Menu
NOTE: This article is taken from ‘Body + Soul’ written by Holly Berckelman.
These days, most people are pretty across their skincare routines.
Whether you’re a 10-step routine devotee or prefer a simple cleanse-and-moisturise formula, at this stage it’s common knowledge that our faces need to be properly taken care of for skin to look its healthiest.
Skincare is so popular that new brands emerge almost every day, targeting different skin types and concerns – but not all parts of our bodies have been treated equally.
Our bottoms have long been ignored when it comes to skincare, as people understandably prefer to spend their time and money on their faces. But it seems times are changing, with the rise in butt-centric skincare products that give our derrières some long overdue attention.
Skincare helps to keep skin – the largest organ in the body – as healthy as possible, by keeping it clean and hydrated, and strengthening the skin’s barrier.
Throughout our day-to-day activities, our faces are subject to environmental damage like wind and sunburn, and are exposed to chemical pollutants from the outside world and makeup, which can clog the pores and cause irritation.
Depending on your personal skin concerns, the products and routine can be tailored to get the best out of your skin.
Unlike our faces, our butts aren’t exposed to the same level of environmental pollutants or damage, since they’re usually covered up. But our butts take a beating every day, and are subject to other kinds of physical damage and irritation or oil build-ups as a result.
We sit on our bums for hours, they get chafed by our underwear and sometimes sweaty in our sheets at night. Not to mention they’re totally at the mercy of whatever polyester pants and lacy knickers we shove them into each day and are often victims of the harshest products in our showers.
But our butts aren’t as invincible as we often treat them.
“Both face and butt skin are delicate and sensitive,” Sylwia Wiesenberg, founder of Bawdy Beauty, a clean butt skincare brand tells Body+Soul.
“We think of butt skin as thicker but in fact, it is not and it needs special attention in order to avoid breakouts, rashes, hyperpigmentation and of course ageing. The loss of elasticity happens much faster to thin butt skin.”
Noticing the lack of products targeting butt skin on the market, Wiesenberg founded Bawdy in 2018 with a range of ‘bawdy’ care products, including the fan-favourite sheet masks plus a wash, oil, serum and sculpting tool – the first of their kind.
“The idea behind butt masking was to take care of the most neglected asset – your butt – that is constantly used and abused with rough denim fabric, sweaty leggings and being seated on most of the day,” she tells Body+Soul. “The area definitely needs a little more love and proper skincare routine, especially because the skin is very delicate.”
Physical damage is top of mind when it comes to our bottoms, but chemical irritants are present too. Most people don’t apply beauty products to their bums, with the exception of performers, but it’s common to use fake tan or sunscreen on bums especially during the summer months, and that can take a toll on the health of the skin.
Tan Boonsirisuk, creator and founder of , recognised the lack of butt-specific skincare on the market, and endeavoured to create a potent and highly-effective product targeted to the area.
This culminated in the creation of , a naturally-derived, complex oil designed to treat stretch marks, cellulite, bumps and dark spots, while moisturising and nourishing the skin to help it look as healthy and glowy as possible.
When creating the, Boonsirisuk leant on key ingredients designed to target these common concerns, including natural oils like camelia, jojoba, almond and macadamia, which provide nourishment, hydration, and promote skin elasticity.
Sea buckthorn oil, rich in nutrients, helps to improve skin health, and it also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant which helps promote healthy skin (and vision!) and protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances – cigarette smoke for example.
Wiesenberg made sure to include similar ingredients in Bawdy’s butt masks, plus caffeine to energise and tighten the skin, collagen for elasticity, sodium hyaluronate (a derivative of hyaluronic acid) for hydration, and nettle to relieve redness and help repair dry skin.
Both Bawdy and Muse’s products are designed to be effective on their own, but can be paired with other actives or key ingredients to target individual skin concerns.
Butt skincare is finally getting its moment in the sun – here’s how to give your bottom the treatment it deserves.
