Say Goodbye to Dry, Cracked Skin With These Hydrating Lotions

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MOST GUYS HAVE dry skin and they don't even know it until it's too late. Body wash removes dirt, odor, and surface oils, but it doesn't add a ton of moisture to your skin. Moisture helps to reinforce your skin barrier, which is your body's main line of defense against external stressors. As the season starts to change, your skin might start to feel dry to the touch or even flake off. Rather than just surrendering to those sandpaper patches that feel (and look) like a nightmare, you can reinforce your skin barrier and prevent dry skin by using body lotion regularly.

Body lotion isn't just a gimmick, big guy. You work hard on the rest of your grooming and skincare routine—hair, beard, smelling good, and so on—so it’s time to give your skin (ahem, the largest organ on your body) the treatment it actually deserves. You're never too rugged for some skin TLC.

Read more: Best Grooming Products for Men

Even if you don't have patches of dry, flakey skin, using body lotion can benefit your skin in many ways. "Using a regular body lotion can prevent the skin from drying out by supporting the skin barrier and preventing water loss," says Dr. Brian Hibler, MD, Medical and Cosmetic Dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. "This results in the skin feeling softer and smoother. This is beneficial to reduce wrinkles or crepiness, camouflage any blemishes, diminish skin sensitivity, and reduce any skin flaking or itching."

With the onslaught of options out there, shopping for body lotion can be overwhelming. To save you from Googling furiously in the drugstore aisle, check out this list of the best men’s body lotions on the market. While they range in ingredients and principles, all of these hard-working products will do exactly what they promise when applied liberally to your arms, hands, legs, and feet. Pro tip: Apply them post-shower after a towel dry to absorb and lock in moisture. Bye-bye, dry skin.

Try one of these top 16 men’s body lotions for the smooth and hydrated skin you’ve always deserved.

Creme de Corps Body Lotion

You can just call this one the miracle worker for wildly-cracked skin. Apply just a tiny amount of this creamy hydrating lotion after your shower to feel the results of silky-soft skin from the unique mixture of cocoa butter, squalane, and beta-carotene.

Testing Notes: We love how rich this cream feels. At the same time, it's not too thick or sticky, which is common in richer creams. We personally love the fragrance, which smells fresh and natural—not overly feminine. Because it's so rich, you don't need to use a ton of product to moisturize your whole body, and we found that one bottle lasts us a good six months to a year.

Read more: Best Colognes for Men

Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

Developed by dermatologists, CeraVe's Daily Moisturizing Lotion was designed to simply get the job done by providing 24-hour relief from your dry, itchy skin. It’s also oil fragrance-free for those of you looking for a product that’s a bit more discreet.

Testing Notes: We love this body lotion for sensitive, eczema-prone skin because it's unscented and it won't clog your pores. It feels immediately soothing on the skin and locks in moisture all day long so you don't have to worry about reapplying on dry patches later in the day. It's one of our favorite picks for body lotions under $15, and our top pick for anyone that has both sensitive and dry skin.

Geranium Leaf Body Balm

This body balm is an ultra luxe addition that elevates the aesthetic of any guest room, bathroom or bedroom. It's more of a balm than a lightweight lotion, making it ultra rich for winter hydration in a five-star-hotel-worthy scent.

Testing Notes: When you treat your dry skin to this nourishing body balm, you'll wonder why you ever wasted your time using anything else. Once you get past the ultra-rich texture, you'll start to feel the difference in how hydrating all the oils in the this formula feels on the skin. Unless you have very dry skin that can tolerate some natural fragrance, this isn't something we would recommend reaching for every day.

It's definitely meant to be on display in your bathroom or on your nightstand for whenever you need a boost of moisture to keep your skin soft and smooth.

PLAY Everyday Sunscreen Lotion

Supergoop's PLAY Everyday Suncreen is the best body lotion with SPF 50+. It's made with clean ingredients like sunflower extract for extra hydration, and is sweat resistant. This lotion is meant to "play" in, perfect for anyone who works or runs outside, even during the winter.

Testing Notes: We keep this body lotion on hand in all seasons to use anytime we plan to be outside for longer than 30 minutes. It's a great lotion to throw in your bag before your next outdoor workout or day in the park. When it comes to the texture, it feels more like a body lotion than your average bottle of sunscreen.

