If there's anything I'm very strict about when it comes to my beauty routine, it's my body lotion. I might forget a step in my nighttime skincare routine, but I never forget to put body lotion on after I shower or in the mornings, even if I don't shower. For the most part, it's paid off. Aside from the occasional eczema flare-up on my hands, arms, or neck, I have pretty smooth skin.
But since I'm a curious person and like to question everything, I wanted to know if there were some things I was missing when it comes to body-lotion application. So I reached out to dermatologist Naissan O. Wesley, MD, FACMS, of Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills to get her tips and to see what role body lotions play in reducing premature aging or the signs of aging. You've always got to be on the offense when it comes to protecting your skin, right?
In general, the guideline for applying body lotion is pretty simple. "I recommend applying body lotion daily," Wesley says. "If recently showered, the best time to apply is within three to five minutes after a bath or shower to help trap moisture in and restore the skin barrier that may have been disrupted by soap or cleansers."
One thing I didn't realize about body lotions? They can play a big role in protecting your skin against the signs of aging. Here I was just homing in on the eye creams, serums, face moisturizers, face oils, and night creams of the skincare world and not even thinking that my body-lotion habit could also be helping maintain youthful-looking and firm skin.
"The skin often tends to appear more wrinkled when it's drier," Wesley explains. "Thus the same moisture-enhancing and barrier-protecting ingredients above also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Additionally, topical antioxidants can be helpful to repair free radicals created from sun and environmental damage, and peptide ingredients can be useful to help support collagen."
As for application watch-outs, Wesley says you can apply it as often as it feels good, as long as you don't have acne-prone skin and the lotion isn't clogging pores. Regardless of whether you have mature skin or not, Wesley says application frequency will depend on the climate of where you live because cold, dry, and windy conditions might require more moisture support. Other factors include exposure to hard water and soap and any underlying conditions like eczema or thyroid disorders.
"For mature, dry skin, applying lotion morning and evening would be appropriate, especially after bathing," she advises. "Applying a thicker, creamier lotion as opposed to a thin, more watery topical would be recommended."
Take a look at some anti-aging body lotions recommended by Wesley and our editors below.
The Best Anti-Aging Body Lotions, Listed
- Alpha Skincare Renewal Body Lotion
- Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Aging Body Cream
- Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm
- SkinCeuticals Body Tightening Concentrate
- Caudalie Moisturizing Vegan Body Butter
- Olay Revitalizing & Hydrating Hand and Body Lotion Pump With Vitamin C
- Epionce Renewal Calming Cream
- La Mer The Reparative Body Lotion
- Philosophy Amazing Grace Body Emulsion
- Nivea Nourishing Skin Firming Body Lotion
- Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Fragile Skin Therapy
- Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment
- Cetaphil Restoring Body Lotion
- PCA Skin Body Therapy
- The Organic Pharmacy Rose Body Lotion
- Fresh Rose Morning Body Lotion
- Lancer The Method Body Nourish Créme
- Gold Bond Age Renew Strength & Resilience Skin Therapy Lotion
The Best Anti-Aging Body Lotions
This body lotion contains 12% glycolic alpha hydroxy acid, which helps with collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also works to slough off dead skin cells, while vitamins and nutrients leave the skin moisturized. Because it contains AHA, you should be careful with your sun exposure and wear sunscreen.
Product Details: 12 oz bottle with pump
Pros: Gently lifts away dead skin cells to reveal smooth skin underneath
Cons: Bottle can be challenging to use (pump has a tendency to stick)
Though on the pricier side, Dr. Barbara Sturm's body cream is really worth it. Formulated with antioxidants, white almond, and elderberry blossom, the lotion will tighten skin and diminish the signs of aging. It's also quickly absorbed and ultra hydrating.
Product Details: 7 oz tube
Pros: hydrates and replenishes skin with moisture to prevent signs of aging
Cons: offered at a luxury price point
This body balm both tightens skin and reduces the appearance of sun damage. It has botanical ingredients like lemon, safflower, and coconut oils.
Product Details: 1 oz, 5 oz, and 9.2 oz bottle with pump
Pros: uses Alaria seaweed improves appearance of skin elasticity
Cons: formula is somewhat oily
SkinCeuticals' concentrate is all about firming up your skin. Apply it to your abdomen, buttocks, knees, and thighs for a visibly lifted look. Ingredients include peptides, yeast extract, and rice protein.
Product Details: 0.5 oz bottle with pump
Pros: promotes cellular regeneration, tightness, and moisture retention
Cons: none
Caudalie's body lotion not only hydrates the skin but also heals by replenishing the skin barrier. Ingredients include desert-date oil, shea butter, and grape-seed oil.
Product Details: 8.4 oz jar
Pros: offers up to 24 hours of relief for dry, distressed, eczema-prone skin
Cons: product feels sticky long after initial application
At just $10, Olay's anti-aging body lotion is an effective drugstore option. It's formulated with vitamin C to brighten and even skin tone. It can penetrate deep into skin, providing long-term hydration.