These days, most people are pretty across their skincare routines.
Whether you’re a 10-step routine devotee or prefer a simple cleanse-and-moisturise formula, at this stage it’s common knowledge that our faces need to be properly taken care of for skin to look its healthiest.
Skincare is so popular that new brands emerge almost every day, targeting different skin types and concerns – but not all parts of our bodies have been treated equally.
Our bottoms have long been ignored when it comes to skincare, as people understandably prefer to spend their time and money on their faces. But it seems times are changing, with the rise in butt-centric skincare products that give our derrières some long overdue attention.
Skincare helps to keep skin – the largest organ in the body – as healthy as possible, by keeping it clean and hydrated, and strengthening the skin’s barrier.
Throughout our day-to-day activities, our faces are subject to environmental damage like wind and sunburn, and are exposed to chemical pollutants from the outside world and makeup, which can clog the pores and cause irritation.
Depending on your personal skin concerns, the products and routine can be tailored to get the best out of your skin.
Unlike our faces, our butts aren’t exposed to the same level of environmental pollutants or damage, since they’re usually covered up. But our butts take a beating every day, and are subject to other kinds of physical damage and irritation or oil build-ups as a result.
We sit on our bums for hours, they get chafed by our underwear and sometimes sweaty in our sheets at night. Not to mention they’re totally at the mercy of whatever polyester pants and lacy knickers we shove them into each day and are often victims of the harshest products in our showers.
But our butts aren’t as invincible as we often treat them.
Muse Butt Gloss, $58
“Both face and butt skin are delicate and sensitive,” Sylwia Wiesenberg, founder of Bawdy Beauty, a clean butt skincare brand tells Body+Soul.
“We think of butt skin as thicker but in fact, it is not and it needs special attention in order to avoid breakouts, rashes, hyperpigmentation and of course ageing. The loss of elasticity happens much faster to thin butt skin.”
Noticing the lack of products targeting butt skin on the market, Wiesenberg founded Bawdy in 2018 with a range of ‘bawdy’ care products, including the fan-favourite sheet masks plus a wash, oil, serum and sculpting tool – the first of their kind.
“The idea behind butt masking was to take care of the most neglected asset – your butt – that is constantly used and abused with rough denim fabric, sweaty leggings and being seated on most of the day,” she tells Body+Soul. “The area definitely needs a little more love and proper skincare routine, especially because the skin is very delicate.”
Physical damage is top of mind when it comes to our bottoms, but chemical irritants are present too. Most people don’t apply beauty products to their bums, with the exception of performers, but it’s common to use fake tan or sunscreen on bums especially during the summer months, and that can take a toll on the health of the skin.
Tan Boonsirisuk, creator and founder of , recognised the lack of butt-specific skincare on the market, and endeavoured to create a potent and highly-effective product targeted to the area.
This culminated in the creation of , a naturally-derived, complex oil designed to treat stretch marks, cellulite, bumps and dark spots, while moisturising and nourishing the skin to help it look as healthy and glowy as possible.
When creating the, Boonsirisuk leant on key ingredients designed to target these common concerns, including natural oils like camelia, jojoba, almond and macadamia, which provide nourishment, hydration, and promote skin elasticity.
Sea buckthorn oil, rich in nutrients, helps to improve skin health, and it also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant which helps promote healthy skin (and vision!) and protect against damage caused by exposure to harmful substances – cigarette smoke for example.
Wiesenberg made sure to include similar ingredients in Bawdy’s butt masks, plus caffeine to energise and tighten the skin, collagen for elasticity, sodium hyaluronate (a derivative of hyaluronic acid) for hydration, and nettle to relieve redness and help repair dry skin.
Both Bawdy and Muse’s products are designed to be effective on their own, but can be paired with other actives or key ingredients to target individual skin concerns.
from their Everyday range, for instance, is great for buttne (that’s acne on your butt) and contains salicylic acid to unclog pores and niacinamide to balance oil and promote a healthy skin barrier.
