at the jawline.
A good body-care routine doesn't need to be complicated. A gentle cleanser, the right moisturiser and a little targeted care when your skin needs it will cover most of the essentials.
Natural body care gives formulators a particularly interesting range of ingredients to work with. Plant oils and butters can provide useful lipids and emollience, botanical extracts bring their own naturally occurring compounds, and ingredients such as glycerin can help support skin hydration.
What's Inside
What makes a good natural body-care routine?
Keep the basics simple: cleanse without leaving skin unnecessarily dry, moisturise according to how your skin feels, and use exfoliators, oils and other treatments when they genuinely add something to your routine.
Natural body care can make intelligent use of plant oils, butters, waxes and botanical extracts alongside ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid. The best formula for you will depend on your skin, the season and – importantly – the texture you actually enjoy using.
At MyPure, body-care products are selected according to the ingredient standards set out in our Purity Promise.
Natural and organic body care: what's the difference?
“Natural” and “organic” are often placed together, but they don't mean exactly the same thing.
Natural
Natural body care places an emphasis on ingredients derived from natural sources. Depending on the product, that might include plant oils, botanical extracts, mineral ingredients, clays, salts and plant butters.
Organic
Organic refers to qualifying agricultural ingredients and how they're grown and processed. Certified organic cosmetics must meet the requirements of their particular certification standard.
Vegan
Vegan is a separate consideration. A natural or organic product can still contain an animal-derived ingredient such as beeswax, so check the individual product if vegan status matters to you.
Clean
There isn't one universally agreed definition of “clean beauty”. We use our own ingredient standards when deciding which products belong at MyPure.
If you'd like to know more about what we look for – and what we avoid – you can read the full MyPure Purity Promise.
Natural body-care ingredients worth knowing
The skin on your body has the same fundamental need for a healthy barrier as the skin on your face. One of the most useful roles of body moisturisers is therefore quite straightforward: helping skin stay comfortable by supporting hydration and reducing moisture loss.
Natural formulations have plenty of useful ingredients for doing exactly that.
| Ingredient | What it can contribute | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Shea butter | A rich emollient containing a mixture of fatty acids and other naturally occurring lipid compounds. | Dry skin, richer creams and body butters. |
| Plant oils | Provide emollience and different combinations of fatty acids and naturally occurring lipid-soluble compounds. | Dryness, body oils and richer moisturisers. |
| Glycerin | A humectant that helps attract and retain water in the outer layer of the skin. | Everyday hydration. |
| Hyaluronic acid | A water-binding humectant used to support skin hydration. | Dehydrated-feeling skin and lighter lotions. |
| Aloe vera | A botanical ingredient commonly incorporated into lightweight hydrating and soothing cosmetic formulas. | Lotions, after-sun products and lighter body creams. |
| Vitamin E | An antioxidant commonly used alongside plant oils and other lipid ingredients. | Body oils, lotions and creams. |
Why plant oils and butters make sense for body care
Plant oils aren't all interchangeable. Sunflower, jojoba, sesame, apricot kernel, rosehip and other oils each have their own fatty-acid profiles and cosmetic characteristics.
That's part of their appeal. Rather than providing a single isolated ingredient, botanical oils naturally contain mixtures of triglycerides, fatty acids and smaller amounts of compounds such as tocopherols and sterols.
Well-formulated natural body care can combine those oils with butters, humectants and botanical extracts to create products that soften the skin, support its lipid-rich barrier and help reduce moisture loss.
It's about what's included, not only what's left out
For us, natural body care isn't simply a list of ingredients to avoid.
What's more interesting is how intelligently plant oils, butters, botanical extracts and other naturally derived ingredients can be combined to create textures that feel good and support comfortable, well-moisturised skin.
How to build a simple natural body-care routine
You don't need a shelf full of body products. For most people, the basics can be covered in three steps, with additional products added when they're useful.
1. Cleanse
Choose a body wash, shower gel or soap that cleans effectively without leaving your skin feeling uncomfortably tight afterwards. Hot water and very long showers can also contribute to dryness, so the cleanser isn't always the only thing worth changing.
2. Moisturise
Apply a lotion, cream or body butter after showering. Slightly damp skin can be a particularly good time to moisturise because you're combining water already on the skin with the humectants and emollients in your moisturiser.
3. Add targeted products when you need them
Body oils, exfoliators, hand creams and richer balms don't necessarily need to be everyday essentials. Add them according to your skin and the time of year.
Body lotion, cream, butter or oil?
