The 15 Best Body Lotions, According to Dermatologists and Editors

“This Versed body lotion is a notable body lotion that contains encapsulated retinol along with cocoa butter, and moisture-replenishing squalane to renew and moisturize skin,” says Dr. Kikam. Such a robust ingredient profile gives this cream the ability to brighten skin tone, reduce breakouts, even skin texture, and firm the skin.  “This is a great moisturizer for summer because it’s so lightweight and melts easily into the skin.” 

Pros: Dermatologist-recommended; Multi-benefit; Affordable 

Cons: Not super hydrating

Prefer the feel of a lotion, but require the intense hydration that accompanies a cream? Turn your attention to Saltair, a body-care brand intent on romanticizing your shower routine. Even though this lotion feels weightless and sinks into the skin in an instant, it’s packed with deeply hydrating, heavy-duty oils and butters that will keep your body feeling soft and nourished 24/7. This santal scent is my personal favorite, but the lotion is available in eight different iterations. 

Pros: Multiple scents to choose from; 100 percent aluminum packaging 

Cons: Smell is fleeting 

For a fragrance-free formula that does more than just hydrate, Necessaire is the way to go. It’s a multi-tasker at its core, with the ability to moisturize, strengthen, firm, and brighten the skin with every single use. How, you ask? Just look at the ingredients. This tube contains vitamin C and niacinamide (brightening!), as well as peptides (hydrating!). It does take a bit of work to get this to sink into the skin, but once it absorbs you’re left with a matte, albeit hyper-moisturized complexion. 

Pros: Fragrance-free; Strengthens skin 

Cons: Not hydrating enough for dry skin

Mojave Ghost is one of Byredo’s best-selling fragrances—it’s mysterious and alluring, yet still fresh thanks to its blend of woody and floral notes. Given the scent’s fan-favorite status, the brand has expanded the Mojave Ghost range into the body-care category with this luxe body lotion. The scent is calming, relaxing, and linger on every inch of skin for the entirety of the day. There’s no greasy finish either, which makes applying it the perfect pre-bed sensorial ritual. 

Pros: Long-lasting scent 

Cons: Not deeply hydrated, so not ideal for drier skin types 

In the same way that you wear facial sunscreen every single day (even in the winter and even indoors), you should have protection on any body skin that’s exposed to the sun. Supergoop!’s body lotion does just that. It’s a chemical, SPF 50 formula that I feel just as confident lathering on post-shower as I do for a beach day. From a hydration standpoint, it contains rosemary and rice bran extract to moisturize, strengthen, and calm the skin. And rest assured, this formula smells light, fruity, fresh—and nothing like sunscreen. 

Pros: Contains SPF 50; Good for face and body 

Cons: Leaves a bit of a sticky texture 

If you were to walk into the Marie Claire office, you would see a jumbo sized bottle of this exact lotion perched atop my desk. It’s my unequivocal go-to for two reasons. Number one: The smell; it’s a soft, yet sweet shea butter scent that instantly revives me from the inevitable three o’clock slump. Number two: It is not greasy or sticky in the slightest. I’m typing all day, every day, so having a moisturizer that doesn’t leave a grimy or sticky residue on my hands is imperative. The formula truly absorbs within seconds and keeps my skin hydrated for hours. 

Pros: Affordable; Subtle glow; Convenient pump packaging 

Cons: Contains sunflower oil, which is not ideal for sensitive skin 

If you’re dealing with Keratosis Pilaris, aka KP or strawberry skin, or just have rough or bumpy skin, this First Aid Beauty lotion needs to be on your radar. It’s one of the most effective moisturizers out there for smoothing skin. Its formula is dead-set on smoothing out skin texture with a combination of soothing colloidal oatmeal and exfoliating lactic acid. The duo exfoliates dead skin cells and rough patches, while simultaneously restoring hydration and soothing easily irritated skin. 

