What is the Best Lotion for Dry Skin? 6 Body Lotions We LOVE
What is the best lotion for dry skin? Body lotion is a moisturizer developed to be used all over your body. Body lotions tend to be richer than face creams, and are sometimes formulated to tackle specific skin concerns like cellulite, sagging, and stretch marks. So, what is the best body lotion for very dry skin?
If you’re dealing with severe dryness and itchiness, the best place to start is with a good, ultra-hydrating body moisturizer. Lucky for you, we’ve found the best lotions for dry skin that are sure to quench dry, itchy, sensitive spots on your body. Ahead, all the best body lotions for dry skin that’ll leave you feeling smooth and supple.
What is the Best Lotion for Dry Skin?
When it comes to choosing the best lotion to treat dry skin, you need to look for specific skincare ingredients. Instead of the labels that say “hydrating” and “moisturizing,” look for the proof, which you'll find on the ingredients labels of a lotion. Dermatologists recommend choosing a lotion that contains either emollients, humectants, or occlusives (or all three!).
Emollients help to soften and smooth the skin by filling in the spaces between skin cells. They typically have a creamy or oily texture and work by forming a protective layer on the skin’s surface, reducing water loss. Common emollients include plant oils like jojoba oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter.
Humectants are substances that attract water molecules from the surrounding environment or from deeper layers of the skin, helping to hydrate the outermost layer of the skin (the stratum corneum). They work by drawing moisture into the skin and sealing it in, improving skin hydration and elasticity. Common humectants include glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
Occlusives create a barrier on the skin’s surface, locking in moisture and preventing water loss through evaporation. They form a protective film over the skin, helping to maintain hydration levels and protect the skin from external irritants. Occlusives are often thicker in texture and provide long-lasting hydration. Common occlusives include petroleum jelly (Vaseline), mineral oil, and natural oils such as coconut oil and olive oil.
When choosing the best lotion for dry skin, select one that contains a combination of emollients, humectants, and occlusives to provide comprehensive hydration and skin barrier protection. Look for ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. Squalane, ceramides, niacinamide, and vitamin E are also great ingredients to look out for, known for their ability to boost skin’s moisture.
Best Body Lotions for Dry Skin 2024
What is the best lotion for dry skin? Here’s a roundup of the best body lotions for extremely dry skin. Besides working wonders for dry, itchy skin, they’re also incredibility sumptuous—adding a little luxury into your skincare routine.
Best Overall
Truly’s Glazed Donut After Shave Glow Cream
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Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E | Fragrance: Sweet vanilla glaze | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
It’s one of our newer body lotions, but it’s already garnered a host of loyal fans. Formulated with a blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, shea butter, and fatty acids, and a combination of nourishing oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil and passion fruit oil, it works to quench dry skin, leaving it soft, supple and glowing.
Rich yet lightweight, this body lotion melts into skin for instant hydration without leaving behind a greasy residue. It’s a go-to daily moisturizing lotion that leaves skin feeling comfortable and hydrated. And because it absorbs so quickly, you won’t have to wait long to slip into your clothes. Best of all, it’s suitable for all skin types—even super dry, sensitive skin.
Most Popular
Truly’s Unicorn Fruit Whipped Body Butter
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Key Ingredients: Acai, vegan collagen, matcha | Fragrance: Cotton candy + bergamot | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
It’s our iconic rainbow-swirled body butter that’s still got people hooked. Besides its sumptuous fluffy whipped texture and scrumptious nostalgic scent, Unicorn Fruit Butter intensely hydrates and conditions skin with its ultra-nourishing base of shea butter, mango butter, and coconut oil enhanced by antioxidant-rich, soothing botanicals like acai and matcha. Plus, it plumps the skin with its vegan collagen boost to combat signs of aging.
Rich and whipped, this is a heavier moisturizer that takes a little longer to absorb. However, it does deeply hydrate with its powerhouse combo of emollients and occlusives.
Best Scent
Truly’s Acai Your Boobies Butter
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Key Ingredients: Acai, retinol, dragon fruit | Fragrance: Blackberry + bourbon vanilla | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Another long-time icon with a cult following on TikTok, Acai Butter smells divine with its luscious accord of blackberry, bourbon vanilla, and musk. It’s a super sensual scent that you simply won’t be able to resist. Plus, it’s one of the best body lotions for dry skin. A base of shea butter, it blends antioxidant-packed acai berries with anti-aging retinol and an itch-relieving lineup of plant based oils like coconut, jojoba, and almond to give extra dry skin an instant moisture boost.
With its buttery texture, it feels incredibly rich. We consider it to be one of the best moisturizers for severely dry skin. Alongside this, it helps to firm and tighten the skin while providing advanced repair.
Best for Sensitive, Irritated Skin
Truly’s Coco Cloud After Shave Moisturizer
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Key Ingredients: Coconut milk, argan oil, mango butter | Fragrance: Creamy coconut + warm vanilla | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Perfect for dry, sensitive skin, Coco Cloud Moisturizer soothes, heals, and hydrates with a moisture-drenching blend of coconut milk, argan oil, mango butter, and shea butter. Whether you’re dealing with redness, flakiness, or cracked skin, this buttery body lotion provides instant relief and cooling effects. You’ll love the way it feels on your skin.
Whipped and fluffy, this moisturizing body lotion doesn’t take long to absorb. It’s also perfect for soothing after shave cuts, razor burns, and irritation to leave skin feeling extra comfortable.
Best for Luxury
Truly’s Dulce De Leches Cream
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Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, retinol, hyaluronic acid | Fragrance: Warm caramel | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Dig into this deluxe jar of hydration. This moisturizing cream harnesses the powers of emollients and humectants with its precious blend of cocoa butter, hyaluronic acid, and coconut milk. Plus, it contains a boost of retinol to target fine lines, stretch marks, and sagging.
What is the best lotion for dry skin? This comes in as one of our favorites thanks to its super-hydrating formula. And it’s one of those skincare products that feels ultra luxurious on your skin. Not to mention that heavenly scent!
Best Multipurpose
Truly’s Vegan Collagen Booster Body Cream
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Key Ingredients: Plant collagen booster, retinol, vitamin C, coconut oil | Fragrance: Light citrus | Vegan: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This is one of the best lotions for dry skin but that’s not where its benefits end. This plumping body cream harnesses the resurfacing and elasticity restoring properties of retinol and plant collagen booster to fade fine lines and firm sagging skin. Plus, it’s enriched with vitamin C which helps to brighten skin and fade discoloration.
This body lotion is the perfect choice for anyone dealing with dry, itchy skin thanks to its moisture-drenching blend of coconut oil, glycerin, and grapeseed oil. Its benefits go far beyond what you’ll find at your local drugstore. Just make sure you follow up with SPF as retinol can make your skin extra sensitive to the sun.
You probably use a face moisturizer every day. But your body needs hydration too, and you’ll find it in these best body lotions for dry skin. Now you know what is the best lotion for dry skin for your personal needs, go ahead and fill your cart. Once you find the body lotion you love, be sure to subscribe. This way, you’ll get a jar delivered straight to your door each month so you never run out. Plus, you’ll get 10% off every recurring order!