There's no universally superior texture. The right choice depends on how dry your skin is and what you'll actually enjoy applying.
| Texture | Best suited to | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Lotion | Everyday use and warmer weather | Usually lighter and quicker to spread over large areas. |
| Cream | Normal to dry skin | A useful balance of hydration, emollience and richness. |
| Body butter | Very dry areas and colder weather | Typically richer and more occlusive than a lotion. |
| Body oil | Extra emollience and massage | Helps soften skin and reduce moisture loss; particularly useful applied to damp skin or layered with moisturiser. |
Should body oil go before or after moisturiser?
You don't have to layer them at all, but if you're using both, applying your water-based lotion or cream first and oil afterwards is a simple approach.
The moisturiser provides water and humectants as well as emollients, while the oil adds another lipid-rich layer over the top.
Alternatively, body oil can be used by itself on slightly damp skin. UpCircle Body Oil with Passion Fruit, Kumquat & Tangerine Oils, for example, is designed for application to either damp or dry skin.
Choosing body care for dry or sensitive skin
If your body skin is dry, concentrate on the basics before adding more treatments.
A moisturiser containing humectants alongside plant oils or butters can help tackle both sides of the problem: supporting water content in the outer skin while providing emollient lipids that soften and smooth.
If you prefer a lighter lotion for regular use, MÁDARA KIND Hydra Lotion combines aloe and glycerin with sunflower and olive oils, shea and cocoa butters, plus cloudberry and linseed extracts.
What if your skin is sensitive?
Natural body care can work very well for sensitive skin, but “natural” shouldn't automatically be interpreted as “non-irritating”.
Essential oils, fragrance components and botanical extracts are still ingredients, and individual sensitivities vary. If your skin is reactive, a shorter ingredient list and fragrance-free formula may be preferable to choosing a product simply because it contains lots of botanical extracts.
Pay particular attention to areas that are already irritated or freshly shaved, and introduce new products gradually if you know your skin reacts easily.
Don't overlook your shower
If you're applying increasingly rich moisturisers but your skin still feels tight every day, look at what happens before the moisturiser.
Very hot water, long showers and a cleanser that leaves skin feeling stripped can all work against the body cream or lotion you apply afterwards.
Does your body need exfoliating?
Exfoliation can make rough or flaky skin feel smoother by helping remove some of the dead cells from the skin's surface. It can be particularly useful on areas such as elbows, knees and legs.
It isn't, however, compulsory for “glowing” skin, and more exfoliation isn't automatically better.
Physical body scrubs
Body scrubs use particles to physically loosen surface skin cells as you massage them over the skin.
The body can often tolerate a more substantial scrub than the face, but there's still no benefit in scrubbing hard enough to leave skin sore or red.
If you enjoy this type of exfoliation, the UpCircle body-care range includes body exfoliation alongside creams, lotions and body oils.
How often should you exfoliate?
There's no fixed schedule that works for everyone. Start occasionally and judge by how your skin responds.
If your skin becomes tender, unusually dry or persistently red, reduce the frequency or stop. Sensitive or already-irritated skin may be better without exfoliation until it feels comfortable again.
What should you know before switching to natural deodorant?
Deodorant and antiperspirant aren't quite the same thing.
Deodorants are primarily designed to manage body odour, while antiperspirants reduce perspiration. A natural deodorant therefore shouldn't necessarily be judged by whether it stops you sweating.
There is also no biological “detox period” required when you stop using a conventional antiperspirant. Your experience may feel different because you're using a different type of product, but your underarms aren't purging toxins.
If irritation occurs after switching, look at the actual formula. Fragrance, essential oils and sodium bicarbonate can be troublesome for some people, particularly when applied immediately after shaving.
MÁDARA Herbal Deodorant is one natural option, using Northern sage and mineral ingredients in a quick-drying roll-on formula.
Natural body care: MyPure picks
These three products serve quite different purposes. One is a richer everyday cream, one is a lighter hand-and-body lotion and the third is a more targeted body treatment. That makes them more useful to compare than three variations on the same moisturiser.
UpCircle Body Cream with Aloe Vera & Cocoa Butter
UpCircle Body Cream with Aloe Vera & Cocoa Butter combines glycerin with sunflower oil, shea butter and cocoa butter, plus linseed and olive oils, aloe and upcycled date seed extract.
It's a good example of a natural body cream combining humectant hydration with several plant-derived emollients. The formula does contain essential oils and fragrance components, which is worth knowing if your skin is particularly fragrance-sensitive.
Explore UpCircle Body CareMÁDARA KIND Hydra Lotion
MÁDARA KIND Hydra Lotion is a lighter option for everyday body moisturising, particularly if you prefer a lotion to a rich body butter or cream.
The certified-organic, vegan formula combines aloe and glycerin with sunflower and olive oils, shea and cocoa butters, plus cloudberry and linseed extracts. It's designed for both hands and body and can be applied whenever skin feels dry.
