Body serums are thinner and more targeted. Topicals, founded by the pre-med students Olamide Olowe and Claudia Teng, who grew up with hyperpigmentation and eczema, makes Slather with retinol and AHAs for rough, bumpy texture. Randi Christiansen and Nick Axelrod sketched Nécessaire on a flight to Korea and named it for the question of whether something is necessary; The Body Retinol repairs and The Body Peel is a leave-on resurfacer. The Ordinary launched in 2016 with 27 products named for their ingredients, and its salicylic body serum is for breakouts on back and chest. Apply one serum at a time and let it dry before anything else goes on top.

Acids work best with a plain moisturizer nearby. Kiehl's began as a single pharmacy in the East Village in 1851 and was one of the first companies to list ingredients on its labels; Ultra Body is its squalane cream. Josie Maran's pink algae body butter adds a pro-retinol for bumpy skin. The Ordinary's NMF lotion is simple surface hydration, and L'Occitane's shea cream comes from a brand that works with more than 6,000 women across shea cooperatives. What I would skip is layering several acid products at once. Pick one exfoliating step, and use the plain creams on other nights.

Apply at night to dry skin, and skip freshly shaved legs. Acids and retinol increase sun sensitivity, so wear sunscreen on exposed arms and legs. Stop if you see redness or burning, and give any new routine four weeks. For eczema, psoriasis or a rash that will not clear, see a dermatologist before using any acid. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Vaseline Lotion and The Best Body Lotion Is the One You Reach For Wet.