By Sarah Han and Jennifer Hussein
You're probably fully stocked on all of the latest face creams, but what about one of the best body lotion products for your rougher areas? Aside from sun protection, moisturizer is arguably the most important element of any skin-care routine. "Moisturizer doesn't just add water back into your skin, it also traps in the water you already have to plump it up and protect it," Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Yale University, previously told Allure. But try as we might, so often, the skin-softening process ends at our necks. Push Dropper Bottle
That is, until now. It's time to heed expert advice and find the body moisturizer that's going to make every inch of your skin happy. "Your skin absolutely needs moisturizer," says Gohara. "Your skin is the biggest organ in your body. It's not bloody or gutsy, but it's still an organ, and organs need water."
The easiest way to get the rest of your body in on the hydrating action? Slather on a luscious lotion that's formulated with nourishing ingredients that enhance your skin type to look and feel its best. Nava Greenfield, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, says some of the best ingredients to look for in your body moisturizers include emollients like hydrating hyaluronic acid and moisturizing additives like glycerin, ceramides, and oils derived from coconut, almond, avocado, or jojoba. She also says to look for formulas that include free radical-fighting antioxidants like vitamins B, C, or E.
According to James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles, mildly exfoliating body lotions are ideal for all skin types, especially those who have concerns over body acne. "This is especially important in acne-prone skin because the skin barrier is disrupted and there is underlying inflammation," he says. "Lotions that contain mild glycolic, lactic, or salicylic acid can be helpful as long as they are not overused, which can lead to sensitivity." Dr. Greenfield also adds that acne-prone skin types should avoid ingredients that are considered occlusive, including heavy, petroleum-jelly-based creams or oils because they can trap bacteria under the skin.
Whether you prefer a frill-free body lotion, a luxurious cream, a lightweight oil, or a rich balm, these products are guaranteed to wrap your skin below the chin in some serious TLC.
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We granted Love Beauty and Planet's Delicious Glow Body Lotion back-to-back Allure Readers' Choice Awards in 2020 and 2021 because it's not your garden-variety moisturizer. For less than your pumpkin spice latte, your skin can be treated with two key ingredients for smooth, supple skin: murumuru butter and glycerin. The former is a moisture-sealing emollient while the latter acts as a hydrating humectant that binds water to the surface layer of skin so your moisture barrier stays protected. Along with its ability to enhance skin hydration, our readers and editors alike love its light, fluid-like texture and luxurious rose scent.
Just like Charlotte Tilbury's beloved (and Allure Best of Beauty-winning) moisturizer, the Magic Body Cream has a delectably buttery texture that leaves skin feeling smooth and supple to the touch. There are a few ingredients in this skin-firming formula that you may already be familiar with, including circulation-boosting caffeine, hydration-boosting hyaluronic acid, and moisturizing rose oil, but one of the stand-out additives is a proprietary ingredient called Algaktiv, which is, in its most basic definition, microalgae extract. In case you're not aware, this additive is rich in antioxidants that address a slew of skin-care concerns like dryness, inflammation, and crepiness.
It's no wonder why our senior editor, Jesa Marie Calaor, loves it so much. "The Magic Body Cream is my go-to body moisturizer," she says. "It's rich in emollients that moisturize my thirsty skin without leaving it greasy or sticky."
CeraVe's Moisturizing Cream claims to provide a day's worth of moisture, thanks to a potent blend of conditioning ceramides and hydration-replenishing hyaluronic acid. The no-frills formula doesn't contain known irritants like fragrances, dyes, or oils and it's gentle enough to use on sensitive skin — in fact, it has a seal of approval from the National Eczema Association, so it's guaranteed to soothe rather than irritate. Its adaptability explains why it’s a dermatologist-approved Best of Beauty Award winner and Readers' Choice Award 2022 winner.
As much as we love a well-scented lotion, sometimes all we want is a simple, unscented formula that's guaranteed not to irritate sensitive skin. Enter: Nécessaire's The Body Lotion, a custardy body cream that soothes dry, itchy skin instantly and doesn't contain a single drop of harsh fragrance additives. However, what it does contain is a mixture of firming peptides, tone-evening niacinamide, and hydrating glycerin to transform even very dry skin into a velvety-smooth feel to the touch.
Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says it's her nightly moisturizer of choice for its ability to instantly soften her skin (including her usually-ashy toes) without leaving a slippery mess behind. "It has a creamy, dense texture that sits right at the intersection of lotion and body butter, but it absorbs quicker than most water-based or gel-textured body care products," she says.
You might be familiar with Bio-Oil's ever-popular namesake product, but allow us to introduce you to its skin-enhancing Body Lotion. This lightweight lotion may have a barely-there feel, but its intensive formulation contains a mix of jojoba, rosehip, and shea oils for improving moisture retention while hydrating hyaluronic acid pulls water in from your surrounding environment to make skin soft and supple. Antioxidant vitamin E and vitamin A (also known as retinol) also make appearances in this formula to up the ante on its moisturizing properties while boosting elasticity and evening skin tone.
On top of its affordability, Dr. Greenfield is especially impressed by Nivea's Essentially Enriched Body Lotion for its ultra-moisturizing feel on the skin. Its highly conditioning formula is all thanks to its star ingredient, almond oil, which is an ingredient that Dr. Greenfield says is great for moisture retention.
Keep in mind that this lotion has a thicker feel than others on the market due to its heavyweight moisturizing ingredients, so while it's a soothing savior for dry skin types, oilier complexions may want to opt for a lighter option.