Explore MÁDARA Body CareEvolve Beauty Body Sculpting Cellulite Cream
Evolve Beauty Body Sculpting Cellulite Cream offers something different from a standard daily moisturiser, combining body hydration with a more targeted smoothing and exfoliating formula.
The COSMOS Organic, vegan formula contains shea butter and macadamia oil alongside lactic acid, sodium hyaluronate, caffeine and botanical extracts.
Because it contains lactic acid, follow the individual product directions rather than treating it as an all-purpose body cream.
Explore Evolve Body CareWhich natural body-care product suits you?
| If you're looking for... | Consider | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| A richer everyday body cream | UpCircle Body Cream | Combines glycerin, plant butters and several botanical oils. |
| A lighter everyday lotion | MÁDARA KIND Hydra Lotion | A hand-and-body lotion combining humectants with plant oils and butters. |
| A targeted smoothing treatment | Evolve Body Sculpting Cellulite Cream | Combines moisturising ingredients with lactic acid, caffeine and botanical extracts. |
How to make body care more consistent
The best body-care routine isn't necessarily the most elaborate one. It's the one you actually follow.
- Keep body moisturiser somewhere you'll see it after showering.
- Use a lighter lotion if rich body butter makes you avoid moisturising altogether.
- Switch to a richer texture when cold weather makes your skin feel drier.
- Use body oil on damp skin if you prefer oils to creams.
- Concentrate richer products on elbows, knees, shins and other areas that need them.
- Don't exfoliate simply because a routine tells you that you should.
Body care doesn't have to become another ten-step beauty routine. A few well-chosen products used consistently are usually much more useful than an overflowing bathroom shelf.
Build your body-care routine
Explore natural and organic bath and shower products, body moisturisers, oils, deodorants, hand care, body SPF and more from brands selected by MyPure.
Shop Natural & Organic Body CareNatural & organic body care FAQs
What is the difference between natural and organic body care?
Natural body care places an emphasis on ingredients derived from natural sources. Organic refers specifically to qualifying agricultural ingredients and how they're grown and processed. A natural product isn't necessarily certified organic, so look for recognised certification if that's important to you.
Is natural body care good for dry skin?
Natural formulations can work particularly well for dry skin because plant oils and butters provide emollient lipids and can be combined with humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid. The complete formula matters, so choose according to how dry your skin feels and the texture you prefer.
Is natural body care suitable for sensitive skin?
It can be, but natural doesn't automatically mean non-irritating. Essential oils, fragrance components and botanical extracts can still cause problems for some people. If your skin is particularly reactive, consider simpler or fragrance-free formulas and introduce new products gradually.
Should I use body lotion or body oil?
You can use either or both. Lotions and creams usually contain water, humectants and emollients, while body oils provide an oil-based emollient layer. Oils work particularly well applied to slightly damp skin or layered over a moisturiser when you want extra richness.
Do I need to exfoliate my body?
No. Exfoliation is an optional step that can help rough or flaky areas feel smoother, but healthy-looking skin doesn't depend on regular scrubbing. If you exfoliate, adjust the frequency according to how your skin responds.
Do I need to detox when switching to natural deodorant?
No. There isn't a biological detox period required when changing deodorant. Natural deodorants and antiperspirants work differently, so you may notice a change in perspiration or how the product feels, but this isn't your body purging toxins.
Do natural and organic body products expire faster?
Not necessarily. Shelf life depends on the individual formulation, packaging and preservation system rather than simply whether a product is natural or organic. Follow the storage instructions and check the Period After Opening symbol on the individual product.
Can I try natural body care before buying full size?
Yes, where samples are available. MyPure lets you choose up to five free sample sachets with an order, making it easier to test the texture and feel of selected products before buying the full size. Browse the available free samples.
What should I look for in a body moisturiser?
For everyday hydration, look for a combination of humectants and emollients. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are examples of humectants, while plant oils and butters provide emollience. If your skin is very dry, a richer cream or butter may feel more comfortable than a lightweight lotion.
The bottom line
Natural body care doesn't need to turn your bathroom into a complicated treatment room. Cleanse gently, moisturise consistently and add oils, exfoliators and targeted products when your skin actually benefits from them.
Plant oils and butters are particularly useful body-care ingredients because they naturally provide complex mixtures of lipids and other compounds. Combined intelligently with humectants and botanical extracts, they can create formulas that soften skin, support its barrier and help reduce moisture loss.
Texture matters too. The body cream everyone recommends isn't much use if you dislike it enough to leave it untouched in the cupboard. Choose a lotion, cream, butter or oil that fits both your skin and your routine.
For us, that's the real attraction of natural body care: not simply a list of ingredients to avoid, but the opportunity to make intelligent use of what plants can contribute to a formulation.
Please note: This article provides general skincare information rather than medical advice. Always follow individual product instructions. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, persistent irritation or a known allergy, seek appropriate professional advice.