If there's one beauty product [1] that most people I speak with are too lazy to use, it's body lotion. But here's the thing: you need to be moisturising your entire body, especially during the colder winter months when many of us suffer from dry skin [2]. Just like the face, our body gets dry, flaky, and — in extreme cases — cracked when it's not properly hydrated. But with so many body lotions, butters, creams, and oils on the market, it's hard to know where to start, and which ones are actually good. That's why we're here to help.
Firstly, you'll want to consider what's on the ingredient list. There are several ingredients to look out for specifically when shopping for a new body lotion or body butter. Shea butter, hyaluronic acid [3], glycerin, ceramides, and urea are classic hydrators that not only help the skin retain moisture — and in some cases help absorb moisture in the air, which is why you should always apply your lotion right after the shower when the bathroom is still steamy — but also help soothe dry, flaking skin. In addition to the classic hydrating ingredients, body moisturisers can also sometimes contain light exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic acid, that help dissolve rough or dead skin cells on the epidermis, which in turn help the skin better absorb said hydrating ingredients.
Keeping your body in tip-top hydrated condition isn't just good for keeping tight, dry, scaly arms and legs at bay: it can also have other positive effects. Not only will it make your skin glow naturally, but if you're a fake tan wearer [4], using body lotion consistently ensures that your faux glow looks better and last longer. If you shave, using a good lotion helps soothe irritation. And if you choose a moisturiser with fragrance [5], you'll smell great, too. But if you're turned off body lotion due to the feeling of a thick cream on your body, fear not, because there are so many different types of moisturisers that'll keep your skin hydrated without feeling sticky.
Read on to see which body moisturisers, lotions, and butters will be slathered on our editors all winter and beyond.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
When I asked the POPSUGAR editors what their favourite moisturisers were, editorial assistant Kara Kia blurted out Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream [7] (£18)! Aside from the moisturising benefits, "It smells incredible. Once I open that tub, it totally transports me to a tropical island."
Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream
Want a cream with zero greasy residue, a supersoft result, and a slightly glowing finish? Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream [8] (£18) will be your jam. However, not everyone is a fan of the orange blossom-and-neroli scent. So, what better excuse than getting yourself down to the Glossier London pop-up [9] to try before buying?
Childs Farm Unfragranced Moisturiser
The supremely gentle Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser [10] became so widely popular amongst adults — especially those with very dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin — the brand has now come out with a version just for those who aren't infants. "This is an incredible all-rounder," POPSUGAR assistant editor Tori Crowther has said of the baby moisturiser. "I use it on my face, body, and any dry or sore skin — it's an instant soother for sensitive skin and something I can always count on."
The Childs Farm Unfragranced Moisturiser [11] (£4) contains all the same ingredients just in a bottle that doesn't feature a baby on the label. And whilst we prefer the basic fragrance free version (especially during the winter months), it also comes in a pretty pink grapefruit scent.
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter
Kiehl's original Creme de Corps is an iconic beauty products beloved for nearly two decades. The Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter [12] (£37) is lighter than the classic Creme de Corps, yet still incredibly moisturising, and leaves no slimy legs inside your tights or jeans. Oh, and it smells delicious.
Keys Soulcare Rich Nourishing Body Cream
After Alicia Keys [13] launched her first range of skin-care product [14], fans were so obsessed with the singer's Skin Transformation Cream for the face that they begged her to come out with one for the body. A few months later, that's exactly what she did. The Keys Soulcare Rich Nourishing Body Cream [15] (£35) features the same comforting scent (a blend of sage and oat milk), but is a slightly richer moisturiser that comes in a much larger jar that allows you to slather it all over your arms and legs with abandon. Made with sweet almond oil, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter, the body cream is ridiculously hydrating so not only does it leave your limbs looking and feeling silky, but it also does a wonder on soothing dry patches.
Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion
The Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion [16] (£18) is a great option if you have very dry and sensitive skin. It's highly regarded as helping eczema and other skin conditions — so much so, the NHS often recommends the cream as a treatment. It contains shea butter and colloidal oatmeal to soothe, and is fragrance-free if you are sensitive to perfumed creams.
CeraVe Moisturising Cream
Fragrance free and made with a blend of skin-coddling ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it's no wonder that dermatologists on both sides of the Atlantic rate CeraVe Moisturising Cream [17] (£12) for treating dry and severely dry skin (yes, including eczema and psoriasis). Plus, we love the fact it comes in such a big jar (454 grams to be exact), allowing us to slather it on our limbs, hands, and even faces with abandon.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M
Formulated for very dry skin (and safe for those with eczema!), La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M [18] (£15) contains hard-working hydrating ingredients like shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide, which help to soften your skin and soothe the itch. The rich balm also contains prebiotics to keep your skin's microbiome balanced and happy, which when it's not can make dryness even worse.
