The 7 best body lotions for dry skin

Key takeaways

• For dry skin on the body, creams and ointments hold in more moisture than thin lotions. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says they’re more effective.

• Our top pick is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: fragrance-free, with three ceramides, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum, and it carries the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

• For rough, bumpy skin, a lotion with lactic acid or urea helps loosen flakes. AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion has 12% lactic acid.

• For a lighter texture with a glow, The SUPER Body Hydrator from U Beauty pairs Niacinamide and Beta-Glucan with plant oils and Squalane.

• Apply body moisturizer within a few minutes of getting out of the shower, while your skin is still damp.

What to look for in a body lotion for dry skin

Texture matters most for dry skin on the body. The AAD says “ointments and creams add more moisture to skin and are more effective than lotions,” and lists ingredients that help, including dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, petrolatum and shea butter. Cleveland Clinic adds that products labeled lotions contain more water and more alcohol than creams, so they’re more likely to dry your skin.

Ingredients fall into a few groups:

• Occlusives like petrolatum and dimethicone slow water loss. A 2017 review calls petrolatum “the most effective classic occlusive moisturizer” and says that at 5% or more it can reduce water loss through the skin by more than 98%.

• Humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea and lactic acid draw water into the skin.

• Exfoliating humectants like lactic acid and urea also help loosen rough, flaky buildup. DermNet warns that urea and other acidic products often sting on scratched or cracked skin.

We compared each product on its published ingredient list, not on hands-on testing. We looked at its occlusives and humectants, whether it has an exfoliating acid, whether fragrance is listed, its texture and the price.

1. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: best overall

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is a rich, fragrance-free cream for face and body with three ceramides (NP, AP and EOP), hyaluronic acid, glycerin, dimethicone and petrolatum. CeraVe says it’s non-comedogenic and allergy-tested, and it’s made for normal to dry skin for ages 3 and up.

Key features:

• Petrolatum and dimethicone. Both are occlusives the AAD lists for dry skin.

• Three ceramides plus cholesterol. They’re lipids found naturally in the skin.

• National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. It’s listed in the NEA’s product directory.

Tradeoff: the classic tub is less convenient for covering the whole body, though CeraVe also sells a pump version.

Best for: very dry skin on the body and face, on a budget.

Price: $14.99 on CeraVe’s site.

2. U Beauty The SUPER Body Hydrator: best lightweight glow

The SUPER Body Hydrator is U Beauty’s body moisturizer, which U Beauty calls “Body Moisturizer, Reinvented.” It combines Niacinamide, Beta-Glucan and Hydrolyzed Walnut Extract with Squalane, Shea Butter and Argan, Avocado and Grapeseed Oils, all powered by proprietary SIREN Capsule Technology™. U Beauty says it leaves a long-lasting, dewy-looking glow.

Key features:

• Made for dry or dehydrated skin. U Beauty describes it as a luxe-yet-lightweight moisturizer that helps support the moisture barrier.

• Published study figures. In a 23-volunteer consumer perception study after 28 days of consistent use, 97% agreed rough, dry patches looked smoothed, moisturized and hydrated.

• Lightweight and fast-absorbing. U Beauty suggests massaging it in all over the body, morning or night.

Tradeoff: at $128 it’s the priciest pick here by a wide margin, and it contains a fragrance ingredient, methyldihydrojasmonate.

Best for: people who want a lightweight body moisturizer with a visible glow.

Price: $128 for 200 ml.

3. AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion: best for rough, bumpy skin

AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion has 12% lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), plus glycerin, mineral oil and dimethicone. AmLactin labels it fragrance-free, dye-free and paraben-free, and pitches it for rough, bumpy, dry skin.

Key features:

• 12% lactic acid. It’s a humectant that also gently exfoliates.

• Short ingredient list. It has about a dozen ingredients.

• Three sizes. It comes in 7.9 oz, 14.1 oz and 20 oz bottles.

Tradeoff: AmLactin warns it may cause mild stinging, and because it contains an AHA, it carries a warning to use sunscreen, since AHAs can make skin more sensitive to the sun.

Best for: rough patches and bumpy skin on the arms, legs and heels.

Price: $15.99 for 7.9 oz.

4. La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+MAX Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream: best for itchy, very dry skin

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+MAX Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream (formerly Lipikar AP+M Balm) is a rich body cream with shea butter, glycerin, niacinamide, ceramide NP and dimethicone. La Roche-Posay labels it fragrance-free and says it’s suitable for babies as young as two weeks.

