18 Best Body Lotions for Every Skin Type (original) (raw)
The Best Body Lotions, According to Dermatologists
By ,a writer at the Strategist covering beauty and books. She joined the site in 2020. Previously, she wrote about beauty and culture for Nylon and Elle.
Photo: Tembe Denton-Hurst
Body lotion benefits your legs, knees, arms, butt, and torso in much the same way that a daily moisturizer benefits the skin on your face. According to dermatologist Dr. Heidi Waldorf, an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, “It keeps skin smooth and supple, and maintains a healthy skin barrier.” Contrary to popular belief, applying lotion is more about protecting your skin against dryness than treating it. “A lot of people think moisturizers bring moisture into the skin, but their main function is actually to prevent water loss,” explains Doctorly’s Dr. Muneeb Shah. Keeping your skin hydrated in this way is also essential to maintaining youthful-looking skin and protecting against signs of aging. “Think about your favorite leather shoes — if you leave them in the sun or elements and never treat them with leather conditioner, they will begin to crack and look much older,” says Karen Fernandez, lead aesthetician at SkinSpirit spas. “But when treated properly, your leather can look healthy, soft and ‘younger’ for much longer. Skin is very similar, so using body lotion really helps preserve our youthful skin.”
Much like the serums, creams, and moisturizers you use on your face, body lotions come in a wide variety of formulations meant to target specific issues like dryness, loss of elasticity, acne, eczema, and keratosis pilaris. With that in mind, we asked 14 dermatologists and skin-care experts for their body-lotion recommendations for a variety of skin types. No matter your skin concern, though, dermatologist Dr. Hadley King says, “For all skin types, moisturizers ideally contain three components: humectants, emollients, and occlusives.” Humectants (like hyaluronic acid and glycerin) retain water to hydrate the skin, emollients (like squalane and ceramides) improve skin texture and appearance, and occlusives (like oils and waxes) seal in the moisture. The good news is that, according to Shah, drugstore brands will do the trick: “I exclusively use stuff that’s pretty inexpensive.” Below, are 18 lotions packed with these ingredients that will help you get your skin as close to baby smooth as possible. Most are relatively affordable, but our experts also recommended some higher-end options that will make your daily routine feel a little more luxurious.
On that note,remember it’s ideal to apply body lotion when wet — i.e., when you’re hanging out in your towel — to better seal in the moisture. “The best time is as soon as you get out of the shower, while skin is still damp and best able to absorb your moisturizer,” says Shah. “That’s when you’re going to lose the most water to the environment: within three minutes of getting out of the shower.”
Updated on February 19, 2026
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Of all the lotions I’ve tried, Nécessaire’s stands out from the group. It’s the Goldilocks of body lotions — it’s not too thick and not too thin, and it sinks into skin pretty quickly after application. I’ve gone through so many bottles I’ve lost count, and even if I don’t use it daily, whenever I slather it on again, I remember why it’s the best. It works well in all seasons; I’ve used it during sweltering 90-degree days and didn’t feel like I had a thick layer on top of my skin, and in the depths of New York winter, my skin wasn’t cracking and dry. Plus, it’s truly fragrance free, a must for my sensitive nose and skin. Writer Kitty Guo also worships at the altar of the Nécessaire body lotion: “Strongly scented body lotions often conflict with my perfume, so the fragrance-free aspect is paramount. Sure, plain old Cetaphil can get the job done, but Nécessaire’s lotion has a richer, creamier texture that makes it feel much more luxe,” says Guo. Beyond the feel, I’m a fan of the ingredients, as is Doctorly’s Dr. Muneeb Shah. The formula contains vitamins B3, A, C, and E, as well as a blend of nourishing oils. The formula is fragrance-free to prevent irritation and contains a bunch of lipids and ceramides that he says “are really good for the skin.” Another bonus: It’ll look nice if you leave it out on the bathroom sink.
The only drawback of the Nécessaire body lotion is that it isn’t widely available like a brand like Cerave, our previous top pick. With that said, the brand is available on Amazon and in stores like Sephora.
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For a slightly less expensive option that’s widely available at the drugstore, dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp likes Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, which is hydrating and lightweight. Like other Aveeno products, it contains soothing oat along with glycerin and petrolatum, the same stuff that’s in Vaseline. I’ve been using this lotion for over a year and it’s quickly become my daily go-to. It’s especially nice in the humid summer months, when heavier, thicker formulas can feel a little too rich for my very dry skin. It’s also fragrance-free and noncomedogenic, so it should be well tolerated by most people, including sensitive-skin types.
