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I have perpetually dry hands — this affordable Aveeno lotion soothes and moisturizes without ever being greasy
There are few things I can't stand more than the sticky residue left behind by an overly greasy hand and body lotion. While I'm slightly obsessive about keeping my hands hydrated, I cringe over the slippery film so often left on my skin by most moisturizers. I want something fast-absorbing, nongreasy and — please —no strong and cloying scents.
My "secret sauce"? Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Body Lotion: a grease-free, absorbent, de-stressing wonder of a lotion that smells of relaxation and costs only $18 for a whopping 33 ounces.
This relaxing lotion contains colloidal oatmeal to soothe the skin and lavender to calm the soul.
While Jennifer Aniston has long been loyal to the brand's Daily Moisturizing Lotion, I'm a woman who loves a product that can do double duty. A product that moisturizes and offers stress relief? Sold.
I couldn't tell you when I first became obsessed with Aveeno Stress Relief, but the love affair has been long and fruitful. It hydrates without ever feeling greasy or sticky, and even though it's fragranced, I've never found it irritating. I battle with my own skin issues, and this calming, nourishing lotion keeps them in check — so much so that I'm never without a full-size bottle on my nightstand or a travel bottle in my purse.
Digging into the science of it: Ingredients such as dimethicone and glycerin are standbys that work together to create a moisturizing, oil-free barrier on the skin. They're typical of many moisturizers, but — as with most of Aveeno’s products — this lotion also includes colloidal oatmeal, a favorite ingredient of dermatologists for its soothing properties.
Healthline shared why oats are a powerful addition to your skin care products: Oatmeal contains anti-inflammatory and moisture-retaining compounds, including vitamin E, ferulic acid and aventhramides. (If you haven't heard of aventhramides, they give oatmeal its anti-itch and anti-inflammation properties.) What you end up with is a soothing moisturizer that can calm the effects of daily skin stressors — like lack of humidity, hot showers, frequent handwashing or fabrics that might irritate the skin.
And I'm far from the only Aveeno Stress Relief devotee — more than 26,000 Amazon shoppers have given the lotion a five-out-of-five-star rating. Here are some reasons the daily lotion gets such accolades.
"Greasy" is not the word
A major bonus to using Aveeno Stress Relief is that, right off the bat, it melts in fast and absorbs quickly. It never leaves behind a greasy, sticky feeling, just a soothing softness and a fresh scent.
This reviewer agrees: "An important thing I’d like to mention is how [this lotion is] not sticky. I have very bad sensory issues when it comes to lotion. … The lotion did not feel heavy and rubbed very well into the skin. … It doesn’t leave that weird feeling where you feel the lotion all on your body, which kind of worried me about the effectiveness, but it was almost instant with how much my skin feels smoother and absorbed the lotion!"
"It’s not greasy even though it’s thick. ... The big bottle lasts for about two months (for me), love the lavender scent!" said another smooth-skinned customer. "Makes my dry skin feel moist and looks it too! Takes away that crocodile skin!"
Soothing for all the senses
Because oatmeal is proven to balance out a skin’s pH levels, the inclusion of oats does seem to make a difference in calming my occasionally itchy and inflamed skin.
The lavender scent is light and not overpoweringly floral. While I would never claim that using this cream has somehow eliminated all my anxieties (if you find a lotion that does that, call me) — it truly is part of a “stress relieving” part of my day, just like the label promises.
"Soothed my skin while recovering from an allergic reaction to a medicine," said another shopper. "A doctor ignored the fact that I have a drug allergy and prescribed it anyway. The result was a full-body case of severe hives. This product soothed my skin and calmed the itch. Definitely works!"
Dry skin, be gone!
Not only does this lotion deliver — it works on dry skin of all ages.
"This ... is the only lotion that works well on my dry skin," wrote one fan. "My son also has sensitive skin and has never had any issues with Aveeno products. Even with the lavender scent, it’s gentle enough on his skin. This smell is fantastic and very calming."
Eczema relieving
Others with skin concerns also saw (and felt) a difference when using Aveeno Stress Relief: "I have eczema and during the late fall and winter my skin just won't stay moisturized," confessed a shopper. "However, when I started using this lotion that all changed. My skin is soft and moisturized all day! And the scent is soft so it doesn't irritate my sinuses."
Pick up a bottle for yourself and enjoy hydrated, glowing skin — and you can even enjoy some extra goodness in the shower too, thanks to the brand's Stress Relief Body Wash. As for me? I'm going to go moisturize.
If you love Aveeno Stress Relief, you can score it in a body wash, a scrub and even in travel sizes too.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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