If your body care routine consists of lathering up in the shower and throwing on some deodorant before slipping into your clothes, you’re missing a crucial step. Getting in the habit of moisturizing all over (not just on your face) is an easy way to make sure your skin stays healthy and hydrated; it also protects your skin barrier, a layer of cells that blocks potentially damaging irritants.
The best body lotion or cream is the one you’ll actually look forward to applying—because if you hate slathering yourself in it, you probably won’t. “I like to consider it self-care. You should pick a product you like that makes your skin feel hydrated and soothed,” Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, the founder of Houshmand Dermatology in Dallas, tells SELF.
To find a moisturizer you’ll like, the first thing you want to think about is its consistency. Creams are often better for dry or sensitive skin types, since they contain more oil and have a thicker texture that really seals in moisture. But if you don’t need the extra moisture boost, you might prefer a lotion because they contain less oil and usually feel lighter.
Certain body lotions and creams are also formulated to address specific skin concerns. Some feature calming ingredients to relieve itching, while others are more exfoliating to smooth texture. No matter what your goal is, we found a bunch of options that can help. All of our picks are dermatologist-approved, and some have even won our Healthy Beauty Awards—so we’re confident they’re the best of the best.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion
- Best Budget: EOS 24H Moisture Fragrance Free Body Lotion
- Best Splurge: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
- Best for Dry Skin: Curél Ultra Ultra Healing Lotion
- Best for Itchy Skin: Sarna Calm + Cool Anti-Itch Lotion
- Best for Anti-aging: Versed Press Restart Retinol Body Lotion
- Best for Dark Spots: Vaseline Radiant X Even Tone Nourishing Body Lotion
- Best for Smoothing: Sol de Janiero Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
- Best for Eczema: Cetaphil Eczema Restoraderm Soothing Moisturizer
- Best for Bumpy Skin: AmLactin Intensive Healing Body Lotion
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion
- Best Lightweight: Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hydrating Body
FAQs
What should you look for in a body moisturizer?
Skin care can get complicated, so we asked dermatologists which factors you should consider as you shop for a body lotion or cream—here’s the breakdown.
Ingredients
All moisturizers are made with some combination of hydrating, nourishing ingredients. Below are a few key players to watch out for, plus the benefits they offer.
- Humectants attract water into your skin to maintain hydration, Isha Tiernan, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, tells SELF. Some common examples include glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in H2O.
- Emollients, like ceramides, urea, or squalane, soften your skin and protect your skin barrier.
- Occlusives act like a seal over your skin to keep moisture in and block irritants out. Some worth looking for are petrolatum, lanolin, shea butter, jojoba oil, and almond oil.
- To keep your skin smooth and bright, check for exfoliants, like salicylic, glycolic, or lactic acids.
Texture
A major difference between body lotions and body creams is the texture, or how the product feels and absorbs into your skin. Lotions often have more water in them than oil, which gives them a lighter, silkier consistency. “They absorb quickly and provide hydration without feeling heavy,” Dr. Garshick says. Creams contain more oil and have a thicker texture that really locks in moisture. They’re better for people with dry or sensitive skin types, whose moisture barrier tends to be compromised often.
How should you apply body moisturizer?
Aim to moisturize your skin at least once a day—the best time to apply is after a shower. “I generally recommend patting the body [with a towel] and then applying the cream or lotion directly onto damp skin. It’s easier to apply this way and locks in the moisture better,” Dr. Tiernan says. If you have eczema or very dry skin, you might want to apply moisturizer twice a day—morning and night—to keep your skin hydrated.
But here’s the thing: We know that body lotion gives some people the ick (including SELF’s own commerce director). Rather than skip this step completely, we recommend you start by adding it to your everything-shower routine and working up to that derm-recommended once or twice per day.
Can you use body lotion or cream on your face?
It depends. The skin on your face is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on your body, Dr. Houshmand says. Many body moisturizers often contain heavier ingredients, like occlusives, that can cause irritation, clog your pores, and cause acne on your face. That said, a lighter, thinner body lotion that’s fragrance-free could be fine to use on your face, Dr. Houshmand adds—just be sure to do a patch test first.
Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion
Pros
- Lightweight texture
- Super creamy, fragrance-free
- Amazon reviewers say it takes a long time to absorb
Cons
- Amazon reviewers say it takes a long time to absorb
SELF editors and dermatologists we spoke to all praised this drugstore lotion: “My fancy lotions and oils are great but too expensive for daily use, and my moisturizers with added fragrance sometimes irritate sensitive areas of my skin (like my boobs, upper chest, and neck). Buying this was a gentle reminder that sometimes drugstore skin care products are the best skin care products,” one editor says. Plus, “it has an amazing, creamy feel that hydrates and leaves skin smooth and soft,” Dr. Gohara says. “Melanin-rich skin has less ceramides, leaving our skin more likely to become dry, and Lipikar is loaded with ceramides, shea butter, and niacinamide—a perfect blend of barrier supporting ingredients.”