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Dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal says his patients love Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Moisturizer, which I’ve previously said is the best lotion for dry skin. “It’s affordable and has a rich, luxurious texture,” he says. It’s packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea moisture and glycerin, and enriched with fatty acids that help to seal in moisture. What I like about this one is that it locks in moisture for hours on end, and despite the ultrarich feel, it isn’t greasy at all. I’m someone with generally dry skin, and I am always shocked by its staying power. Another benefit: It’s fragrance-free, making it a safe option for anyone sensitive to scent.
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For ease of application, Shah recommends this spray-on lotion from Aquaphor, which will help you moisturize hard-to-reach areas like the middle of your back. “It’s a pretty unique method of delivery and pretty nice to apply to the skin as well,” he says. Hypoallergenic and free of any irritating fragrances, the spray is intensive and designed to especially help dry and rough skin. For those who find themselves in need of even more relief, Shah recommends using this spray as part of a multistep moisturizing routine: “You could use a cream-based lotion like CeraVe and follow it with an ointment spray like this for double the effect.”
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When it comes to dry skin, “lotions” actually aren’t recommended because they’re usually not thick enough to cure your cracked, flaky skin. Instead, “look more for creams and ointments,” recommends Shah.This CeraVe cream — which is much thicker than the lotion we mentioned above — came recommended to us by five dermatologists when we asked them about the best body lotions for dry skin. Because it’s fragrance-free and chock-full of hydrating ingredients, like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin, it’ll work for even the most sensitive of skin. As Dr. Sapna Palep, founder of Spring Street Dermatology in New York City, puts it, “It’s just a good staple; what’s not to love?” If you have dry and acne-prone skin, this is a good option for you as well. King explains, “It’s noncomedogenic so it won’t clog pores and contribute to acne, and its skin-barrier-nourishing ingredients help to protect the skin from the potentially irritating effects of anti-acne medications.”
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“People with eczema have very allergenic skin, so they tend to react to a lot of ingredients,” explains Shah. “They should avoid fragrances, and instead of using lotions and gels, go for more creams and ointments.” He adds that people with eczema have “abnormally low ceramide levels,” so they should look for moisturizers that contain ceramides for a bit of a boost.Dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, an assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, pointed us to this Aveeno tub that relies on a combination of ceramide and colloidal oatmeal for curbing eczema-related itchiness, but it’ll also work for people who are itchy from regular old dry skin. Aveeno reviewers say this soothing balm is a godsend, with one noting that it got her off “steroid-based sprays and creams,” and another praising the fact that “this doesn’t leave a slime trail in my husband’s wake. Plus he’s not waking me up multiple times during the night scratching his feet and hands. This balm kept me from a divorce.” And if in, say, the summer months, you don’t need something quite as heavy-duty, then try the cream version instead, which came recommended to us by three different dermatologists for eczema.
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Dermatological nurse and celebrity aesthetician Natalie Aguilar says she’s always suffered from eczema, which is why she loves Avéne’s Lipid-Replenishing cream. “It nourishes, soothes, and calms dry, itchy skin prone to atopic dermatitis and eczema,” she says. “It rebalances our microbiome while supporting skin’s defense system for a healthy skin. It’s also safe and amazing for the entire family, whether they have eczema or not.”
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Sometimes intensely dry skin can cause inflammation, which, for obvious reasons, can be very uncomfortable. To soothe any irritation, three dermatologists recommend this EltaMD cream. “It has dimethicone, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, but it also has squalane oil and mango-seed butter as well as niacinamide — all of which focus on inflammation,” explains Dr. Melissa K. Levin, the founder of Entière Dermatology. While it’s a bit pricey, she says it’s completely worth it.
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And because you want your body lotion to be hydrating but not exacerbate any body acne, two experts — Jaliman and Waldorf — recommend CeraVe’s SA lotion because it contains salicylic acid, an exfoliant that’s been clinically proven to help with acne. It’s also fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and noncomedogenic, which means that it won’t irritate the skin and is specifically formulated not to clog pores. Some reviewers say they’ve seen noticeable improvements and smoother skin in just a few days.
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For conditions like keratosis pilaris — which consist of “plugs” of cells in hair follicles, often on the upper arms and thighs — exfoliation is key. Fromowitz says you should look for creams that include exfoliants like lactic, salicylic, or glycolic acid, and prescription-grade products for more severe cases. This AmLactin lotion that Waldorf suggests contains lactic acid (which you might recognize if you’re a Sunday Riley fan). Incidentally, the Eucerin on this list also contains lactic as well as glycolic acid, so you could start there and try this if you want something stronger.