Theon the other hand is a great exfoliant for those with targeted irritation like keratosis pilaris.
Maybe it’s growing body confidence, or just the resurgence of Y2K fashion, famous for its lack of coverage (Hi, Miu Miu skirt), but asses are out on show more than ever. So it’s understandable that people are focusing more on the health of their butt skin, should they be on display.
Just like the rest of our skin, butt skin is also susceptible to ageing, a loss of elasticity, stretching and firmness – all totally natural, but realities which can impact confidence for some people.
It’s a mindset Wiesenberg wants to see change. “Bawdy started with my passion for butts,” she tells Body+Soul. “The mission is to boost our body confidence and give us permission to get naked and touch our body more often.”
It’s important to mention there is no way a butt should look. And whether you have buttne and cellulite or it’s as clear and untouched as a baby bum, that’s great – all butts deserve to see the light of day. And as is the case with bodies generally, all shapes and textures should be celebrated. But there are things you can do to improve the health of your skin, and derrière care is no different. As Wiesenberg tells Body+Soul, no matter what it looks like for you, “In the end, the perfect skincare routine starts from the bottom up.”
As with your facial skincare, using 200 products and changing up your routine every day will culminate in irritated, stressed out skin, not soothed and clear. Figure out your skincare concerns and build a sustainable routine that’s right for you, then stick with it.
That being said, here’s your cheat sheet for maximising your butt skin health, from the inside out.
Whether you’re after brightening, cleansing or calming, there’s a cleanser for every butt. Cleaning is the most important step in butt skincare so find a cleanser that works for your butt’s needs in the shower or before bed.
Exfoliating helps to “remove dead skin cells and promote a smoother appearance,” says Boonsirisuk, who suggests doing so once or twice a week.
There are chemical exfoliants – like– and physical exfoliants – like Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant, which uses finely-milled rice-based powder to gently scrub the skin. Some products like Epzen’s AHA Exfoliating Wash combine physical and chemical properties (quartz and natural AHA) – this one also smells like maple syrup, which is obviously a win.
Exfoliating gloves like CheekyGlo’s gloves are also great, especially if you need to remove fake tan.
Don’t overdo it all your butcher your skin barrier, but definitely get in an exfoliation session once or twice a week.
Different products and active ingredients can help to target your skin’s concerns. Muse’s is great for stretch marks, cellulite, bumps and skin texture, while Bawdy’s The Super Tight Body Serum helps to tone, tighten and firm skin.
Spot treat or apply all over, pending what your butt skin needs.
Keeping your butt hydrated is the very best way to help it look juicy and delicious, what we want, naturally
“Hydrate your skin with specialised oil, focusing on areas prone to dryness,” says Boonsirisuk, and find one that’s non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores and cause oil-related breakouts.
Oils like The Ikarian Body Oil by Ikkari, Lamav’s Ayurvedic Body Oil, Such Skincare’s Balance Oil and the Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil are hydrating and nourishing, great for skin all over.
If you prefer moisturiser then experiment with thickness until you find one that works for your skin. Remember, your butt skin may be very slightly thicker than that in your face, but it’s still delicate, so you don’t want to suffocate it. Sol de Janeiro’s Bum Bum Cream is a cult classic, and perfect for an indulgent butt care ritual.
If your skin feels particularly congested, using a clarifying clay mask is a great way to clear things out. Once or twice a week, apply the clay all over your butt cheeks, plus at the tops of your thighs, and leave on for 15 minutes. Once dry, hop in the shower or use a warm cloth to gently remove.
Sheet masks on the other hand are great for toning, hydrating and firming – perfect for use after a day at the beach to help inject some moisture back into the skin, or before your butt will be on display.
Bawdy’s clay butt mask and selection of sheet masks are a great place to start, or use one of your favourites for your face instead.