Ever wondered what the best body moisturizers are? You spend a lot of time and money looking for the best creams and serums to keep your face bright and flawless, but what’s the point if the rest of your body gives away your real age? Skincare doesn’t stop at the face. Your body needs some TLC, too.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best body moisturizers that cater to various skin types and concerns. From luxurious creams to lightweight lotions, there really is something for everyone. Get ready to say goodbye to dryness and hello to a body that feels moisturized and rejuvenated from head to toe! So here they are, the best body moisturizers to banish dry skin, reduce sun damage and even soothe eczema:
What To Look For In A Body Moisturizer?
“The skin on the body has fewer oil glands than the face, so it can dry out a lot quicker,” says licensed esthetician Dana Murray explains. Look for richer formulas that can lock in moisture, keeping your skin soft and supple from head to toe for the entire day. If you’re wondering about ingredients, here’s what to look out for:
- Humectants: Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and urea all attract moisture from the environment into your skin, helping it to stay hydrated for longer. This extra moisture makes skin plumper, softer, and smoother.
- Occlusives: Natural oils and ceramides create a protective barrier on the skin that locks moisture in and protects it from environmental aggressors that could irritate it and dry it out even more.
- Exfoliants: Exfoliating acids can solve a wide range of skin woes. Salicylic acid (BHA) helps treat body acne. Glycolic acid remove dead cells that make skin rough and dull and even fades away dark spots. Lactic acid is ideal for sensitive skin that suffers from keratosis pilaris or similar conditions.
FAQ ABOUT BODY MOISTURIZERS
What can body moisturizers do?
Body moisturisers deeply hydrate skin, keeping it soft and supple for hours on end. If they contain anti-aging ingredients, like retinol and antioxidants, they help your skin age slowly. Those with exfoliants can also remove dead cells and make your skin smoother and brighter. Finally, they can also soothe irritations.
What can’t body moisturizers do?
Don’t believe the hype. Body moisturisers can’t get rid of cellulite or stretch mark. I don’t care what brands say. If a cream could really do that, no one would have cellulite anymore!
How often should you use a body moisturizer?
I recommend at least once a day, after a shower of bath. If it’s a basic moisturiser without retinol or exfoliating acids, you could also apply it several times a day.
What’s the difference between body cream and body lotion?
Creams tend to have a higher concentration of moisturising ingredients and thus a richer texture. They’re great for people with dry skin. Body lotions have lightweight textures that are more suitable for acne-prone skin or hot summer days.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream With Pump for Normal to Dry Skin ($22.90)
This cream is formulated with ceramides, which are naturally present in our skin and help maintain its protective barrier. By replenishing ceramides, this cream helps strengthen and moisturize your skin, keeping it healthy and hydrated. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which is like a sponge that attracts and retains moisture, giving your skin an extra boost of hydration. On top of that, it has glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin’s surface. The cream is also free of fragrance, making it suitable for sensitive skin. So, if you’re looking for a moisturizer that nourishes and protects your skin, this one’s definitely worth a try!
Available at: Boots and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
Benefits: Deeply moisturises dry skin.
Cons: May too rich for oilier skin types.
Skin type: Dry.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin Smoothing Body Treatment ($33.00)
Your body ages more slowly than the rest of your face, but eventually wrinkles will make an appearance there, too. Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin Smoothing Body Treatment is enriched with antioxidant and retinol to keep them at bay. While antioxidants destroy free radicals before they can give you wrinkles, retinol boosts the production of collagen to firm skin and speeds up cellular turnover (the skin’s exfoliating process) to fade away dark spots. It’s perfect for those areas that are most exposed to the sun – wether they’ve started showing the signs of aging or not. Oh, it’s very moisturising and make your cellulite look less obvious, too.
Available at: Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
Active Ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, and natural oils.
Benefits: Moisturises skin and prevents premature wrinkles.
Cons: If your skin is sensitive, retinol can irritate it.
Skin type: All skin types bar sensitive.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: The Complete Guide To Retinol: What It Is, What It Does And How To Use It
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream ($48.00)
This cream combines an impressive array of ingredients with a rich texture that feels like a dream. This cream features colloidal oatmeal, which not only soothes and calms the skin but also adds a gentle, comforting texture. The addition of glycerin works its magic by attracting and sealing in moisture, resulting in a velvety and hydrated feel. Shea butter lends a luxurious touch, providing a smooth and silky texture that envelops your skin in a protective barrier. To top it off, the cream contains allantoin, which aids in healing and rejuvenating the skin. A treat for your skin, it leaves feeling nourished, supple, and incredibly pampered.
Available at: Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Sephora, and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and soothing agents.
Benefits: Moisturises and soothes skin.
Cons: Contains a tiny drop of eucalyptus oil, which can irritate skin if you’re allergic to it.
Skin type: Dry and sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free: Technically yes. It doesn’t contain any artificial fragrance but a few drops of eucalyptus oils that can irritate your skin if you’re sensitive to it.
Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Body Solution With 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid ($26.00)
Acne is a job for salicylic acid. This oil-soluble exfoliant dissolves the glue that holds skin cells together on the surface of the skin and then gets inside the pores to remove all that crap that’s clogging them up and giving you breakouts. Paula’s Choice Resist Weightless Body Solution With 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid is formulated at the ideal pH for salicylic acid to work its best. Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants that prevent premature wrinkles. Did I mention it’s moisturising, too?
Available at: Paula’s Choice, Selfridges, Sephora, and SpaceNK
Active Ingredients: 2% salicylic acid and antioxidants.
Benefits: Moisturises skin and fights acne.
Cons: If you don’t have acne, you don’t need this.
Skin type: Oily and acne-prone skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is Key To Spot-Free Skin
Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Glycolic Body Lotion ($28.00)
This body lotion offers a gentle exfoliation and moisturizing experience. The star ingredient iis glycolic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). Glycolic acid helps to remove dead skin cells, promoting a smoother and more radiant appearance. It also has the potential to improve the skin’s texture and tone over time. The lotion has a lightweight and non-greasy texture, allowing for easy application and quick absorption. It also contains a blend of nourishing ingredients like marula oil, shea butter, and passionfruit extract, which work together to hydrate and replenish the skin.
Available at: Boots, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, SpaceNK, and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid, Shea butter, natural oils.
Benefits: Moisturises, brightens, and exfoliates skin.
Cons: If you have sensitive skin, this may be too harsh for you.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Yes.
The Body Shop Shea Nourishing Body Butter ($36.00)
I have very dry skin and Shea butter’s the only thing that keeps it happy. Shea butter is even more moisturising than mineral oil (what derms consider the gold standard!) and leaves your skin soft and smooth for more than 8 hours! It works by creating a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss. Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants that keep your skin young. The Body Shop Shea Nourishing Body Butter is loaded with Shea and cocoa butter, so you get a double dose of moisture. That’s just what the doctor ordered.
Available at: The Body Shop and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Shea butter and ceramides.
Benefits: Deeply moisturises dry skin.
Cons: May too rich for oilier skin types.
Skin type: Dry.
Fragrance-free: No.
Related: Why Shea Butter Is The Best Moisturizer For Dry Skin
First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA ($28.00)
First Aid Beauty’s KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA is a skincare gem designed to target rough, bumpy skin. The key ingredient is glycolic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin’s surface. By sloughing away dead skin cells, it helps to smooth and improve the texture of rough patches. The lotion has a lightweight and non-greasy texture that absorbs quickly, making it a breeze to apply. It also contains nourishing ingredients like shea butter, which helps to hydrate and soften the skin. Oh and it’s loaded with antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties to soothe skin. The combination of exfoliating and moisturizing properties in this lotion makes it an excellent choice for addressing keratosis pilaris (KP) and other rough skin concerns.
Available at: Look Fantastic, Selfridges, Sephora, and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Glycolic acid and shea butter.
Benefits: Moisturises skin, exfoliates, and treats keratosis pillars.
Cons: If you have sensitive skin, it may drying for you.
Skin type: Dry skin, keratosis pilaris.
Fragrance-free: No.
La Roche Posay Lipikar Eczema Soothing Relief Cream ($17.99)
Suffering from eczema? This cream contains a combination of powerful ingredients that work together to provide soothing relief. Colloidal oatmeal, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, helps calm irritated skin. Shea butter and niacinamide deeply moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier, promoting healing and reducing moisture loss. The cream has a smooth and velvety texture that glides effortlessly onto the skin, leaving it feeling soft and nourished without any greasy residue. It is also fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.
Available at: Boots and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, niacinamide.
Benefits: Moisturises skin and soothes eczema.
Cons: If you have oily skin, this may be too rich for you.
Skin type: Dry skin, sensitive skin, eczema-prone skin.
Fragrance-free: No.
Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Lotion ($15.50)
Made with natural and plant-based ingredients, it features a blend of organic calendula, chamomile, and shea butter, known for their moisturizing and soothing properties. Calendula has anti-inflammatory benefits that can help calm irritation, while chamomile offers a soothing effect. Shea butter acts as a luxurious emollient, leaving the skin feeling soft and supple. The lotion has a creamy and lightweight texture that applies smoothly and absorbs easily, without leaving a greasy residue. It is also free from artificial fragrances, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin.
Available at: iHerb and Ulta
Active Ingredients: Natural oils and colloidal oatmeal.
Benefits: Moisturises skin.
Cons: If you have acne-prone skin, this can aggravate it.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Technically yes. But it has fragrant essential oils that may irritate sensitive skin.
The Bottom Line
There you have it, the best body moisturizers for every skin type and needs. Whether you’re looking for a nourishing cream for your severely dry skin, need an ointment to soothe eczema, or you simply want to keep premature aging at bay, these picks have got you covered. Here’s to your best skin – from head to toe.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
