In case your physique care routine consists of lathering up within the bathe and throwing on some deodorant earlier than slipping into your garments, you’re lacking a vital step. Getting within the behavior of moisturizing throughout (not simply in your face) is a simple manner to ensure your pores and skin stays wholesome and hydrated; it additionally protects your pores and skin barrier, a layer of cells that blocks probably damaging irritants.
The very best physique lotion or cream is the one you’ll truly stay up for making use of—as a result of in case you hate slathering your self in it, you in all probability gained’t. “I like to contemplate it self-care. It’s best to decide a product you want that makes your pores and skin really feel hydrated and soothed,” Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, the founding father of Houshmand Dermatology in Dallas, tells SELF.
To discover a moisturizer you’ll like, the very first thing you need to take into consideration is its consistency. Lotions are sometimes higher for dry or delicate pores and skin varieties, since they comprise extra oil and have a thicker texture that actually seals in moisture. However in case you don’t want the additional moisture increase, you would possibly favor a lotion as a result of they comprise much less oil and normally really feel lighter.
Sure physique lotions and lotions are additionally formulated to handle particular pores and skin issues. Some characteristic calming components to alleviate itching, whereas others are extra exfoliating to clean texture. It doesn’t matter what your aim is, we discovered a bunch of choices that may assist. All of our picks are dermatologist-approved, and a few have even gained our Wholesome Magnificence Awards—so we’re assured they’re the most effective of the most effective.
Our prime picks
- Finest Total: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Day by day Restore Moisturizing Lotion
- Finest Finances: EOS 24H Moisture Perfume Free Physique Lotion
- Finest Splurge: Nécessaire The Physique Lotion
- Finest for Dry Pores and skin: Curél Extremely Extremely Therapeutic Lotion
- Finest for Itchy Pores and skin: Sarna Calm + Cool Anti-Itch Lotion
- Finest for Anti-aging: Versed Press Restart Retinol Physique Lotion
- Finest for Darkish Spots: Vaseline Radiant X Even Tone Nourishing Physique Lotion
- Finest for Smoothing: Sol de Janiero Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
- Finest for Eczema: Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Soothing Moisturizer
- Finest for Bumpy Pores and skin: AmLactin Intensive Therapeutic Physique Lotion
- Finest for Delicate Pores and skin: Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion
- Finest Light-weight: Uncommon Magnificence Discover Consolation Hydrating Physique
FAQs
What must you search for in a physique moisturizer?
Skincare can get sophisticated, so we requested dermatologists which components it’s best to think about as you store for a physique lotion or cream—right here’s the breakdown.
Substances
All moisturizers are made with some mixture of hydrating, nourishing components. Beneath are just a few key gamers to be careful for, plus the advantages they provide.
- Humectants entice water into your pores and skin to take care of hydration, Isha Tiernan, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Tufts Medical Heart in Boston, tells SELF. Some widespread examples embody glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which may maintain as much as 1,000 instances its weight in H2O.
- Emollients, like ceramides, urea, or squalane, soften your pores and skin and shield your pores and skin barrier.
- Occlusives act like a seal over your pores and skin to maintain moisture in and block irritants out. Some price searching for are petrolatum, lanolin, shea butter, jojoba oil, and almond oil.
- To maintain your pores and skin clean and vibrant, examine for exfoliants, like salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acids.
Texture
A serious distinction between physique lotions and physique lotions is the feel, or how the product feels and absorbs into your pores and skin. Lotions typically have extra water in them than oil, which supplies them a lighter, silkier consistency. “They soak up rapidly and supply hydration with out feeling heavy,” Dr. Garshick says. Lotions comprise extra oil and have a thicker texture that actually locks in moisture. They’re higher for folks with dry or delicate pores and skin varieties, whose moisture barrier tends to be compromised typically.
How must you apply physique moisturizer?
Intention to moisturize your pores and skin at the least as soon as a day—the most effective time to use is after a bathe. “I usually suggest patting the physique [with a towel] after which making use of the cream or lotion instantly onto damp pores and skin. It’s simpler to use this fashion and locks within the moisture higher,” Dr. Tiernan says. When you have eczema or very dry pores and skin, you would possibly need to apply moisturizer twice a day—morning and night time—to maintain your pores and skin hydrated.
However right here’s the factor: We all know that physique lotion provides some folks the ick (together with SELF’s personal commerce director). Quite than skip this step fully, we suggest you begin by including it to your everything-shower routine and dealing as much as that derm-recommended a couple of times per day.
Can you employ physique lotion or cream in your face?
It relies upon. The pores and skin in your face is thinner and extra delicate than the pores and skin in your physique, Dr. Houshmand says. Many physique moisturizers typically comprise heavier components, like occlusives, that may trigger irritation, clog your pores, and trigger zits in your face. That mentioned, a lighter, thinner physique lotion that’s fragrance-free might be superb to make use of in your face, Dr. Houshmand provides—simply make sure you do a patch take a look at first.
Finest Total: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Day by day Restore Moisturizing Lotion
Execs
- Light-weight texture
- Tremendous creamy, fragrance-free
- Amazon reviewers say it takes a very long time to soak up
Cons
- Amazon reviewers say it takes a very long time to soak up
SELF editors and dermatologists we spoke to all praised this drugstore lotion: “My fancy lotions and oils are nice however too costly for day by day use, and my moisturizers with added perfume typically irritate delicate areas of my pores and skin (like my boobs, higher chest, and neck). Shopping for this was a delicate reminder that typically drugstore skincare merchandise are the most effective skincare merchandise,” one editor says. Plus, “it has an incredible, creamy really feel that hydrates and leaves pores and skin clean and smooth,” Dr. Gohara says. “Melanin-rich pores and skin has much less ceramides, leaving our pores and skin extra prone to develop into dry, and Lipikar is loaded with ceramides, shea butter, and niacinamide—an ideal mix of barrier supporting components.”