Key features:

• Shea butter first. It’s the second ingredient, after water.

• Made for itchy, dry skin. La Roche-Posay reports 24-hour itch control due to dryness in a consumer study.

• Several sizes. It comes in 75 ml, 200 ml and 400 ml.

Tradeoff: its National Eczema Association listing is still under the old AP+M name.

Best for: very dry, itchy skin, including on children.

Price: $22.99 for 400 ml.

5. Vanicream Moisturizing Cream: best for sensitive skin

Vanicream Moisturizing Cream is a thick, simple cream with petrolatum, sorbitol and cetearyl alcohol. Vanicream says it’s free of fragrance and masking fragrances, with no botanical extracts or essential oils, and pitches it for dry skin from eczema, psoriasis and winter itch.

Key features:

• Short ingredient list. Vanicream says it has only 11 ingredients, and petrolatum is the second, after water.

• Fragrance-free. Vanicream says it has no fragrance or masking fragrance.

• National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. It’s listed in the NEA’s product directory.

Tradeoff: it has no ceramides or hyaluronic acid, so it’s a plain, protective cream rather than one with extras.

Best for: sensitive or eczema-prone skin that reacts to most products.

Price: $13.19 for 16 oz at Target.

6. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion with Soothing Oat: best budget lotion

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion with Soothing Oat is a lotion with 1.2% dimethicone as its active skin-protectant ingredient, plus glycerin, petrolatum and oat kernel flour. Aveeno says it’s free of fragrances, parabens and dyes and made for normal to dry and sensitive skin.

Key features:

• Dimethicone skin protectant. It’s listed in the Drug Facts at 1.2%.

• Oat and petrolatum. Both appear in the ingredient list.

• Large sizes. It comes in bottles from 2.5 oz to 33 oz.

Tradeoff: it’s a lotion, so very dry skin may still need a thicker cream.

Best for: mildly dry skin that wants an inexpensive everyday lotion.

Price: $9.99 for 18 fl oz at Target.

7. Nécessaire The Body Lotion: best fragrance-free splurge

Nécessaire The Body Lotion is a lightweight lotion with 2.5% niacinamide, glycerin, shea butter glycerides, jojoba oil and several peptides. Nécessaire labels it fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and made without silicones, and in a 50-person, two-week study, 100% said skin felt moisturized.

Key features:

• 2.5% niacinamide. Our guide to what niacinamide does covers the research on it.

• Fragrance-free. Nécessaire says so on the product page.

• National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. It’s listed in the NEA’s product directory.

Tradeoff: it has no petrolatum or dimethicone, so very dry skin may want a richer cream on top.

Best for: normal to dry skin that wants a light, fragrance-free lotion.

Price: $30 for 200 ml.

How to get the most from a body lotion

• Apply it right after the shower. The AAD says to pat skin dry and apply moisturizer immediately, and Cleveland Clinic suggests doing it within three minutes.

• Keep showers short. The AAD recommends five to 10 minutes with warm, not hot, water.

• Use an acid lotion for rough patches. Lactic acid or urea helps smooth bumpy skin, but skip them on cracked or scratched skin, where they can sting. Our guide to how often to exfoliate covers why going slowly matters.

• Layer for very dry areas. A thicker cream or ointment on elbows, knees and heels can go over a lighter lotion.

• Don’t forget your face. The face needs its own routine. Our list of the best moisturizers for dry skin covers face options.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best body lotion for extremely dry skin?

A thick cream with an occlusive like petrolatum. The AAD says creams and ointments are more effective than lotions. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Vanicream Moisturizing Cream are both fragrance-free and carry the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

Is a lotion or a cream better for dry skin?

A cream, usually. Cleveland Clinic says lotions contain more water and alcohol than creams, so they’re more likely to dry your skin, and the AAD says creams and ointments add more moisture.

When should I put on body lotion?

Right after bathing, while your skin is still damp. The AAD suggests patting dry and applying moisturizer immediately.

What lotion do dermatologists recommend for dry skin?

The AAD suggests a fragrance-free moisturizer with ingredients like dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, petrolatum or shea butter.

Why does my skin sting when I apply lotion?

Some ingredients, like urea and lactic acid, can sting on cracked or scratched skin. Switch to a plain, fragrance-free cream until your skin settles, and see a dermatologist if the stinging or dryness doesn’t improve.