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Many people have year-round sensitivities to certain ingredients. But in the winter months, blasting radiators and hot showers can sap the moisture out of anybody’s skin, making it more sensitive and extra thirsty. Green, King, and Engelman recommend this Cetaphil lotion for irritated and sensitive skin, which can manifest as redness, breakouts, and hives. It has sweet almond oil in it, which is “an emollient that softens and anecdotal evidence suggests that it may help to rejuvenate damaged skin,” says King. It also contains ceramides and essential fatty acids, which Green says “create a barrier that protects skin from environmental stressors, while replenishing lost moisture.” Engelman likes that it’s a gentle, fragrance-free, and noncomedogenic moisturizer from a brand with a great reputation. As the seasons change, you might want to swap your lightweight body lotion for this richer, more nourishing formula. Another benefit is that it’s widely accessible and affordable. This is partly why cosmetic chemist Dr. Julian Sass buys it: “It’s cheap and I can buy it in a two-pack at Costco,” he says.
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Also for sensitive skin, Vanicream came recommended by Downes, Engelman, and Dr. Morgan Rabach, dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical. Downes told us that she recommends Vanicream because it’s hypoallergenic for those with sensitivities to fragrances and preservatives. “It’s also inexpensive,” says Downes, who stocks it in her office because she recommends it to patients so often. Rabach calls it “truly an amazing product,” saying that “it’s extremely thick and moisturizing, and one of the best creams for people with very sensitive skin or eczema because its formulation is free of dyes, lanolin, fragrance, parabens, and formaldehyde.”
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If you want something lightweight but deeply hydrating, this gel-cream from Neutrogena’s popular Hydroboost line is a nice option. Shah specifically recommends the brand’s fragrance-free version, as does celebrity aesthetician Kristin Gunn, the owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa. Because it’s a gel-cream rather than an ointment, Shah describes Hydro Boost as a “really good option” for those who don’t suffer from particularly dry skin but still want to stay moisturized on a daily basis. In general, he adds, fragrance-free body lotions like this one are ideal for all skin types because there’s far less risk of allergic reactions or general irritation.
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I’m also a fan of the sheer version of the classic Aveeno body lotion. I’m on my third bottle of this stuff and will be buying a fourth. It’s deeply hydrating without the heaviness and keeps skin moisturized for hours. Like the richer formula, it also contains prebiotic oat, which is soothing for dry and mildly itchy skin.
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Though it’s pricey (at least $100 more than the other products on this list), Engelman swears by this body lotion from West Coast beauty brand Augustinus Bader . Like the Augustinus Bader face creams, which have a significant cult following of aestheticians and celebs, this newly released cream also uses stem-cell technology, amino acids, and high-grade vitamins to jump-start the skin’s natural renewal and repair process. In addition it contains shea butter to deliver intense moisture and protect your skin’s natural barrier, while vitamins A and E combined with anti-inflammatory Brazilian candeia oil help firm skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks and fine lines.
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Body retinols have become increasingly popular in the past few years, due to retinol’s skin-clearing abilities. The vitamin-A derivative works the same on the body as it does on the face, so the same rules apply: Incorporate it into your routine slowly and use sunscreen daily, as retinol weakens skin’s ability to protect from UV rays. Camp likes this one from Paula’s Choice, which he says improves hydration and also helps with uneven skin tone. It contains 0.1 percent retinol, a mid-range level concentration that will offer significant results but should be generally well tolerated, especially if it’s properly introduced. The star of the show here is the retinol, but it also contains hydrating butters and plant oils that nourish the skin without being greasy.
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I tested nearly a dozen body butters, and my favorite among them is this one from Clinique. Its main ingredient is shea butter, a deeply nourishing moisturizer, along with glycerin and hyaluronic acid, ingredients that help to attract and bind moisture to skin, which prevents it from drying out. I also like that it’s formulated to be fragrance-free, which is not only pleasant for the scent-sensitive like me but also works well if you have sensitive skin or a condition where fragrance might cause further irritation. The texture is also very nice — not as thick as pure shea butter but more substantial than a rich body lotion. Despite this, it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, and there isn’t a film once applied.
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For a less expensive option, I recommend the Naturium body butter, which also contains shea butter along with an assortment of lighter-weight oils like coconut, squalane, and safflower. It also contains peptides, which help to support collagen production. Peptides act like messengers that signal skin cells, which over time encourages firmer, more elastic skin.
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