Advanced Repair Dry Skin Body Lotion

This advanced repair lotion is a favorite among dermatologists because “it delivers the benefits of a cream in a light lotion formula that easily spreads over large surface areas of skin,” says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “It contains a combination of ceramides to repair the skin barrier along with natural moisturizing factors to pull in hydration to the outer skin layer.”

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Dry Skin

Rum Body Lotion

Light in weight yet heavy-duty in results, it just takes a small amount of Malin Goetz’s popular quick-absorbing lotion to soften your skin thanks to a natural mix of pro-vitamin B5, essential fatty acids, and allantoin. The luxurious masculine scent also sets this staple apart from the rest.

Testing Notes: The first thing we noticed about this body lotion was the intoxicatingly fresh smell, but the lotion itself is just as impressive. It feels very soft and smooth and massages in easily. It's not too thick and doesn't feel runny or watery. We love using this body lotion right out of the shower to really seal in hydration and restore the skin's protective barrier.

Daily Moisture Unscented Lotion

For those simple dudes that don’t want to mess around with a cabinet full of products, this inexpensive unscented pick is for you. With an aloe-enriched base, it soothes your skin while moisturizing to restore health in your body, face, and post-shave. Triple-the-action for under $9? It’s already like a done deal.

Testing Notes: Our favorite way to use this lotion is on tattoos that are still healing. It's unscented, so it won't sting or burn your sensitive newly tatted skin. We used this daily for the first 1-2 weeks post-tattoo, and we loved how easy it was to use that we kept using it long after the tattoo healed. It's basic in the best way, which makes it great for everyday use.

Read more: Best Lotions for Tattoos

Cool Moisture Body Lotion

Cool down after that sweat sesh with this Jack Black lotion that has ingredients like vitamin E, jojoba oil, and most noteworthy, menthol to soothe overheated and dry skin.

Testing Notes: We love how refreshing this lotion feels to apply. Not only does the menthol have a slightly herby, minty smell, but it also has a cooling effect that we found helped to relieve sore muscles. This body lotion is one we always reach for after a tough workout.

Mojave Ghost Body Lotion

While the price tag may seem a bit intimidating for a body lotion, it’s the heavenly woody scent with notes of musk and crisp amber you’re really paying for. Byredo is known for creating some of the best colognes out there, and the effective but subtle Mojave Ghost is one that’s oh so worth it.

Testing Notes: The best way to ensure your signature scent stays all day is to use a cologne and body lotion with the same fragrance profile and layer the two. We love using this lotion from Byredo straight out of the shower to create a base for the Mojave Ghost fragrance to sit on top of. Together, it creates the most irresistible scent with serious staying power.

Cool Fresh Aloe Lotion

Dr. Squatch makes all natural, clean grooming products specifically for men through performance, scent, and avoidance of estrogenics. This cooling lotion is a lightweight, non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly and rubs in easily with arm hair. The formula is a blend of natural moisturizers and nutrients like Shea Butter, Vitamin E, and Coconut Oil.

Testing Notes: We're huge fans of the refreshing aloe scent and lightweight texture of this body lotion. It feels very hydrating and locks in moisture, and we like that it doesn't have any harmful ingredients that could irritate sensitive skin. It is not very hydrating for extra dry skin, but for dry to normal skin, it's a greatt lotion for everyday.

Santal 33 Body Lotion

If you’ve heard of Le Labo, Santal 33 is most likely the reason why. The intoxicating scent of the woody, warm, powdery scent of amazingness has been a best-seller that can make any price-conscious man splurge without care. Yes, it smells that amazing, and in body-lotion form, every inch of your skin can absorb the heavenly scent.

Testing Notes: The scent isn't the only standout feature of this body lotion. The formula is actually very hydrating without ever feeling greasy or heavy. Its ability to provide long-lasting moisture to the skin is a huge plus in addition to the luxurious scent.

Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

We love how rich and soothing this cream is. So much so that we named it the Best Lotion for our Grooming Awards. Use it as a spot remedy for your hands when they become too dry and cracked from all the sanitizer.

Testing Notes: Guys with sensitive skin will love this body lotion. It soothes redness, irritation, and replenishes your skin and hands with hydration immediately. Our only gripe with this lotion is that we wish it came in a bigger size.

No Sweat Body Defense Cream

This is not your everyday, all-over body lotion, but the product is so great it deserves a spot on this list. Anthony's No Sweat Body Defense Cream is actually a moisturizing deodorant. Say goodbye to chafe (especially during winter gym days) with this ultra hydrating deodorant cream.