Dimension: 13.5 fl oz | Different notable components: Prebiotic thermal spring water, glycerin, mineral oil, grape seed oil, dimethicone
Finest Finances: EOS 24H Moisture Perfume Free Physique Lotion
Execs
- Leaves pores and skin feeling smooth
- Absorbs rapidly
- Perfume-free
- Amazon reviewers say the pump doesn’t work
Cons
- Amazon reviewers say the pump doesn’t work
This 2024 Wholesome Magnificence Award winner left one tester asking, “the place have you ever been all my life?” Its light-weight components soaks into the pores and skin tremendous quick, for a silky clean feeling that lasts all day. “This product is the GOAT. I’m delicate to every part and allergic to perfume however with this, I can’t recover from how smooth my pores and skin feels.” our tester went on to say. Its secret? Moisturizing components like glycerin, shea butter, and shea and mineral oils.
Dimension: 16 fl oz | Different notable components: Dimethicone, isopropyl palmitate (an emollient), petrolatum (an occlusive)
Finest Splurge: Nécessaire The Physique Lotion
Execs
- Accessible in fragrance-free and scented variations
- Comprises peptides to guard and plump pores and skin
- Some Amazon reviewers suppose it’s too light-weight
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers suppose it’s too light-weight
Gabriella Vasile, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and proprietor of Réforme Dermatology and Aesthetics in Charleston, South Carolina, tells SELF that she’s been loving this Nécessaire lotion recently. “It has niacinamide, so it’s soothing and anti inflammatory, and ceramides and hyaluronic acid, [which are] good for hydration,” she says.
Its pump bottle is handy (learn: your lotioned-up palms gained’t need to fumble with a screw-cap), and we love that it is available in earthy scents in addition to a fragrance-free model for delicate pores and skin. “My pores and skin is so smooth now, I really feel like a special particular person,” one pleased Amazon reviewer wrote.
Dimension: 15.2 fl oz | Different notable components: Peptides, jojoba seed oil, shea butter
Finest for Dry Pores and skin: Curél Extremely Therapeutic Lotion
Execs
- Soothing for further dry pores and skin
- Perfume-free
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s too greasy
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s too greasy
“[This lotion] is fabulous for dry pores and skin,” Blair Murphy Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founding father of Skincare Junkie, tells SELF. “It looks as if it repairs pores and skin like no different moisturizer. I’ve really helpful this to many, many sufferers and I typically give out samples of it as a result of it’s simply that good.”
It’s a petrolatum-based moisturizer that makes use of glycerin, ceramides, and ldl cholesterol to hydrate and reinforce the pores and skin barrier, together with oats to appease irritation. “It helps help the pores and skin barrier and locks in moisture very successfully,” Dr. Murphy Rose says.
Dimension: 2.5, 6, 13, and 20 fl oz | Different notable components: Moisturizing dimethicone
Finest for Itchy Pores and skin: Sarna Calm + Cool Anti-Itch Lotion
Execs
- Feels cool on the pores and skin
- Calms itchiness
- Perfume-free
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers have points with the pump
This lotion’s itch-relieving powers are because of a topical anesthetic referred to as pramoxine hydrochloride, which is equally efficient for eczema and bug bites. Whereas that will get to work, the menthol on this components supplies an instantaneous cooling impact that’ll really feel good after a scorching bathe.
“It’s very calming for the pores and skin and an awesome non-greasy choice,” Dr. Houshmand says, including that it’s accepted by the Nationwide Eczema Affiliation. It’s additionally a 2024 Wholesome Magnificence Awards favourite: “In contrast to different anti-itch lotions I’ve used, this one doesn’t go away an unpleasantly sticky movie in your physique,” one tester mentioned. “I typically use this one earlier than going to mattress, and I get up feeling refreshed.”
Dimension: 7.5 fl oz | Different notable components: Soothing aloe, anti-inflammatory witch hazel
Finest Antiaging: Versed Press Restart Retinol Physique Lotion
Execs
- Prevents superb traces and wrinkles
- Perfume-free
- Vegan components
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s laborious to rub in
This workhorse from Versed makes use of retinol to forestall superb traces and wrinkles from forming by boosting collagen and elastin, Dr. Murphy Rose says. It’s good at treating and stopping “the laxity that comes over time with age and solar publicity,” she provides. As a bonus, retinol also can forestall physique zits by exfoliating the pores and skin to maintain pores unclogged.
Professional tip: Begin off through the use of it a couple of times every week and, in case your pores and skin tolerates it properly, rising to day by day use from there. The pores and skin in your physique is thicker and extra resilient, however “similar to with any new product, it’s at all times good to begin sluggish and possibly strive it on a take a look at spot at first to be sure you’re not having some vital irritation,” Dr. Murphy Rose says.
Dimension: 6 fl oz | Different notable components: Moisturizing cocoa butter and squalene
Finest for Darkish Spots: Vaseline Radiant X Even Tone Nourishing Physique Lotion
Execs
- Brightens pores and skin
- Smooths texture
- Delicate scent
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it feels sticky
If many exfoliants are slightly too harsh on your pores and skin, you may nonetheless get a brightening impact with this 2024 Wholesome Magnificence Award–successful lotion, because of its star ingredient: niacinamide. A type of vitamin B3, niacinamide can handle issues like uneven pores and skin tone (together with hyperpigmentation spots), superb traces and wrinkles, and lack of elasticity.