We’re all born with baby smooth skin— meaning its texture is soft to the touch and visibly even — but maintaining it can be a challenge, thanks to everyday wear-and-tear (dryness, roughness, bumps, scars and more) and hair growth, plus there’s cellulite, body acne and keratosis pilaris (all totally normal BTW!).
But all (silky skin) is not lost: There is now a plethora of at home methods, remedies and treatments for achieving the touchable, supple skin of your dreams. Here, the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab’s scientists and experts share proven tips and top-tested product picks for how to get smooth body and face skin you’ll want to bare:
Master hair removal.
One of the first keys to smooth skin is getting rid of unwanted body hair and stubble. Explore the methods of hair removal (shaving, epilating, waxing, depilatories, laser) to identify the ideal match for specific areas of the body and needs:
Find the best hair removal products for you.
Once you’ve honed in on your hair removal method, choose from the GH Beauty Lab’s best-tested hair removal products, including at-home wax kits and laser hair removal devices, razors and epilators. Shop according to product type and your budget, goal and skin type.
Prevent skin problems.
Follow dermatologist and beauty expert tips to ensure best results and troubleshoot hair removal issues like razor burn and irritation.
- Make moisturizing routine. Another crucial component of smooth skin is hydration. As opposed to only moisturizing your body when your skin feels dry, make it a habit of applying a body lotion or cream daily, just as you do for your face. Dermatologists recommend smoothing it on after you shower to lock in moisture or before bed to soften skin and prevent moisture loss while you sleep.
- Exfoliate regularly. Like your face, your body also needs to be exfoliated in order to slough off dead skin cells, revealing smoother and more radiant skin underneath. Try buffing on a body scrub two to three times per week in the shower (you can even make a DIY body scrub at home with ingredients you may have in your pantry) or use an exfoliant with active AHAs or BHAs like salicylic acid or glycolic acid.
Polish what’s bothering you.
- Tackle cellulite. While totally normal, those lumps and bumps commonly found on the thighs and buttocks may be standing in the way of the smoother skin you want. If so, you can explore different options for minimizing their appearance, from temporary fixes to longer-lasting doctor’s office treatments.
- Banish body breakouts. Acne breakouts can cause both bumps and scars on skin’s surface and are even prevalent on areas of the body like the back. Prevent and treat them with a dedicated regimen of skincare treatments and lifestyle tweaks.
- Treat keratosis pilaris. Many people experience keratosis pilaris (also known as KP), small rash-like bumps that are common on areas like the backs of the arms. Address them with at-home KP treatment products or via a dermatologist with prescription or in-office treatments.
Don’t forget your face.
Unwanted hair can also get in the way of achieving your smoothest skin on your face, whether it’s on your upper lip, eyebrows, chin or cheeks. Get rid of it as easily (and painlessly) as possible with face-specific techniques like tweezing, waxing, shaving or dermaplaning, threading, depilatories, epilating and laser hair removal.
