9 Ways to Feel (and Look) Better Naked
Photo courtesy of Heather Hazzan/The Licensing Project
There’s real power in feeling good in your own skin. Which is why many of us have adopted the practice of spending a little time being naked with ourselves in the quiet of the early morning (it’s a brilliant trick that can shift the arc of the whole day—we learned it from Erica Chidi, cohost of The goop Podcast and cofounder and CEO of sexual- and reproductive-health brand LOOM). Lavishing yourself with ultramoisturizing body cream, velvety self-tanner, infrared heat, and even a miracle oil for pubic hair makes sense in much the same way. Here, our guide to softening, smoothing, and gorgeously glowifying yourself from head to toe.
1
Exfoliate for full-body glow.
Sweep away dead skin to leave your entire body instantly smoother and softer—not incidentally, this can also help bring you out of the maelstrom in your head and into your body. The perfectly dense bristles on this dry brush feel like heaven on skin; apply enough pressure so that it feels invigorating. It’s especially great before a shower or bath. Once you’re in the shower, deepen the exfoliation and amp up skin moisture with this salt scrub swirled with skin-coddling oils.
2
Moisturize with purpose.
Chidi’s brilliant advice—spend a few minutes each day with your naked self—is a life-changing habit to get into. Standing, sitting, or even lying down works; be sure to grab a great moisturizer to smooth yourself down with. The point is self-affirmation—to energize, regroup, and relax—so there’s no particular massage technique to know. Our favorite creams and oils nourish skin and spirit, moisturize like crazy, and smell fantastic.
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Citrusy Butter (with clinical results)
goop Beauty GOOPGENES Nourishing Repair Body Butter goop, $65/$50 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Sexy
Hibiscus-Scented Oil
Balmyard Beauty Romantic Call Body Oil goop, $82SHOP NOW -
Melting Moisturizing Bar
Kate McLeod The Daily Stone goop, $45SHOP NOW
3
Give yourself a foot
massage before bed.
This is a habit that we swear makes the next day go better—it also feels fantastic. Kneading your heels, which rarely get a break, feels especially great. As above, there’s no particular technique, but do it once you’re in bed so you’re not getting up and slipping on the floor. (This cream sinks in quickly, though.)
4
A subtle tan works
airbrush-like magic.
If your skin tone needs evening out, there’s nothing like a light self-tan. This self-tanning water approximates a gorgeous out-and-about summery radiance, leaving skin gleaming and evenly burnished. It’s beautiful on legs, arms, and face, and the results are even better—sexier, more flattering—with your clothes off.
5
Sweating it out can look better than makeup.
The surge of energy and the invigorated flush you get from a rigorous workout or doing a lap in the park is unbeatable for glow, as are heat treatments like infrared saunas. This sauna blanket is a brilliant at-home solution, and the infrared mat—designed with pulsed electromagnetic fields and layered with crystals—is fantastic for yoga, savasana, and lounging around naked doing the Chidi-prescribed self-massage.
6
If your hair looks great, you look great, naked or clothed.
Nourish your hair with great products and it’ll be immediately smoother, less frizzy, and more radiant. This winning combination of softening and detangling treatments works for all textures, from kinky and curly to fine and straight, and even helps rehab damaged hair.
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The Better-Hair-Right-Away Treatment
goop Beauty GOOPGLOW Restore + Shine Hair Serum goop, $55/$44 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Scalp-Massaging,
Hair-Softening Shampoo
goop Beauty G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo goop, $55/$38 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Ultramoisturizing
Conditioner
Rahua Hydration Conditioner goop, $38SHOP NOW
7
Treat your face, too.
Exfoliate regularly (gauge how often your skin can handle it), nourish with face cream or oil (as the days get chillier, we love layering oil over cream to lock in moisture), and finish off with a few spritzes of an ultrahydrating spray (do it throughout the day for an instant freshening effect).
8
Give your pubic hair some love.
Whether your vibe is completely hairless or trimmed and shaped or you feel more like yourself with a won’t-be-tamed bush, these body-hair-grooming miracles give you options. Fur Oil, a blend of conditioning botanicals, leaves pubic hair silky and also easier to remove, while the shave cream’s whipped texture and moisturizing botanicals allow for a close shave and minimal ingrowns.
9
When you smell like roses, you feel gorgeous.
Damask rose, cedarwood, bergamot—this sexy blend melts right into skin and smells so out-of-this-world incredible, you’ll want to roll it over every inch of you.