Jodie LoGerfo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based at Orentreich Medical Group in New York City, says that Jack Black's Turbo Body Lotion is a must for those who want an ultra-light yet effective formula, thanks to the addition of moisturizing aloe vera extract. "It's a hydrating gel-to-lotion moisturizer that is skin-nurturing and moisturizing without being too heavy," she says. Fatty acid-rich prickly pear seed oil is another star ingredient in this formulation to boost its conditioning properties, but we especially love its ultra-light texture and delightfully invigorating scent profile, which features herbal rosemary extract and zesty eucalyptus.
If your goal is to have skin that feels as soft as a baby's bum, Summer Fridays' Skin Nourishing Body Lotion has you covered — quite literally. Slather skin in the indulgent formula packed with moisture-sealing emollients and occlusives, including cocoa and shea butters, barrier-strengthening ceramides, and enough oils (including grapeseed, argan, and rosehip) to keep your glow visible from outer space. (Figuratively, of course.)
It's gourmand scent profile, which features the brand's signature blend of coconut, vanilla blossom, and warm almond, is something to write home about, too. Oh, and did we mention that it's an Allure Best of Beauty winner?
Dove Whipped Body Cream's airy texture is a silky-soft testament to moisture that melts effortlessly into skin. The lush lotion's scent features a warm, creamy blend of tonka bean, musk, and coconut milk, and that alone will leave you wondering how the 2019 Best of Beauty Award winner and drugstore fave manages to stay so wallet-friendly. But the true moisturizing magic comes from the latter ingredient, which not only makes you smell like a delicious treat but also replenishes moisture without feeling weighty on the skin.
According to Dr. Wang, Glytone's Exfoliating Body Lotion is a fragrance-free exfoliating option with a formulation that's perfect for acne-prone skin or those trying to minimize the look of keratosis pilaris. This lotion tackles rough, bumpy skin with its signature ingredient, glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates dead skin, targets fine lines, and evens tone for a softer feel and clearer look. It also contains caffeine, an ingredient known for its brightening and anti-inflammatory properties.
Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream is a featherlight formula that's loved by New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. It swipes on easily and absorbs quickly, quenching dry skin from head to toe without a slippery feel for even a second. With no trace of a greasy or oily finish, it's apparent why we honored this hyaluronic acid-infused lotion with a 2019 Best of Beauty Award. Our editors especially love this formulation's gel-like texture and its fragrance-free formulation, making it an especially great (and affordable) pick for sensitive skin.
Kiehl's Creme de Corps has garnered legions of followers since it hit the market — and for good reason. This non-greasy formula contains cocoa butter for its skin-soothing properties (and subtle fragrance), plus fast-absorbing sesame oil for a dose of deep hydration. Not to mention, this iconic packaging looks great in any skin-care collection — no wonder Hussein makes sure to keep a bottle of this cream at her work desk. "It's so custardy upon application, but in seconds it dries down to nothing while making my usually-rough hands, elbows, and knees feel soft to the touch," she says.
La Roche-Posay's Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Body Moisturizing Cream is formulated specifically for super dry skin, including those prone to eczema. This balm-like body cream (which is fragrance-free, by the way) has a rich feel that's perfect for dry and sensitive skin in need of soothing properties. The formula itself contains a trifecta of shea butter, prebiotic-rich thermal water, and glycerin that work together to soften and condition while antioxidant niacinamide brightens, moisturizes, and evens tone all at once (bye-bye, post-body acne dark spots).
The Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is a drugstore classic that's withstood the test of time, and both Allure editors and board-certified dermatologists alike. Hadley King, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, previously told Allure that it's one of her top recommendations, especially for those with sensitive skin and psoriasis. "Packed with both hydrating humectants and emollients to lock in moisture, this is a great cream for both face and body," she said.
Along with skin-conditioning glycerin, this intensive daily moisturizing lotion is spiked with sweet almond oil and vitamin E, two ingredients known for their moisture-replenishing properties.
The AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion has garnered praise from dermatologists around the world, including both Dr. Wang and Dr. Zeichner. Both say that this gentle-yet-effective formula utilizes lactic acid, which acts as both an exfoliating acid and a humectant to plump and soften the outer layer of your skin. Sensitive skin types, don't be alarmed by the inclusion of an alpha hydroxy acid in this formulation, because lactic acid is known to be a gentler exfoliating alternative than its other chemical exfoliant counterparts like, say, salicylic acid.
Those with dry, flaky skin will enjoy slathering on Peter Thomas Roth's Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Hydrating Body Cream, a cushion-textured body butter that melts into the skin upon contact to soothe and condition. The secret to this 2022 Best of Beauty winner's moisturizing sauce is actually hyaluronic acid, a popular additive known for its water-replenishing properties. But its work doesn't stop there because this body cream also contains skin-softening ingredients like shea butter, pro-vitamin B5, and vitamins C and E.
The ceramides in Curél’s Daily Healing Dry Skin Hand and Body Lotion are the all-star ingredient that helps skin retain moisture. The dry skin-soothing formula has earned the seal of approval from many dermatologists — and also a 2021 Best of Beauty award — for its fast-absorbing formulation that conditions skin without leaving it slippery like a dolphin. Though this formula is free of dyes and parabens, it's worth noting that this lotion is not fragrance-free, so sensitive skin types should proceed it with caution.
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