Five Best for Body 2014

I’m on a mission this year to get my body looking as good as my face. As we all know, this is something of a challenge because it simply isn’t practical to give all five foot two of me the expensive serum treatment. Nonetheless, I’ve been finding a combination of anti-aging body lotions and special treatments are working wonders for smoothing crepey skin, firming sagging stuff and toning the dimply bits. Here’s my Five Best for body:

  • Kat Burki Raw Beauty Body Butter

    Kat Burki’s line of luxurious products made with raw natural ingredients (yes, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but she has pulled it off) is a recent find and I adore Kat Burki Raw Beauty Body Butter ($62 in the shop). It leaves my skin feeling super soft and it is pleasant to apply as it absorbs efficiently without leaving any greasy residue. Full of herbs and other soothing plant oils and extracts, this body cream encourages cell turnover while imparting antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. I’m on my second pot. 

    Read the full review and learn about the ingredients

  • Arcona Pumpkin Lotion

    Arcona Pumpkin Lotion ($35 in the shop) with 10% glycolic acid is a must for wrinkled areas (I am very generous with it on my knees and elbows) and for taking down sun-damaged areas. It packs a punch (don’t even sniff it after you’ve shaved your legs) and should really be regarded as a serious exfoliating treatment. Pumpkin enzymes back up the glycolic. An interesting inclusion is Fructoologisac Charides, a fructose that is considered a pre-biotic and can help heal the skin. 

    Read the full review and learn about the ingredients

  • The Organic Pharmacy Body Lotion

    I love, love The Organic Pharmacy Body Lotion ($79). The rose (there are four types of rose-based ingredients) scent reminds me of English summer gardens (after an inevitable rain shower). The texture is remarkably light and easily absorbed, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that it isn’t hydrating. This is a super effective body lotion with aloe, honey, coconut and sesame oils. Great for keeping the skin soft and supple. 

    Read the full review and learn about the ingredients

  • Medik8 Red Alert for Body

    Medik8 Red Alert for Body ($75) is something of a miracle worker in my experience. I recently used it on a scar on my leg that I had had since last October and had stubbornly refused to fade…until I tried Medik8. One month later the scar is almost completely gone and I am now using it – to good effect – on a burn mark on my wrist. Vitamin K, licorice, horse chestnut and bearberry all do their bit to help fade the appearance of thread veins, redness and bruises. The key active is the cutting edge ingredient teprenone, which is supposed to stabilize the telomeres and prevent cell death. And, as such, may be a useful anti-aging active. It is also said to mend broken veins and calm rosacea. 

    Read the full review and learn about the ingredients

  • Mukti Pink Grapefruit Body Lotion

    For an all-natural body lotion that complies with Australia’s strict organic standards, Mukti Pink Grapefruit Body Lotion ($47 in the shop) is as good as it gets. The base is aloe vera juice which, when used topically can soothe skin and serve as an anti-inflammatory. Macadamia oil is rich in nutrients plus there is coconut, glycerin, and butters (cocoa and shea butyrospermum parkii). Four citrus essential oils to make up the fruity fragrance.

    Read the full review and learn about the ingredients