Testing Notes: For guys that tend to sweat profusely in the summer, this deodorant cream is your new secret weapon. We love to keep it on us 24/7 to reapply as needed throughout the day. Use on underarms, butt, groin, balls, hands, chest, or wherever you want to service the itch, chafe, and heat.

Everyday Essentials Body Lotion

It’s not just the affordable price tag that makes this everyday essential a winner. Comprised of seven different moisturizers that are mixed to perfection, it lasts up to 24 hours after applying to keep your skin nourished all day long.

Testing Notes: This is the kind of body lotion that you can use every day and not ever get tired of it. It moisturizes on contact and doesn't leave your skin looking shiny or greasy. The smell isn't anything to write home about but it's gentle, mild, and fades quickly.

Read more: Best Moisturizers for Men

Men Healing Moisture Hand and Body Lotion

As one of Walmart's top choices, this superstar lotion will give you the extra strength you need to combat crazy-cracked skin. Claiming to heal problem areas in just five days thanks to micro-drops of Vaseline jelly, it absorbs quickly into the skin for a non-greasy finish.

Testing Notes: We found that this lotion works best when you use it more regularly. It sinks into the skin quickly, but if your skin is super dry, it might take a few days to completely heal any dry patches. There are better lotions for immediate relief, but if you can commit to adding this lotion into your daily routine, you'll get the results you want at an affordable price.

Hinoki Body Milk

Consider this a spa-like treatment for your skin. Tatcha's milky body cream has a lightweight finish that still deeply hydrates. Come winter, layer this over your favorite lotion for extra moisture. We also love its calming peach tree scent. Great for gifting.

Testing Notes: This body lotion is unlike anything we've tried before. The consistency is very thin and milky, not creamy like traditional body lotions. Because the texture is so lightweight, it sinks deep into the skin almost immediately, and left our skin feeling more hydrated without that lotion-y film that thicker creams tend to leave behind. In our opinion, this justifies the price, because it gives you that deeply hydrated feeling without any greasy residue.

Read more: Best Gifts for Men

What Are the Best Ingredients to Look For in a Body Lotion?

Dr. Hibler suggests looking for body lotions with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which both help repair the skin barrier. "Avoid lotions with fragrance, as this is an unnecessary ingredient and can lead to skin sensitivity," he says.

Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology, recommends looking for body lotions that are made up of three main categories of moisturizing ingredients: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Humectants include ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which bind to water molecules in the skin to help retain water and moisture. Emollients are ingredients like squalene, fatty acids, and ceramides. "These help with skin barrier function and cell signaling to improve skin texture and appearance," says Dr. King. Finally, occlusives are oils and waxes such as beeswax, petroleum, mineral oil, silicones, and zinc oxide. "These help to form a layer on the skin to reduce transepidermal water loss," says Dr. King.

Beyond that, look for one that has a texture that you like. The best body lotion for you is going to be the one you look forward to applying every day.

What Are the Signs That You Need Body Lotion?

The most common sign that you might need body lotion if you have dry patches that feel rough and scaly. According to Dr. Hibler, another common sign is itching, as dry, dehydrated skin tends to feel intensely itchy. "When skin gets so dry and dehydrated it becomes inflamed, which is what we see in patients with eczema (red, raised, flaky and itchy patches of skin)," he says. If you think your chronically dry skin might actually be a case of eczema, talk to your doctor to help you determine the best course of treatment.

When to Apply Lotion

Hot showers, bar soaps, and dry air can take their toll on your body—especially your knees, elbows, and extremities, so use a body cream to replenish moisture. The best time to apply lotion is when your skin is in a humid environment, says Kathleen M. Welsh, M.D., a San Francisco-based dermatologist. “When you jump out of the shower, your skin is fully hydrated, so you want to apply a moisturizer to seal that moisture to your skin,” she says. Don’t neglect knees, elbows, feet, and especially hands, which may require an extra squirt of balm to keep them soft—and appealing to your partner.

How We Selected

For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Grooming editors and writers on the top body lotions for men. Experts including our Senior Commerce Editor Christian Gollayan and Grooming Editor Garrett Munce put hundreds of lotions to the test and evaluated their effectiveness and value. We also considered top-reviewed men's lotions that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Hadley King, board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.

• Dr. Brian Hibler, M.D., Medical and Cosmetic Dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.

• Dr. Kathleen M. Welsh, M.D. Cosmetic Dermatologist at Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology in San Francisco, California.

• Joshua Zeichner, MD, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

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