Weleda Skin Food Body Butter
Weleda's Skin Food has long been lauded as a cure-all moisturiser that can be used not just on your face, but also your cuticles, hands, elbows, and any other rough spots you might have. Makeup artists often break it out backstage at the end of Fashion Week when the models' skin really needs some TLC. But the Skin Food tube is tiny, which is why the brand decided to create a Weleda Skin Food Body Butter [19] (£19) version that comes in a large jar. It's thick because it's meant for dry and very skin, but doesn't take too long to absorb and leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable all day long.
Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream Body Lotion
Again, the Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream Body Lotion [20] (£20) is another great option for people with dry and sensitive skin thanks to the thermal spring water and natural oils in the formula. The lotion is surprisingly non-sticky, fast-absorbing, and while it has a very faint scent, it's both non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic.
Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair
Because it's fragrance free, the Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lotion [21] (£3) is ideal for people with very dry skin, sensitive skin, or eczema (it's been given the National Eczema Seal of Acceptance, in fact). The non-greasy formula contains hydrating glycerin and micro-droplets of Vaseline jelly, which helps to simultaneously lock the moisturising ingredients in place and create a protective barrier on the skin.
BeautyBio Science Sculptor Body Cream
Unlike many of the others lotions on our list, the BeautyBio Science Sculptor Body Cream [22] (£70) is thick. It doesn't absorb particularly fast, but once it does, it provides a decent layer of moisture that lasts. I notice a big difference specifically on my legs after shaving, which for me, makes it worth the extra absorption time. It also isn't heavily scented, more of a subtle, clean scent, and doesn't irritate my skin. Despite the product name, I don't use the products in hopes that it sculpts or firms, I simply use it as an intense hydration for my body.
Eucerin Extra Dry Skin Intensive 10% Urea Treatment Lotion
Eucerin Extra Dry Skin Intensive 10% Urea Treatment Lotion [23] (£13) is great those those who need intense hydration to treat dry, flaky skin caused by either dehydration or certain skin conditions, thanks to the addition of urea in the formula.
The Body Shop Shea Nourishing Body Butter
Is there a more nostalgic body product? It was hard to choose a favourite, but we finally settled on The Body Shop Shea Nourishing Body Butter [24] (£15) since it's a classic, and there's a reason it has a solid five-star rating. It's incredibly hydrating, is superthick, and doesn't have an overpowering scent. Best of all, you can be sure that the ingredients are ethically and sustainably sourced [25].
Pixi Glycolic Body Lotion
Pixi Glycolic Body Lotion [26] (£24) will bring your body moisturising routine to the next level, thanks to the addition of glycolic acid — the same ingredient in their iconic Glow Tonic — which will help to improve the appearance and feel of bumpy, textured skin. Don't worry, though, it's still supremely hydrating due to the aloe, ginseng, and grape seed oil.
Love Beauty + Planet Muru Muru Butter & Rose Delicious Glow
There are many reasons to love the Love Beauty + Planet Muru Muru Butter & Rose Delicious Glow [27] (£8) that has nothing to do with the lotion itself — most importantly the brand's 100% recycled bottles. Add that to the fact the formula is incredibly hydrating (that would be the muru muru butter, glycerin, and sunflower seed oil), smells beautiful, and costs under a tenner, and we don't need convincing to add this to our winter beauty arsenal.
Liz Earle Skin Replenishing Body Balm
For me, the Liz Earle Skin Replenishing Body Balm [28] (£22) is like a relaxing, soothing, hydrating spa in a tub. The scent is heavenly and is enough alone to force myself to moisturise my body. Little goes a long way with this lotion, meaning the tub lasts a long time, making it worth the steeper price point. After applying this and spritzing a little lavender pillow spray, I feel like I'm on a fancy luxury retreat and not a flat in London.
Soaper Duper Deluxe Shea Butter Body Butter
Soaper Duper Deluxe Shea Butter Body Butter [29] (£11) is a no-frills, non-greasy, and sweet-scented nourishing body butter. If you're looking for something simple to slap on after showering to keep your skin hydrated, this is a winner.
Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream
The first thing you'll notice about the Dr Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream [30] (£85) is the price. It's definitely at the luxury end of the scale, but it's good — like, changes your moisturising game good. Silky and lightweight with a velvety-smooth texture, this lotion absorbs quickly but keeps your skin feeling hydrated all day long. But I have to say, because it's so expensive, I don't feel like I can slather this on my body as much as I would with other lotions.
Bjork and Berries White Forest Body Lotion
The Bjork and Berries White Forest Body Lotion [31] (£39) is another body lotion that'll encourage you to moisturise based on the smell alone. Aside from having an fresh, woody scent, it's fast-absorbing, contains hydrating ingredients such as olive and rape seed oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter.