‘Touch My Elbow, Again’: MECCA’s Best New Body Care
March 24 | 3 minute read
Words by Catherine Garrett
No one really wants to hear a white, 40+ woman rap. But here I am, quoting LL Cool J: “Don’t call it a comeback.” Because it’s me again. Your self-appointed body care expert, here to report on some new developments in this often-underrepresented beauty category.
For those that read Touch My Elbow and invested in a dry body brush: I see you. And for those who invested in a dry body brush and then proceeded not to use it: I see you, I feel you (I’m like that with eye creams), but also, I judge you. You’re missing out on the best (body) skin of your life.
Until now. Because there’s been a swell of new body care launches that may pip the body brush at the post.
The first one is retinol for the body. When one of my colleagues suggested I try Nécessaire Hand Retinol, I first thought, ‘Oh please’. Who needs that? So niche! But then I saw that my hands were looking a little sun-ravaged and I quickly changed my mind. BTW did you know the best way to tell someone’s real age is their hands? Well I’m no spring chicken, but thanks to using a hand retinol at night before bed, my hands are looking less like those of a stewing hen.
And it’s not just the hands, Nécessaire also has a Body Retinol that when applied at night, slowly fades the various bumps and scars on my limbs that date back to the ’90s (from a few tumbles playing netball in my youth). Nécessaire aren’t the only ones adding retinol to their body care – Fig.1, Alpha-H and Chantecaille are a part of the growing list. If you’re going to give it whirl, please, please avoid too much sun exposure and wear SPF50+.
Perhaps the most exciting development in body care has been body serums. They’ve been dominating the new-in section of the MECCA Body category and with good reason.
Body serums – unlike their thicker body cream sisters – absorb at lightning speed, meaning you can put clothes on straight away, making them a great everyday body moisturiser. Top of the list has to be the newly launched Uni Body Serum but you have to be quick. As soon as it’s in stock, it’s out again, thanks to its addictive scent and highly efficacious ingredients. Race you to the check out! While we’re talking about Uni, I should note: they’re my new favourite hand and body wash brand too.
Other body serums worth adding to cart are: Dr. Barbara Sturm, Omorovicza and Nécessaire.
If you’re like me and you need a bit of extra moisturising or prefer to layer scent – this is where adding a body oil on top can come in. A body oil – and brand – I’m loving is OSEA. They focus on marine ingredients like seaweed and algae, but don’t think you’ll end up like a supermarket sushi roll – more like the smooth skin of a dolphin that has spent the day at a luxurious spa.
For now, that’s a wrap. Until I find another opportunity to, well, rap.
