MMT's Recommended Body Skincare Picks for 2026
Updated: 9 hours ago
This article is for general information only and is not a medical diagnosis. If spots are painful, inflamed, spreading, scarring or not improving, book an acne or skin assessment rather than adding more products.
Body skincare: the £200 cream conundrum
You’d hope a £200 body cream would do something spectacular. Preferably sort your dry legs, bumpy arms and uneven skin tone before you’ve finished the pot.
But a bigger price tag doesn’t guarantee a better match for your skin.
With every bottle promising glow, firmness, smoothness and “renewal”, it’s easy to buy into the hype. The useful question is: what does your skin actually need?
Start with your main concern...
Dry shins?
Bumpy upper arms?
Spots across your back?
Crepey skin?
... each concern needs different approaches. You might have more than one concern, which is why one cream won’t necessarily do every job.
Choose ingredients for the concern you want to improve. If you’re unsure what you’re treating, get advice before adding stronger products.
My MMT body skincare picks as we move into 2027
Simple, targeted choices. Sensible prices. Realistic expectations.
Start with a comfortable body wash and a moisturiser that supports your skin barrier.
Add a targeted treatment only where it’s needed—you don’t need everything on this list.
Choose your routine
The table below gives a practical starting point for the most common body concerns. It is not a rulebook, just a clearer way to match product type to skin need.
Main concern | Body wash | Moisturiser | Optional treatment or adjustment |
Dry or tight skin | Naturium Glow Getter | Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion | Use La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M instead where a richer cream is needed. |
Rough bumps / keratosis pilaris | Naturium Glow Getter | Eucerin UreaRepair 10% Urea Lotion, if tolerated | Try CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream instead on bumpy areas, starting two evenings weekly. |
Body spots / blocked follicles | Naturium The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash, introduced gradually | Naturium Bio-Lipid, lightly where needed, if it suits your skin | Don’t automatically add another acid. Persistent or inflamed spots may need specific acne treatment. |
Dullness / uneven texture | Naturium Glow Getter | Naturium Bio-Lipid | The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner on selected areas once weekly initially, followed by moisturiser. |
Dark marks / uneven pigmentation | Naturium Glow Getter | Eucerin Anti-Pigment Targeted Areas Body Cream on marks, following its directions; Naturium Bio-Lipid elsewhere | Skip extra acids initially. Reduce friction and irritation, and protect exposed areas from the sun. |
Sensitive / irritation-prone skin | La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+ Cream Wash | La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M | Cicaplast Baume B5+ may suit small dry patches. No exfoliating extra needed. |
Mature / crepey-looking skin | Naturium Glow Getter | Naturium Bio-Lipid | Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion instead of your usual lotion on two evenings weekly initially. |
Ingrown-prone skin | Naturium Glow Getter | Naturium Bio-Lipid | A little The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% on intact affected skin once weekly initially. Review shaving technique too. |
Introduce exfoliating washes, acid toners, salicylic acid creams and retinol body lotions slowly. If skin stings, burns, peels heavily or becomes itchy, stop and simplify.
My top tips
Face and body aren’t always a straight swap. Thicker, rougher areas may benefit from different formulations. A higher percentage alone doesn’t guarantee better results.
Moisturise while skin is slightly damp. It helps hold onto water after showering, leaving skin softer and less tight.
I prefer acids to gritty scrubs. They can smooth without the rubbing and friction, but still need introducing gradually.
Watch for doubling up. An exfoliating wash, smoothing lotion and acid toner can add up quickly. Start with one.
Underarms, groin and freshly shaved skin? Gentle territory. Keep strong exfoliants away.
SPF below the chin counts too. Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher on exposed arms, hands and chest. AHAs can increase sun sensitivity.
Give it time. Consistency beats enthusiastic scrubbing—and burning isn’t a sign it’s working.
Keep retinol and exfoliating acids on separate nights initially. Avoid retinol during pregnancy or when trying to conceive; seek individual advice if breastfeeding.
Creams can improve hydration, texture and the appearance of crepey skin, but they won’t significantly tighten loose skin.
Persistent, painful or itchy spots, ongoing rashes and new or changing dark patches need assessment before adding more products.
The MMT takeaway
Choose products for the skin you have and the concern you want to improve. Use them consistently and adjust when needed.
Your skin doesn’t need a £200 promise. It needs a routine that suits it.
Did you know we treat body skin in clinic too?
From back facials for congestion to injectable treatments that can improve crepey skin and mild skin laxity, our skin treatments go beyond the face.
Not sure what’s right for you? Book a consultation and we’ll talk through your options.
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