For years I’ve had a multi-step skincare routine, I wouldn’t dream of not applying sunscreen every morning, and never go to bed without removing my makeup first. I take skincare very seriously, but when it comes to bodycare, I’m ashamed to admit that in the past I’ve been far less committed, and especially as far as hydration was concerned, my attitude was ‘pretty much anything goes’.
The thing is, as a beauty editor I’m sent hundreds of products every month, and with multiple bottles of body lotion gathering dust on my shelves, for 2023 I set myself the new year’s resolution of committing to daily body lotion application. Now I have to admit, it wasn’t easy. Getting out of the shower and standing in the cold applying moisturiser is really not my idea of fun. But the thing is, the skin on your body needs moisture just as much as the skin on your face. Whether your skin is naturally oily, dry or sensitive, keeping it hydrated is key to its health. I certainly never thought I had particularly dry skin on my arms and legs, but once I started applying body lotion daily, I realised just how much of a difference it makes…
For starters, my skin feels so much softer and smoother. I don’t find myself having to exfoliate as much, my fake tan lasts for days longer than it used to, and there’s something very comforting about that clean, fresh, body lotion scent lingering on skin all day long.
Of course, if you do have typically dry skin, daily body lotion application will help soothe any dryness-related irritation and keep skin feeling comfortable. Second, keeping moisture levels up generally keeps skin looking and feeling softer and healthier, so if you experience body acne or areas of redness or sensitivity, you may well notice skin looking much calmer and clearer.
One of my other issues with body lotion is the time it takes to sink in. The last thing I want to be doing is standing around waiting for moisturiser to absorb, and I hate the feeling of having a greasy, sticky layer on my skin. A body lotion only makes the cut for me if it has the ability to sink in quickly, without leaving residue on my skin or clothes. Oh, and I also love a lotion that smells good—I like to think of it as fragrance layering, so something noticeable but not overpowering is what I look for. Over the past few months, I’ve worked my way through my personal stash and collated an elite edit of the best body lotions around for silky-soft limbs. Keep scrolling to see which ones hit the mark.
This was the lotion that actually made me fall in love with body moisturising. It was the first one I tried that really impressed me when it came to its absorption. Despite the fact it has a dense, creamy texture, it sinks in straight away, leaving skin feeling soft but not greasy. It’s not scented, but if you have particularly dry or sensitive skin then that’s exactly what you need.
Leave it Byredo to make a body lotion that smells so good, you basically don’t even need to wear perfume—alternatively, you could layer it with the corresponding fragrance to amp up the intensity. Either way, when I’m feeling fancy or simply need a pick me up ahead of a long day, applying this lotion does just the trick. What’s more, the silky texture absorbs quickly and leaves a fresh, glowy sheen on skin.
This was the very first body lotion I finished to the very last drop (a proud moment!), and I immediately proceeded to order another tub of it. It smells so good—simultaneously bright and fresh but also warm and comforting—but what I love most about it is the really unique whipped, dessert-like texture. It feels like such a treat on skin.
You can’t put together a body lotion roundup without including Sol de Janeiro’s cult Bum Bum Cream. Not only is this a seriously good body moisturiser (hydrating and non-greasy), but it has a mouth-wateringly delicious fragrance. Think: tropical fruits and salted caramel combined. Slick it on and your limbs will smell like a sun-drenched paradise for the rest of the day.
If you’re after an easy-to-get-hold-of budget buy, look no further. CeraVe understands hydration like nobody else, so this no-frills lotion is truly excellent if you have seriously dry skin and get through body lotion fast. With ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it works to deliver hydration and keep the skin barrier intact to prevent future dryness.
I can’t decide what I love more about this product… Either the dense, dry cream texture (it absorbs so fast), or the luxurious, floral scent (key notes are orange blossom and neroli). Between the two, this is one of my all-time favourite body lotions.
Specifically designed to help lock in moisture in order to prolong tan—if you’re a fake tan obsessive, this is the body lotion for you. Thanks to its rich and buttery texture, it provides instant hydration and a glowy finish which lasts all day.
This bestselling body lotion multitasks as both a hydrator and an exfoliator. If you experience rough, bumpy texture on your skin, particularly on the backs of your arms or after shaving, it will work over time to gently smooth them away, with no aggressive scrubbing required. The key ingredient is lactic acid, a chemical exfoliator which resurfaces the top layer of skin.
Body lotions that have more of a gel or serum texture are majorly on trend right now, and it makes total sense why. Lighter textures absorb faster, don’t leave skin greasy, and can penetrate the skin deeply to ensure ingredients are properly absorbed. With aloe vera, menthol, and hyaluronic acid, this lotion is soothing and hydrating—perfect for applying to sensitive or sunburned skin.
When I’m in a rush I love this body lotion—while it has a thick, nourishing texture, it very quickly melts into skin and has an almost mattifying effect, so there’s no residue or greasiness whatsoever. It contains shea butter, honey, and oat to soothe and hydrate skin, and is very subtly fragranced with a light, fresh scent.
Serum-textured body lotions are great for when you need a product that sinks in instantly, but they’re also good for layering under thicker textured products. If you have very dry skin, this is a clever way to give your skin a double dose of moisture. With squalane and AHAs, this particular formula helps to nourish, smooth, and brighten.
Naturally, The Body Shop has an extensive range of options for body hydration, ranging from lightweight lotions to thicker-textured creams and body butters. I particularly love the body lotion formula because it’s so light and soothing. What’s more, it’s available in a full selection of “flavours”, including olive, coconut, rose, and avocado—so you can mix things up for day and night or winter and summer. Personally, I’m a big fan of almond milk, which has a subtle but sweet and comforting scent.
Kora Organics may be best known for its skincare, but this body lotion is not to be overlooked. It contains ingredients like aloe and algae to soothe sensitive skin plus shea butter, ceramides, and vitamin E to soften and nourish dry patches.
If moisturising your body is less a chore and more a ritual and a moment for selfcare, then fragrance probably plays a big role when you’re shopping for body lotion. Aromatherapy Associates places a big emphasis on the therapeutic and wellbeing-related benefits of beauty, so all of their products (including this silky body lotion) are fragranced with essential oils. This particular formula contains a calming blend of ho wood, ylang-ylang, and lavender.
Like all Aesop products, this body lotion smells amazing, and I find the scent lingers impressively on my skin. It’s a bright and vibrant combination of grapefruit, orange, and lemon rind, so is great for summer. The lotion itself is very lightweight and cooling, so sinks in quickly and makes skin feel plumped with moisture. I also really appreciate the pump bottle packaging, which helps to avoid wastage and prevent greasy hands.
As far as affordable bodycare ranges go, Superdrug’s Me+ collection is one of the best. I was particularly impressed with their gel-cream textured body lotions, which take a skincare-first approach to bodycare by heroing key ingredients like salicylic acid (great for body acne) and collagen. The niacinamide version is brilliant if you have any concerns related to uneven skin tone, redness, or hyperpigmentation.
Since it multitasks as both a body lotion and a hand cream, this moisturiser is amazing for addressing dry patches. The water-based formula feels really lightweight and is packed with soothing ingredients like panthenol, allantoin, and aloe that help to relieve irritation and itchiness.
