Body lotion is an underrated multitasker. Any good formula will seal in moisture and keep your skin hydrated. A great formula can leave your skin with a dewy glow and a lightweight scent. And an even better lotion can target hyperpigmentation, breakouts, eczema, and texture.
I’ve tried plenty of body lotions. Whether I use one as a final step in my routine or a quick refresh throughout the day, for extra hydration, scent, or glow, it’s always included in my body-care routine. For the best body lotions to make it to this roundup, I looked for the best fragrances, the smoothest skin, and, most important, hydration. I also tapped the Cut’s editorial team for their favorites. More on all that below.
so you want to try the best lotions?
➼ Our top picks
➼ More tried-and-true favorites
Our top picks
The Whipped Body Lotion
Josie Maran Vanilla Vibezzz Whipped Argan Oil
Active ingredients: Argan oil, avocado oil, shea butter | Size: 6 oz.
The whipped formula is rich, luxurious, and silky smooth. Plus, it leaves skin with a slight glow. I’ve tried all six scents and each one is to die for. —Hanna Flanagan, shopping editor and writer
The Best Drugstore Body Lotion
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
Active ingredients: Prebiotic oat | Size: 18 fl. oz.
This is the best drugstore body lotion of all time, in my opinion. I’ve been using it since high school and like it better than most high-end options because it leaves skin feeling soft and smooth — never sticky or greasy. It’s on the thicker side, so it’s ideal for people with dry skin. —HF
The Luxe Body Lotion
Augustinus Bader The Body Cream
Active ingredients: Shea butter, bisabolol | Size: 6.7 fl oz.
This body cream completely changed my nighttime routine. Instead of quickly slathering lotion all over my body, I take my time and work in this luxurious cream, especially over my elbows and heels. It’s pricey, but the pot lasts a while, and when you wake up in the morning with the softest skin, you will thank me. —Joanna Nikas, deputy style editor
The Lightweight Body Lotion
Tronque Triple Active Body Milk
Active ingredients: Caffeine, hyaluronic acid | Size: 6.7 fl. oz.
When I want a moisturizer that’s more lightweight and sinks into the skin in seconds, I reach for this Tronque Body Milk. It’s formulated with ingredients like caffeine and green coffee to help lift, firm, and tone skin over time. —HF
More tried-and-true favorites
The Multivitamin Lotion
Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Active ingredients: Niacinamide, peptides, vitamins C and E | Size: 15.2 fl. oz.
Besides the smell, the added benefits of Nécessaire’s products make them worth the splurge. My personal favorite, olibanum, is a warm fragrance with notes of vanilla and fig leaf. Over time, this lotion promises to firm and strengthen your skin with niacinamide to boost the barrier, peptides, and vitamins C and E.
Another Luxe Option
Aesop Rind Concentrate Body Balm
Active ingredients: Pink grapefruit, orange rind, lemon rind | Size: From 3.4 fl. oz.
Yes, this fancy lotion you’ve seen in just about every nice bathroom is actually good. The formula is thick but not greasy, and the citrusy notes smell a bit like an orange Creamsicle.
A Fragrance-Free Formula
Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Moisturizing Body Lotion
Active ingredients: Omega fatty acids, shea butter | Size: 14 fl. oz.
One of the many perks of a great lotion is a great scent. However, if you have sensitive skin, added fragrance can often worsen some skin conditions. If scents leave you prone to irritation, dryness, and itching, this is a great alternative. Naturium’s unscented, nongreasy formula is boosted with shea butter, vitamin B, and fatty acids to moisturize and help repair your skin barrier.
A Cult Favorite
Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Moisturizer – 16.9 Oz.
Active ingredients: Cocoa butter, sesame oil | Size: From 8.4 fl. oz.
A little of this favorite goes a long way. Lightly scented with shea and cocoa butter, this rich moisturizer leaves your skin smooth and silky soft.
The Viral Body Lotion
eos Shea Better Body Lotion- Vanilla Cashmere
Active ingredients: Shea oil, shea butter | Size: 16 fl. oz.
If you’re not averse to supersweet smells, this viral vanilla scent is for you. With other notes of musk and cashmere, this lotion was nearly impossible to find on the shelves just a few months ago. Though the hype has died down, it’s still worth grabbing. It’s sweetly scented but not overbearing, and the rich formula leaves skin moisturized for hours but not greasy or sticky. The brand has an entire line of products in the Vanilla Cashmere scent, and it’s ideal for layering with vanilla-based fragrances.
Another Drugstore Classic
Jergens Cherry Almond Lotion
Active ingredients: Cherry-almond essence | Size: 32 fl. oz.
I’ve been buying this since high school, and you can’t beat the fragrance, formula, or price. At just under $15, a little of this lightly cherry-scented moisturizer goes a long way for nongreasy or -oily moisture. It’s lightweight, so I love it for summer and keep the travel size on hand for a quick refresh.
The Scented Lotion
Sol de Janeiro Body Badalada Lotion
Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Brazilian sugarcane, Brazil-nut oil | Size: 13.5 fl oz.
Sol de Janeiro’s Body Badalada is a lightweight, layerable lotion for fans of the brand’s gourmand products. The classic 62 features sweet notes of salted caramel, vanilla, and pistachio that pair well with the sprays and oil if you really want to make it last. The key to the almost serumlike formula is hyaluronic acid, which helps draw in moisture.
The Smoothing Lotion
Flamingo Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Active ingredients: Squalane, white-willow bark, papaya extract | Size: 10 fl. oz.
If you prefer fresher scents instead of gourmands to layer with your fragrances, Flamingo’s moisturizer has notes of vetiver and bergamot. It’s exfoliating and brightens over time, and it’s one of the few scented lotions I can actually use post-shave without irritation.
The Exfoliating Lotion
AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid AHA – 14.1 Oz.
Active ingredients: Lactic acid | Size: 7.9 fl. oz.
Lactic acid has been on my list of must-try acids for a while, but don’t let the name scare you. Similar to other acids you know and love, such as salicylic acid, lactic acid helps to gently exfoliate the skin while hydrating it. The results are basically extremely soft skin, even after one use. It’s gentle enough to use every day, but I have very sensitive skin so I try not to overdo it.
The Eczema-Friendly Lotion
Eucerin Daily Hydration Unscented Body Lotion
Active ingredients: Vitamin B5, sunflower oil | Size: 16.9 fl. oz.
As much as I love a good scented lotion, when it gets to a point where my sensitive, eczema-prone skin can’t handle it, I have to pivot. Fortunately, this lotion from Eucerin is fragrance and dye free so it moisturizes without causing additional irritation. It also helps boost the skin barrier.