Size: 13.5 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Prebiotic thermal spring water, glycerin, mineral oil, grape seed oil, dimethicone
Best Budget: EOS 24H Moisture Fragrance Free Body Lotion
Pros
- Leaves skin feeling soft
- Absorbs quickly
- Fragrance-free
- Amazon reviewers say the pump doesn’t work
Cons
- Amazon reviewers say the pump doesn’t work
This 2024 Healthy Beauty Award winner left one tester asking, “where have you been all my life?” Its lightweight formula soaks into the skin super fast, for a silky smooth feeling that lasts all day. “This product is the GOAT. I’m sensitive to everything and allergic to fragrance but with this, I can’t get over how soft my skin feels.” our tester went on to say. Its secret? Moisturizing ingredients like glycerin, shea butter, and shea and mineral oils.
Size: 16 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Dimethicone, isopropyl palmitate (an emollient), petrolatum (an occlusive)
Best Splurge: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Pros
- Available in fragrance-free and scented versions
- Contains peptides to protect and plump skin
- Some Amazon reviewers think it’s too lightweight
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers think it’s too lightweight
Gabriella Vasile, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Réforme Dermatology and Aesthetics in Charleston, South Carolina, tells SELF that she’s been loving this Nécessaire lotion lately. “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 convenient (read: your lotioned-up hands won’t have to fumble with a screw-cap), and we love that it comes in earthy scents as well as a fragrance-free version for sensitive skin. “My skin is so soft now, I feel like a different person,” one happy Amazon reviewer wrote.
Size: 15.2 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Peptides, jojoba seed oil, shea butter
Best for Dry Skin: Curél Ultra Healing Lotion
Pros
- Soothing for extra dry skin
- Fragrance-free
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s too greasy
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s too greasy
“[This lotion] is fabulous for dry skin,” Blair Murphy Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skincare Junkie, tells SELF. “It seems like it repairs skin like no other moisturizer. I’ve recommended this to many, many patients and I often give out samples of it because it’s just that good.”
It’s a petrolatum-based moisturizer that uses glycerin, ceramides, and cholesterol to hydrate and reinforce the skin barrier, along with oats to soothe inflammation. “It helps support the skin barrier and locks in moisture very effectively,” Dr. Murphy Rose says.
Size: 2.5, 6, 13, and 20 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing dimethicone
Best for Itchy Skin: Sarna Calm + Cool Anti-Itch Lotion
Pros
- Feels cool on the skin
- Calms itchiness
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers have issues with the pump
This lotion’s itch-relieving powers are thanks to a topical anesthetic called pramoxine hydrochloride, which is equally effective for eczema and bug bites. While that gets to work, the menthol in this formula provides an instant cooling effect that’ll feel nice after a hot shower.
“It’s very calming for the skin and a great non-greasy option,” Dr. Houshmand says, adding that it’s accepted by the National Eczema Association. It’s also a 2024 Healthy Beauty Awards favorite: “Unlike other anti-itch lotions I’ve used, this one doesn’t leave an unpleasantly sticky film on your body,” one tester said. “I often use this one before going to bed, and I wake up feeling refreshed.”
Size: 7.5 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Soothing aloe, anti-inflammatory witch hazel
Best Antiaging: Versed Press Restart Retinol Body Lotion
Pros
- Prevents fine lines and wrinkles
- Fragrance-free
- Vegan formula
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it’s hard to rub in
This workhorse from Versed uses retinol to prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming by boosting collagen and elastin, Dr. Murphy Rose says. It’s good at treating and preventing “the laxity that comes over time with age and sun exposure,” she adds. As a bonus, retinol can also prevent body acne by exfoliating the skin to keep pores unclogged.
Pro tip: Start off by using it once or twice a week and, if your skin tolerates it well, increasing to daily use from there. The skin on your body is thicker and more resilient, but “just like with any new product, it’s always good to start slow and maybe try it on a test spot at first to make sure you’re not having some significant irritation,” Dr. Murphy Rose says.
Size: 6 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing cocoa butter and squalene
Best for Dark Spots: Vaseline Radiant X Even Tone Nourishing Body Lotion
Pros
- Brightens skin
- Smooths texture
- Subtle scent
Cons
- Some Amazon reviewers say it feels sticky
If many exfoliants are a little too harsh for your skin, you can still get a brightening effect with this 2024 Healthy Beauty Award–winning lotion, thanks to its star ingredient: niacinamide. A form of vitamin B3, niacinamide can address concerns like uneven skin tone (including hyperpigmentation spots), fine lines and wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.
