15 Best Body Lotions for Smooth and Soft Skin, According to Dermatologists

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Just like your face, your body needs lotion to keep your skin moisturized, smooth, and soft. Depending on the formula, body lotion has the ability to target specific goals beyond dryness, too, such as improved elasticity, shine, and less dry patches. No matter what your skin type or goals, year-round application of body lotion is the best and easiest way to keep skin glowing and hydrated, especially because you don't have to spend a fortune when looking for a good option.

When shopping for a body lotion, you want to look for a formula that contains both humectants and emollients, since these combination products are the most effective moisturizers, says Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. This is particularly important if your skin skews on the dry side, she explains. "Humectants like hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and glycerin are helpful, because they attract moisture and hydrate the skin, but you also need emollients to lock in the moisture and moisturize," says King. Good emollients include petrolatum, dimethicone, squalene, shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and ceramides.

If you have additional skin concerns, like anti-aging or eliminating redness, you can also look for formulas that contain specialty ingredients like soothing aloe vera or niacinamide, a derivative of vitamin B3 that has anti-inflammatory properties and helps protect the skin from infrared heat and helps prevent discolorations, says King.

But we get it: Ingredient lists are long and hard to decipher. So to help you pluck the best body lotions from the shelf, we asked dermatologists for their favorite picks. Keep reading for some of the best options on the market right now.

Body Love Glowing Care Body (pack of 3)

Keep the look of glowing skin all year with this nourishing body lotion. Its formula contains mango and almond butters to moisturize, vitamin C to brighten, and ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier.

Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

This gentle body lotion is non-irritating, non-greasy, and fragrance-free, making it an ideal choice for anyone with sensitive skin. Still, it's hardworking—it contains colloidal oatmeal and glycerin, which attract moisture and form a protective barrier to keep it locked in, says Sonia Batra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist.

Moisturizing Skin Cream

More than 28,000 Amazon reviewers agree that this moisturizing body cream is five stars, noting that it's effective enough for "extremely dry skin" but gentle on "severe eczema." It's also easy to spread and absorbs quickly, so you can get on with your day.

Coconut Body Milk

Get a hefty dose of coconut oil to quench dry, thirsty skin with this option. The formula also includes chamomile extract to soothe inflammation, and antioxidants to keep skin looking silky smooth.

Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion

Rich with shea butter, vitamin E, and natural oils, this formula is a cult favorite among pregnant women, thanks to its ability to visibly improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Hydro Boost Fragrance-free Hydrating Body Gel Cream

"Hyaluronic acid is the ultimate skin hydrator," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. "It acts like a sponge to pull in hydration to the other skin layer." Though more commonly found in facial products, the ingredient is making its way into body lotions, like this drugstore favorite.

The Body Retinol

Even though it's technically a serum, this formula is moisturizing enough that you won't feel the need to follow up with a thicker formula. It contains encapsulated retinol, an all-star anti-aging ingredient, that helps reduce the look of crepiness, lines, spots, scars, marks and bumps. It also has vitamins and peptides to soothe and nourish the skin.

Hydrating Moisturizing Lotion

This lotion contains a blend of six moisturizers, as well as vitamins E and B to offer hydration for up to 24 hours, says Alessandra Caceres, an aesthetician and founder of Lavender Facial Bar in Miami. Reviewers are quick to point out just how well it works to nourish skin, with one touting the product as a "saving grace" during winter.

Restoring Body Lotion

Looking for a lightweight gentle formula that also targets signs of aging? Look no further than this option. "It contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to retain and lock in moisture, rosehip oil to support collagen production, and shea butter to smooth skin and reduce inflammation," says Batra.

Lipikar Balm AP+ Intense Repair Body Lotion

This nourishing body lotion is made with a high concentration of shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide to soothe irritation and rehydrate dry, chapped skin. Despite that, it's non-greasy and non-comedogenic, so it won't clog pores. It's also very lightweight and won't leave any residue behind, making it a favorite among those with darker skin tones.

Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Body Lotion

Vaseline is a skincare staple but this body moisturizer takes the cake for its nourishing effects. According to a study by the Health, Beauty & Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, this fragrance-free body lotion hydrated skin by 60 percent for more than six hours—one of the highest hydration levels the chemists had ever seen.

Daily Moisturizing Lotion

"One of the most reliable body lotions is CeraVe," says Jessica Krant, MD, a board-certified dermatologist for the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. "It’s widely available at drugstores, well-tolerated, and a little more gentle and hydrating than some other popular brands."

Cream Intense Hydration

“This lotion provides instant relief and hydration to distressed skin," says Jeannel Astarita, a celebrity aesthetician and founder of Just Ageless in New York City. Another plus? It instantly absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy residue behind.

Daily Healing Original Lotion

The ceramides in this formula help to heal and prevent dry skin by retaining and locking in moisture. It's also not greasy and dermatologist-recommended.

Delicious Glow Body Lotion

A vegan formula packaged in a 100 percent recycled and recyclable bottle makes this option one you can feel good about using on your body and for the planet. It contains nourishing murumuru butter, and Bulgarian rose petals give it its sweet scent.

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