Product Details: 17 oz bottle with pump
Pros: absorbs quickly into the skin for long-lasting smoothness
Cons: not ideal for those sensitive to fragrances
Epionce's body lotion contains essential fatty acids, ceramides, meadowfoam, and colloidal oatmeal to moisturize, strengthen the skin barrier, and protect against free radicals. And any irritation or inflammation is relieved with ingredients like rose hip, safflower, and avocado complex.
Product Details: 8 oz tube
Pros: tightens the skin while reducing dryness and itchiness
Cons: none
Another splurge, La Mer's provides all-day hydration while preventing further moisture loss. Like other La Mer products, it contains ingredients from the sea, which work to plump and brighten skin.
Product Details: 5.4 oz bottle with pump
Pros: formula is infused with with restorative sea-sourced ingredients
Cons: offered at a luxury price point
Not only does this body emulsion smell amazing, but it's super effective, too. It's enriched with shea butter, natural oils, and a blend of antioxidants to leave your skin feeling smooth and firm.
Product Details: 32 oz bottle with pump
Pros: comes in a supersize bottle for long-lasting skin nourishment
Cons: none
Nivea's body lotion is another affordable drugstore option. It can firm and improve skin elasticity with the help of ingredients like Q10 and vitamin C. Did we mention that it can keep moisturized for up to 48 hours straight?
Product Details: 16.9 oz bottle with pump
Pros: helps firm and improve skin's elasticity using CoQ10 and vitamin C
Cons: formula immediately hydrates the skin, but only firms over time
Perricone's body lotion is specially formulated to help thin, crepey skin. The refreshing formula contains retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid, which all work to make the skin smoother and firmer. It also promotes skin renewal.
Product Details: 6 oz tube
Pros: formula is extremely lightweight and fast-absorbing
Cons: not ideal for those sensitive to fragrances
This rich cream is formulated with botanicals, retinol, antioxidants, and other good-for-the-skin ingredients that will rejuvenate your skin. It's also paraben-, phthalate-, synthetic fragrance–, and sulfate detergent–free.
Product Details: 6.8 oz tube
Pros: uses pure retinol to promotes retexturized and firmer looking skin
Cons: offered at a luxury price point
Drugstore favorite Cetaphil has its own body lotion for mature skin. This one has potent antioxidants and niacinamide that promote healthy, hydrated, glowy skin. It's recommended to use this at night so you can see the difference in the morning.
Product Details: 16 oz bottle with pump
Pros: restores glow and hydration of the skin overnight
Cons: feels slightly sticky after initial application
If you're experiencing hyperpigmentation, the lactic acid in this works to reduce its appearance and exfoliate. Other ingredients like jojoba, barley extra, and shea butter promote hydration, firmness, and elasticity.
Product Details: 7 oz bottle
Pros: targets aging skin with nourishing lactic acid and jojoba esters
Cons: none
Not only does this body cream intensely hydrate and plump skin, but it also calms inflammation and purifies thanks to Persian rose. It leaves the skin tighter, more toned, and smoother. It's recommended to massage the cream into your arms, thighs, butt, neck, décolleté, and hands for at least five minutes after showering.
Product Details: 3.4 oz bottle with pump
Pros: leaves skin smooth with a heathy glow in minutes
Cons: limited availability
I use Fresh's black tea eye cream every night, so I trust its body-cream cousin. It contains vitamin C and E to improve elasticity, radiance, and texture while locking in moisture for 24 hours.
Product Details: 10 oz bottle with pump
Pros: delivers up to 24 hours of hydration without feeling greasy
Cons: not ideal for those sensitive to fragrances
With 10% glycolic acid, this body cream exfoliates dead skin cells and improves skin texture and tone. It also contains marula, Kigelia, and Kalahari melon seed oils to trap moisture and renew skin.
Product Details: 8.1 oz jar
Pros: formulated with 10% glycolic acid to help improve skin texture
Cons: offered at a high price point
Gold Bond's body lotion for mature skin contains seven plumping moisturizers, three vitamins, proteins, and lipids to quench the skin and keep it hydrated for 24 hours. And even better, the lotion is quick-absorbing, not greasy, and hypoallergenic.
Product Details: 13 oz bottle with pump
Pros: uses a nourishing formula of proteins, lipids, and more vital nutrients
Cons: none
What to Avoid Doing
While applying body lotion seems straightforward, there are some mistakes you can make with body lotion. Wesley outlined these three below:
1. Not Applying Enough: Don't be stingy with the stuff. Of course, you don't need to empty the whole bottle onto your body, but be generous with how much you apply.
2. Not Applying It All Over: One example Wesley gives is putting lotion on your upper body but forgetting about your legs. Make sure you're moisturizing every inch of your body.
3. Applying a Lotion That Isn't Moisturizing Enough: This might depend on your skin type or needs. Overall, you'll want to choose a product that contains the nutrients, vitamins, and ingredients that will keep your skin hydrated for a while. "I prefer to use body lotions that contain natural and fewer unnecessary ingredients," Wesley says. "One that is creamier or has a lotion mixed with oil I find has longer moisturizing effects than a thinner, more watery lotion that just tends to evaporate off the skin surface. Ingredients such as shea butter, cold-pressed oils, borage-seed oil, and/or fatty acids such as ceramides tend to have great barrier-protecting properties."
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.
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