When it comes to taking care of skin, most people invest the majority of their time and money into treating their face, leaving skin on the body as an afterthought. However, skin care professionals are working to educate and bring awareness to the importance of treating the entire body. This awareness is leading to the demand for results-driven body treatments in the treatment room along with the desire to have a homecare regimen specifically for the body.

SKIN & BODY
Regardless of where skin is located, the main function is universal. Skin provides a protective barrier against ultraviolet radiation, hazardous substances, mechanical and physical injury, and thermal protection. The organ detects infections, helps regulate body temperature, and controls moisture loss. Nerve endings in skin communicate to the brain so that experiencing temperature, pleasure, pressure, and pain will keep the body safe from harm.
Skin on the body tends to be thicker than on the face and has more fat in the subcutaneous layer for thermal protection. It also produces less oil due to fewer sebaceous glands. Fewer oil glands leave skin on the body drier than the face. The T-zone area (forehead, nose, and chin) contains the most sebaceous glands, which leads to more oil being produced with higher visibility. Certain areas like the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are unique in that they have an extra layer in the epidermis that allows for more elasticity and resilience.
New skin is constantly being produced through a process called cellular turnover. Cellular turnover is the continuous act of shedding dead skin cells and subsequently replacing them with younger, healthier cells. Age, hydration levels, skin care, and overall health are all factors that dictate how fast this process happens. Skin on the body has a naturally slower turnover rate than the face, so treating concerns may require stronger formulations, stacking multiple modalities, and more frequent treatments. Exfoliation is one of the easiest ways to support healthy cellular turnover, which is why it is a core step for the majority of body treatments.

Rebecca Olpin has been at the forefront of the luxury spa industry for the last 18 years as an aesthetician and massage therapist. Her career began in Las Vegas, Nevada at the prestigious Ritz Carlton Hotel & Spa. During this time, she not only discovered a growing passion for high-end spa and hospitality service but also the desire to lean further into management and training. This led her to open yet another Las Vegas spa at Palms Place. In recent years, Olpin applied this expertise as the department educator for the Mandarin Oriental and then was a key member of the launch team for L’Occitane’s first spa in the United States. Education, coupled with her vast hands-on experience in the spa industry, eventually brought her to Sorella Apothecary where she is currently the brand’s lead educator. Olpin’s passion is visible in her educational webinars, live trainings, and successful remote education curriculums.