Want happy, healthy, hydrated skin? It’s time to moisturise! Aside from sunscreen, moisturising is probably the most important step of your skincare routine – and that goes for your body as well as your face.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, so it seems kind of crazy to neglect 95% of it during your skincare routine! Like your face, the skin below your décoletté is deserving of love. And hydration! While not as thin and delicate as facial skin, it works just as hard to protect us from the elements. So, spending a few bucks on a body moisturiser really is a simple way to show you care.
Not all body moisturisers are created equal, though – and some have benefits that go waaay beyond hydration. So, if you’re new to the body moisturiser game and want to pick a winner, read on! Whether you prefer a basic body lotion, a rich balm, or something in between, we’ve compiled a list of 8 of the best body moisturisers in the biz. Silky smooth limbs and supple booties await!What Is a Body Moisturiser?
Body moisturiser is a product specifically formulated to replenish lost moisture in the skin on your bod. Whether in the form of a light lotion of ultra-thick cream, body moisturisers are designed to give imbue the skin with moisture, while also helping it to maintain its own natural moisture complex. Helping to eradicate dryness, promote softness and increase comfort, a body cream or lotion can also impart a beautiful glow that will last throughout the day.
How Do Body Moisturisers Work?
The main job of body moisturisers is to relieve dry skin. They do this by adding water into your skin and also trapping the water already in there so skin stays plump and refreshed. They do this by creating a thin barrier on the skin that doesn’t allow moisture to leech out. And different products use different ingredients to create this moisture barrier or film.
For instance, heavier moisturisers use ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil, which create a stronger barrier that prevents skin from losing moisture. This can beneficial when the skin needs protection from harsh conditions; however, this type of product can also clog pores if it's too thick for your skin to handle.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are also lighter body moisturisers that relieve dry skin and offer additional benefits such as sun protection and anti-ageing. However, you’ll have to apply these moisturisers more often than their thicker counterparts.
How To Use Body Moisturisers
Body moisturisers work best when applied directly to clean, slightly damp skin after showering.
Step 1: After your shower, place a generous amount of your favourite body lotion or cream into the palm of your hand.
Step 2: Rub the product between your palms briefly to warm it up.
Step 3: Using both hands, massage the lotion onto the skin in gentle circular motions.
Step 4: Repeat the above steps as needed, being sure to pay close attention to places that get extra dry – like the elbows, knees, feet and hands.
Popular Body Moisturisers To Try Out:
1. Body Moisture Whip | Coco & Eve
Our rich, nurturing formula is a fan favourite for a reason. Formulated with coconut, cacao and caffeine, plus a trio of antioxidant-rich fruits, it leaves skin soft and supple. While also deeply hydrating and firming the skin from within. Better yet, the Body Whip is fast-absorbing – so you won’t have to sit for ages waiting for it to dry. Non-greasy and tropically scented, the amazing, whip-like formula delivers all-day hydration, so you’re left with buttery soft, glowing skin in just one application.
(@cocoandeve)
2. Black Tea Age-Delay Body Cream | Fresh
Fresh is known for its beautiful ingredients and long-lasting results, and the Black Tea Age-Delay Body Cream is no different. This formula is said to firm and moisturise the skin to turn back the hands of time. Apply daily and you can expect comfortably plump and hydrated skin. Plus a softer appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
(@freshbeauty)
3. Daily Moisturising Lotion | CeraVe
If you have severely dry skin, a run-of-the-mill body moisturiser simply won’t cut it. To combat the most extreme cases, it’s important to break out the formulas with hyaluronic acid, which carries 1,000 times its weight in water to keep skin extra hydrated. An effective and budget-friendly option, the CeraVe Daily Moisturising Lotion is perfect for sensitive skin types – and it doesn’t feel sticky or heavy on the skin.
4. Moisture-Rich Body Creme | EltaMD
EltaMD is one of the world’s most renowned skincare brands and their results are second to none. So, if your dry skin leads to inflammation, which is a common side effect that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later, we recommend reaching for this body cream. This formula contains dimethicone, ceramides and hyaluronic acid, as well as squalane oil and mango-seed butte to address unwanted inflammation.
5. Alpha + Beta Hydroxy Moisturiser Glycolic Acid Skin Lotion | DerMend
If your skin needs a little extra TLC, reach for the DerMend Alpha + Beta Hydroxy Moisturiser. Featuring glycolic and salicylic acids, this body moisturiser works to exfoliate and unclog pores. Sound a little hard core? Don’t worry. Even though this lotion is powerful, it’s still great for sensitive skin. If you suffer from bumpy legs and arms, give it a go and you’ll likely see smoother skin in about a week.
6. Moisturising Skin Cream | Vanicream
Also for sensitive skin, Vanicream is hypoallergenic and great for people who are sensitive to fragrances and preservatives. This extremely thick body moisturiser acts as a long-lasting armour. Protecting your skin from dryness, it helps it stay beautifully soft and supple until your next shower.
(@officialvanicream)
7. Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion | Vaseline
Vaseline is a brand that people have known and loved for decades due to exceptional products that are proven to work. This unscented lotion in particular hydrates the skin for more than six hours – a really long hydration period for lower-end products. It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or tacky, which is a win-win-win in our book!
8. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream | Sol de Janeiro
Hello hydration! Awaken dry, dull skin in seconds with Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. This lotion contains a soothing and hydrating blend of cupuaçu butter, antioxidant-rich açaí and coconut oil that is proven to soften the skin and leave it hydrated and supple for hours.
(@soldejaneiro)
The Bottom Line
These days, body moisturisers do way more than keep your skin hydrated. They can also help solve common skin issues like bumpiness and uneven skin tone, as well as helping to fade scars and minimise stretch marks. So, when it’s time to find a new lotion, think about the skin you want – and seek out the ingredients that will help get it there!
Call us biased, but the Body Moisture Whip really is a great option for your everyday lotion needs. It’s smooth, gentle, and can help your skin heal from the inside out. What’s not to love? To learn more about our Body Whip, and to browse all of Coco & Eve’s products, visit our collections page!
Written By: Pip Jarvis
Edited by: Vidhya
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