Our top pick makes dry, itchy skin glow for under $9.
There are countless remedies for dry skin, but only a few body lotions that moisturize better than the rest. To find the products that actually stave off dryness, the Institute Beauty Lab regularly tests all types of moisturizers, including face lotions, hand creams, night creams, moisturizers for dry skin and sensitive skin, and so much more.
We test to see which body lotions will actually keep your skin hydrated by rounding up a wide range of moisturizers (21 in our last test) and narrowing down the field based on initial moisturization capabilities. In the Lab, we measure hydration changes on skin with the Corneometer device (which measures skin’s hydration) before and after lotion application.
Then, we obscure the labels of the top-performing products to prevent any biases before sending them out to consumer testers with a range of skin types and concerns. Our testers use the lotions regularly and report back on ease of use, performance, and overall satisfaction. After crunching the data from 5,040 hydration data points from in-Lab tests and tallying results from 1,062 questions from 118 consumer surveys, we found the very best body lotion you can buy, whether your skin is dry, dull, mature, or eczema-prone.
1
BEST OVERALL BODY LOTION
Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion
In our Lab’s moisturization study, this unscented lotion hydrated skin by 60% for more than six hours, which is one of the highest hydration levels our chemists have ever seen. And even though it was a powerhouse moisturizer, the texture was on point too: All of our consumer testers said it absorbed quickly and didn’t leave skin feeling tacky.
2
Best Value Body Lotion
Olay Quench Ultra Moisture Body Lotion
Even sweeter than the price is the smell of this lotion. “The scent lingered in a pleasantly subtle way,” shared one tester. It’s infused with shea butter and vitamins B3 and E. Our Lab also found that it improved the moisturization of skin by a seriously impressive 52%.
3
Best Anti-Aging Body Lotion
Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Body Cream
Moisturizing and wrinkle-reducing, in our anti-aging body lotion study, our Lab found that this product moisturized and firmed skin after six hours. And after four weeks of use, testers reported noticeable results for softening fine lines and wrinkles.
4
Best Body Lotion for Very Dry Skin
Dove DermaSeries Dry Skin Relief Lotion
Dove’s lotion scored high in our Lab tests for leaving skin looking and feeling hydrated all day long. The easy-to-spread formula boosted skin’s moisture by a whopping 57% over six hours, making it a close second to our top pick’s hydration power.
5
BEST FRAGRANCE-FREE BODY LOTION
Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion
A top performer in Lab tests, this body lotion with vitamin E and B5 boosted skin’s moisture by 54%. Testers loved that it spread easily onto skin and absorbed quickly without feeling greasy, but wished it made skin look as moisturized as it felt. Testers agreed that the fragrance-free formula is truly odorless, and it also comes in a rich cream for extra dry skin.
6
MOST POPULAR BODY LOTION ON AMAZON
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
With over 8,000 reviews on Amazon, reviewers cannot get enough of this hypoallergenic body lotion. The lightweight formula is fragrance-free and loaded with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and repair and in Lab tests, it improved skin’s moisturization by 37%. Testers ranked it tops for absorbing quickly into skin and most said they’d continue using it. For extra dry skin during the winter, it also comes in a rich body cream form.
7
Best Lightweight Body Lotion
Curél Ultra Healing Intensive Lotion
This lotion is incredibly lightweight, but don’t assume it isn’t as moisturizing. Our Lab results showed that the Curel lotion increased skin hydration by an impressive 56% over 6 hours. Our consumer testers also loved that it spread onto skin easily and left skin looking and feeling moisturized throughout the day. One of them summed it up best: “I liked pretty much everything about this product.”
8
BEST BODY LOTION FOR SUMMER
Eucerin Advanced Repair Lotion
You’ll feel the effects of Eucerin’s lotion, as it was a top scorer for skin-softening and long-lasting moisturization. It didn’t have the highest moisturizing percentage, but consumers really loved the texture and spreadability of it — the lightweight texture is hydrating enough for warmer months without being heavy or cloying on the skin.
9
BEST BODY LOTION FOR GLOWING SKIN
Mary Kay Hydrating Lotion
Of all the creams tested, this was the best at making skin look moisturized and smoothing ashy, flaking skin. It also had a pretty good moisturization percentage (49%). And the scent might turn you into a believer: “I liked the soft scent of the lotion even though I am not a fan of scented lotions,” one tester shared. Keep in mind, however, that the trade off for that glow is that skin may feel a bit greasy.
10
BEST SMELLING BODY LOTION
Weleda Hydrating Body Lotion
While this one didn’t moisturize quite as well as other options (40%), it was a favorite among our testers for its vibrant citrus scent. One tester shared that it was “energizing in the a.m.” One thing they didn’t necessarily love was the consistency, which was a little liquidy.
11
BEST NON-GREASY BODY LOTION
Jurlique Softening Body Lotion
Stop and smell the roses with this dreamy formula from Jurlique, which increased skin hydration by 46% over six hours. People loved how it applied easily onto skin, and didn’t feel sticky or greasy. “I didn’t have to take too much time spreading the product onto my skin at all, which is what usually happens when I use body lotion,” one tester raved.
12
BEST BODY LOTION FOR ECZEMA
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm
For suffers of the itchy skin condition, this body lotion is formulated specifically for eczema. Though we haven’t formally tested this formula in-Lab, reviewers and dermatologists say the thick, rich texture helps to soothe compromised skin, and the colloidal oatmeal and ceramide formula helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier so it can heal properly.
13
BEST BODY LOTION FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion
Fragrance-free lovers, this one’s for you. The scentless and lightweight formula is great for use year-round for sensitive skin (or sensitive noses) that tend to react to added fragrances. We haven’t tested this pick, but it’s formulated with niacinamide, shea butter, and glycerin which are all proven hydrators for smooth, healthy skin.
14
Best Luxury Body Lotion
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter
This is a favorite of Good Housekeeping‘s Beauty Director April Franzino. “It’s like whipped cream for your skin,” she says. “It smells slightly sweet of honey and cream, and makes skin feel instantly nourished and pampered without the overly-sticky feel body butters can have.”
15
BEST BODY LOTION FOR DRY PATCHES
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
For super dry spots, reach for this Seal star formulated with panthenol and glycerin that locks in moisture without the tacky texture of traditional petroleum jelly products. Smooth it on wherever skin is dry or cracked, from lips to cuticles.