3 Steps To Prep Your Body For The Beach
The Skinsmith | 27th July 2026
( photo credit - Debi Haden)
This summer follow our 3 step top tips to prepare your body for the beach…
The skin on your body needs TLC in a similar way to your face, we have 3 simple steps you can do now to make sure the skin on your body is glowing and smooth just as it is on the face.
Top 3 Steps To Follow
Step 1. Body Polish
This is key step which many people ignore and do not incorporate into their weekly body care routine. A gentle body polish or scrub removes dead, rough textured skin cells and can help to minimise keratosis pilaris or strawberry skin! Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common simple skin condition caused when hair follicles are clogged with old, dead skin cells. They cause tiny bumps on areas such as thighs, backs of arms and backs, it can feel itchy and can resemble the skin of a strawberry, hence the nickname.
Exfoliation is key in treating KP but is also key in keeping the skin on your body healthy too.
Benefits of a body polish include:
- Removes dead, dull, rough skin
- Stimulates blood flow to feed and nourish your skin
- Stimulates cell renewal so your skin looks more youthful and healthier
- Smooths rough textured, dry skin
- Leaves skin supple, healthy and glowing
Top Tip – if you like to apply fake tan products a gentle body polish beforehand will extend the length of your fake tan!
Not that we want to promote sunbathing, but a gentle body polish will also keep a natural tan for longer too.
You should incorporate a gentle body polish or scrub into your weekly routine 1-2 times per week. Your more youthful glowing skin will help you look beach ready and will also enable your body products to absorb more effectively.
We love Eminence’s Stone Crop Revitalising Body Scrub with gentle salt and sugar granules and lactic acid to reveal a healthy beach ready body and as Stone Crop is part of the Aloe family it will help to soothe your skin from the effects of UV.
Step 2. Body Hydration
You will find that after a nice body scrub your skin will soak up your body lotion or oil as the dead skin layer will have been removed allowing the new skin cells to absorb and benefit fully from any products applied.
Applying an Eminence body lotion or oil daily, will protect and treat the skin on your body in the same way your moisturiser protects and treats the skin on your face. They are full of antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins nourishing and feeding your skin to keep it smoothed, soothed and healthy. For drier skins or areas such as elbows and knees, body oils are fabulous as they deliver more moisture to support your bodies skin barrier. There is even a solid body oil – Yuzu Solid Body Oil, perfect for travelling and has a yummy citrusy scent. Very fresh for the summer!
Top Tip – apply your body lotion or oil to a damp skin right after a shower or bath to maximise hydration and absorption and this is why:
- The water on your skin when it is damp helps create little pathways between your skin cells temporarily, resulting in deeper absorption into the layers of the epidermis and they call this moisture trapping, the occlusiveness of a lotion also traps the water on your skin and prevents it from evaporating away!
- Your skin swells slighty when it is wet this means it is easier for products to penetrate the skin due to the enhanced permeability of the skin barrier.
- When lotions are mixed with water it makes it easier to apply resulting in less product usage which could also save you money! Water is a bit of a natural lubricant and helps the lotions spread more easily over your skin. Just make sure your skin is damp not dripping wet so a gentle towel drying with a patting motion is the best way to keep your skin damp after your shower/bath.
Another Top Tip – Eminence has 2 gorgeous body oils that can be used in a bath as a bath oil, simply add a cupful of either Apricot Body Oil or Stone Crop Body Oil to running bath for a relaxing hydrating soak. Stone Crop Body Oil contains arnica and Indian gooseberry helping to relax muscles and soothe aching joints for the perfect end to a busy day at the beach!
Step 3. Body SPF
(photo credit - World of Asaya)
The last step to prep your body for the beach is of course….. SPF! Please do not spend the day at the beach without a good broad spectrum SPF product. Your body will thank you for it we promise!
Eminence SPF products are all mineral sunscreens meaning they contain zinc oxide as opposed to chemical sunscreens which contain chemicals such as Avobenzone, Oxybenzone or Octinoxate. These chemical sunscreens contain carbon-based compounds that absorb UV rays and convert them to heat which is released from the skin. Due to this process, they can feel hot on the skin, may feel greasy or sticky and can irritate your skin and clog your pores. They may also be harmful to ocean life and coral and some are banned in places such as Hawaii and the Florida Keys.
Because of the potential harm to your skin and the environment Eminence has chosen mineral over chemical sun protection.
Eminence has a great SPF for the body, Lilikoi Mineral Defense Sport Sunscreen SPF30. Formulated to be used daily, this SPF30 protects against UVA and UVB, is water-resistant and can last up to 40 minutes in the water. It is ideal for providing protection against UV rays during activities such as sporting or swimming activities and can be used on the body and the face.
Winner of Favorite Body Sunscreen, Dermascope Aestheticians’ Choice Awards, 2023
The World Health Organisation recommends the minimum SPF you need is an SPF30.
SPF30 will block 97% of UVB rays whereas SPF50 blocks 98%. For most of us SPF30 is a good option for daily use, the SPF50 is great for longer outdoor periods or if you are fairer skinned or have skin concerns that are affected by UV. There is also a theory that SPF50 is a good choice as most people do not apply enough SPF for complete coverage or reapply it every 2 hours or as recommended to ensure continual protection.
The Importance Of Sun Protection
Using SPF on your face and body slows down premature ageing, reduces the risk of sunburn and sun damage and even the risk of skin cancer.
We hope these tips are helpful in prepping your body for the beach and we hope you have a superb summer.
For More Advice.....
We have a great blog on How To Protect Your Skin With Mineral SPF and for more advice on the best SPF product for you.......
..... please contact a member of the Skinsmith team by using our quick and easy contact form below. You can also get in touch with a member of our team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing us at info@theskinsmith.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.