Pros: Treatment focused; Effective 

Cons: None

Stinging, burning, and rashes are no fun, but for anyone with hyper-sensitive skin (hi, yes me), those side effects are nearly impossible to avoid. But with the right formula, anything is possible—including stress-free, deep hydration. Enter Susanne Kaufmann’s Hypersensitive Body Lotion. It’s specifically designed with easily irritated skin in mind, so soothing ingredients take center stage. You’ll find natural plant oils, shea butter, vitamin E, and broccoli seed oil in the mix, all of which have calming, soothing, and nourishing effects to keep even the most angsty skin in a happy state. 

Pros: Glass bottle; Good for sensitive skin 

Cons: Expensive 

Augustinus Bader skincare is top-notch. As is the brand’s hair care. So, do the math and it’s evident that their body care follows suit. It contains the brand’s piece de resistance, TFC8, a special compound found in every product with a mission to treat fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite—everything. Hydrating ingredients like shea butter and soothing aloe vera made their way into the formula, as well as antioxidants like vitamin E that can protect against environmental factors. 

Pros: Great clinical studies; Luxurious texture
Cons: Expensive 

I don’t know about you, but I find nothing more irritating than feeling like I have lotion on. I want my skin to feel baby soft without the glide, stickiness, or slip of a lotion. For a truly “nothing” feel, I repeatedly reach for this Summer Fridays formula. It leaves my skin feeling naturally soft (and smelling delicious). It has such an invisible texture, that I occasionally forget if I applied my daily dose. 

Pros: Vegan; Long lasting hydration

Cons: Strong scent 

“My all-time go-to body lotion for Keratosis Pilaris is Amlactin with 12 percent lactic acid,” says Dr. Kikam. “It's a hydrating but exfoliative lotion that helps soften rough, dry skin.” While the exfoliate is gentle, you can expect pretty powerful hydration thanks to a handful of humectants. It’s also fragrance-free, which makes it an ideal option for more sensitive skin types. From a texture standpoint, it’s non-greasy, dries down quickly, and leaves skin feeling supple and nourished. 

Pros: Dermatologist-recommended; Contains 12 percent lactic acid 

Cons: Smells a bit medicinal 

“Do you ever find a product so good that you create an elaborate (read: absurd) ritual around it? For me, that’s Jo Malone’s Wood Sage & Sea Salt body cream, which I refuse to wear when I’m having a bad day to avoid associating the smell with a negative memory. It’s buttery-yet-light and luxurious in texture, and the scent, while categorized as “fresh” and “woody,” has an intoxicating ~je ne sais quoi~ to it. I can’t stop sniffing myself after I apply it—aromatherapy on the go, if you will.” — Lucia Tonelli, Social Media Editor 

Pros: Smells amazing; Layers well with fragrance 

Cons: Too heavy for some

Nivea is my pick if you’re looking for a drugstore formula that can go head-to-head with luxe counterparts. Regardless of the new launches and fancy creams that excite me, I continuously go back to this tried-and-true formula; its texture and efficacy is unmatched. From the second I put a few pumps on my skin, the appearance of dry skin or a rough texture disappears in favor of a deeply hydrated, shiny, silky sheen. The hydration lasts me a full day and the scent isn’t overpowering in the slightest.

Pros: Affordable; Leaves a soft glow on the skin

Cons: Some say it feels too slimy

“I have a very elaborate body moisturizing routine, and it’s almost entirely comprised of products by Soft Services. After developing an obsession with the brand’s best-selling Buffing Bar (my skin has never, ever been so soft), I decided to try out their Carea Cream. The lightweight lotion is formulated with urea, a holy grail ingredient for people who experience rough texture, bumps, or consistent dryness. It gently exfoliates and breaks down dead skin build-up without causing irritation—a reminder that our body deserves the same love as our faces do!” — Lucia Tonelli, Social Media Editor 

Pros: Great for bumps and uneven texture 

Cons: Some report pilling 

“REN has a new product—Evercalm body balm. I recommend this because it is a product that considers the skin’s PH, microbiome, and hydration status and is made especially for sensitive skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nava Greenfield. “This product optimizes all three of these with its combination of naturally sourced oils, neutral PH, no preservatives, and microbiome friendly ingredients.” It’s extremely lightweight and absorbs seamlessly, leaving you with soft-to-the-touch skin. 

Pros: Great for redness and dryness

Cons: A little oily for some