As the air turns crisp and the humidity levels drop, our skin is often the first to notice the shift. While our facial rituals are usually the first to be updated, everything else is often left to fend for itself against the drying conditions. In a relentless haze of newness, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choice or underwhelmed with results.

Consider this the antidote. We've sifted through our cabinets and filtered down a list of our favourite body care essentials that have truly earned their keep.

Below, find the RUSSH-approved body care staples we’ve deemed worthy of a permanent place on ones vanity. Enjoy.

Cassandra Dimitroff

Feature and Production Editor

Right now I’m loving the Sans Ceuticals Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil – especially as someone with relatively sensitive skin. (If I’m feeling particularly dry I’ll also pair with the Sans Ceuticals Cellular Repair Body + Face Lotion underneath, straight out of the shower.) I’ve got the office onto Jurlique’s Relax Essential Oil Roll-On right now. Next on my to-try list though is the IKKARI Hand Wash in Green Mandarin & Neroli and some of FOILE’s refillables (which are incredibly chic too).

Alys Hale

Music Editor and Creative Producer

When my body is in need of some serious care, I love to take myself and a loved one down to Nature’s Energy and spend some time in the bathhouse there, if I’m feeling very flush I will have their signature ritual, which has a massage and facial included. I’m a big fan of their infrared saunas although I am still struggling to get into the ice baths for more than seconds at a time. However, life is usually a little too busy for such indulgences so I try to luxuriate at home.

Whilst I love to exfoliate my legs and arms with the Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, I also love a softer cleanser on my chest and neck, so have been reaching for the Uni Marine Shower Oil. Post shower I’m desperate to try the Augustinus Bader Geranium Rose Body Cream, I’ve got a thing for geranium and apparently it is a miracle worker. Speaking of miracles, friends have been swearing by FaceGym and seeing great results from the muscle stimulation so I am very curious to play with a FaceGym Pro.

Jaime Carmody

Digital Marketing Specialist

For the body, Aesop shower gel and body lotion are always on high rotation. I also love Officine Universelle Buly, and lately my skin has absolutely soaked up Kiehl's body lotion it’s deeply nourishing without feeling too sticky or heavy. Sunscreen is a non-negotiable for me every morning. I’ve been using Standard Procedure for years now, and it’s effortlessly become part of my morning routine. I have quite sensitive skin, so I tend to stick to simple cleansers for the face and neck. La Roche-Posay foaming gel and the cleansing gel from Dermalogica are both go-tos.

Sophia Serafin

Implementation Manager

Apart from prioritising nourishing foods and moving regularly for the inside, there are a few go-to’s I like to incorporate into my external bodycare: Aesop’s Hand Balm is always in my bag for on-the-go supple skin, and at home La Prairie's Cashmere Body Cream patiently waits on my bedside table. Le Labo’s Shower Gel is one of my favourite body washes, alongside RATIONALE’s Illuminating Body Cleanser. Sun protection is most important, so every morning I apply SPF. Raeso’s Milk Sun Drops are a recent favourite. When I need a total wellness overhaul, I head to a bathhouse like Capybara or Reset (their magnesium room is magical).

Emily Algar

Beauty Editor

I am big on body care. I love Aesop Eleos Cleanser, Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil (hot tip – also works for your face) or Necessaire in the shower. For post-shower hydration, I love Osea Algae Oil or Tronque Firming Butter. Costa Brazil Jungle Oil is pretty special, as well. If I’m really dry, nothing beats Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Cream. It’s cheap and super thick, never irritating, no scent. Perfect. I just got my hands on some To My Ships, as well. Watch this space…

I’m also big on scrubbing and exfoliation – I have a Goshi towel I replace regularly, plus a Goop dry body brush. I am dying to try the Korean brand LILIS, too. The Instant Peel is meant to be insane.

I’m confident that Salt & Stone do the best deodorant, too. I’ve tried all the ‘clean’ ones and it’s the most effective by far.

Mia Steiber

Digital Strategy Director & Associate Publisher

As we get into the cooler months, I switch to a winter bodycare routine. As much as I’ve tried to prevent it, my partner ends up just using my bodywash. He has quite bad eczema and I’ve had to find something that works for us both, which is Epzen’s sensitive skin bodywash. It leaves your skin feeling very nourished. I love Grown Alchemist’s resurfacing body lotion for when I hop right out of the shower. It smooths out any texture if you use it regularly. On that note, I have a kessa glove that I bought in bulk when I was in Morocco a few years ago. It is lifechanging. I highly recommend if you don’t have one, Mukti makes great ones that you can buy in Australia.

For the evenings that I do Pilates, I like to use a magnesium body lotion and I am loving the Go-To one. It smells heavenly and feels incredible when massaged into sore muscles. Ultra Violette’s body oil is what I like to use if I have my legs out. I don’t use fake tan, but this gives you just the right amount of glow if you need a little pick-me-up. My other bodycare favourite is putting one drop of Oil Garden essential oil into a neutral body oil. I am horribly allergic to perfumes and this is a way I can still add a touch of scent to my routine.

Stacey Gaskin

Consumer Revenue Manager

I am a massive fan of oils, not only for the face, but also the body. A few I have on rotation, especially in the cooler months are: IKKARI Shower Oil for in the shower, Clarins Relax Body Treatment Oil for dap skin, and sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil for everyday hydration. You don't need much product when using oils, so they last a while on the shelf.

I'm also a lover of body and hand creams. The Murad Retinal ReSculpt Body Treatment is great for smoothing. An incredible body butter for every day is the Crème de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter from Kiehl's. And for hands, my daily go-to is the Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm.

As far as exfoliants go, I will always rave about Mukti's Organics 2-in-1 Resurfacing Exfoliant. I love to take it down my neck and décolletage, leaving it on for a few minutes to allow the AHA's to do their thing. I remember when Frank Body landed at MECCA when I was working there in 2016 (good times), and have loved the Original Coffee Scrub ever since. Highly recommend.

Feature images via: IKKARI, RATIONALE, Grown Alchemist, LA PRAIRIE, Augustinus Bader