Body Lotions Are Not Created Equally—These Will Leave Your Skin Glowing
There are a number of things you can do to achieve glowing skin. Exfoliation can help get rid of dead skin cells and reveal a smoother, newer layer. Using tools like a gua sha can help with circulation. Applying a vitamin C serum can brighten your complexion and even out the skin tone. And just making sure your lifestyle habits are in check can help, too, like getting enough sleep and drinking enough water.
You can't forget the crucial step of hydrating and moisturizing your skin, though. That is key to radiant, glowy, and plump skin. But it can also be tough, especially if your skin is prone to dryness or if you're exposed to weather or environmental factors that could dry out your skin. That's why having the right body lotion is essential here. When you find one that works with your skin, it can work wonders for you—leaving you with smooth, glowy, and radiant skin.
If you need help choosing the right one, below are some of our favorite body lotions for that otherworldly glow.
1. Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Body Cream
Sol de Janeiro's body cream contains fruit alpha-hydroxy acids and vitamin C to reveal brighter and smoother skin. It's also formulated with cupuaçu butter to provide intense moisture.
2. Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion
You don't have to worry about reapplying this lotion throughout the day—it melts into the skin and has you covered all day long.
3. Paula's Choice Resist Skin Revealing Body Lotion 10% AHA
This body lotion is formulated with 10% AHA, so it works to exfoliate dead skin cells and improve any clogged, red bumps on your arms and legs.
4. Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion
The key glowy ingredient in this body lotion is royal jelly, which is a nourishing, light-reflecting mineral. Your skin will be left radiant and softer.
5. Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Nécessaire's body lotion is an editor favorite. The fast-absorbing formula contains niacinamide, vitamins A, B3, C, and E, omegas 6 and 9, and antioxidants. It's also fragrance-free, which is a bonus if you are allergic to scents.
6. Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion
Mario Badescu's body lotion has a subtle shimmer and is enriched with vitamin E and moisture-retaining ingredients like beeswax and peanut oil.
7. Glossier Body Hero Daily Perfecting Cream
Glossier's popular Body Hero contains tiny light-reflecting particles and brightening plant extracts for a glowy finish. It also doesn't leave an annoying greasy feel.
8. Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion, Cocoa Radiant
This ultra-moisturizing body lotion is infused with 100% cocoa and shea butters to boost radiance. And even though it's a rich formula that doesn't mean it's greasy or super heavy.
9. Glytone Exfoliating Body Lotion
Glytone's body lotion has 17.5% glycolic acid for exfoliation benefits, meaning you'll see improved skin texture and smoother, radiant skin. It also contains vitamin E for antioxidant protection.
10. SheaMoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Shimmering Body Lotion
This body lotion will give you that sun-kissed glow that we all dream about. It's infused with organic raw shea butter to moisturize; coconut oil and coconut milk to condition the skin; and acacia Senegal to lock in moisture.
11. Love Beauty and Planet Delicious Glow Body Lotion
With a name like Delicious Glow, this product is bound to deliver. The formula contains murumuru butter and rose to soften the skin and leave it glowing.
12. Alpha Skin Care Renewal Body Lotion
Alpha Skin Care's Renewal Body Lotion is always a bestseller with our readers. It's formulated with 12% glycolic acid to gently remove dead skin cells, encourage collagen production, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
13. Farmacy Honey Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Resurfacing Body Serum
This body resurfacing serum is formulated with 12% AHAs and BHAs to exfoliate to reveal smoother and brighter skin. Other ingredients include a proprietary honey blend and shea butter which act as humectants (aka they draw water in).
14. Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion
Drunk Elephant's body lotion is just packed with amazing nourishing ingredients: marula butter, a five-ceramide blend, and shea butter. Your skin will be hydrated and softer.
15. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream
Glow Recipe's body cream is lightweight and has a delicious watermelon scent, so it's so soothing and refreshing. The hibiscus AHA in the formula smooths and exfoliates to reveal glowy skin.
More Glowy Body Products to Try
A body oil is an easy way to get dewy skin. This one from Neutrogena absorbs easily and deeply hydrates the skin.
For extra shimmer you can apply a body luminizer, like this one from Fenty Beauty which has a high-shine finish.
I'm already obsessed with Supergoop's Glowscreen face sunscreen so this one is on my wishlist. It gives you the same sun protection and shimmery glow all over your body.
Goop's body luminizer is formulated with light-reflecting minerals for a radiant finish. Other ingredients include Australian kakadu plum (which is rich in vitamin C), hyaluronic acid, and squalane.
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Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.