Choosing the Best Body Lotion

This usually happens in very dry or very cold weathers and is an indication that a good body lotion for the skin is a must. This is because the skin is dehydrated and is unable to repair itself and will age rapidly if not attended to. Regular use of a body lotion will help your skin retain that water.

But as is the case with all beauty products, shelves in supermarkets and drugstores are laden with a confusing array of choices, making it difficult for you to select the right one for you that will not cause an undesired effect on your skin. The many products that are available are in many forms, namely lotions, creams and ointments and can confuse you if you didn’t know what you should be looking for.

What Should the Best Body Lotion Have?

It is important to know how to use the best body lotion according to your skin type and to help make you choose the right product for you. It is also important to know what type of ingredients your body lotion has because it will help you understand where your current lotion is failing you. Here are a few components you should be looking for while buying the best body lotion for yourself:

Occlusives - These are the ingredients that help the prevention of evaporation of water from your skin by creating a block and retaining the moisture. Some of these are petroleum jelly (otherwise known as petrolatum), waxes (paraffin), mineral oils, lanolin, silicone derivatives and botanical and beeswax. Some of these, such as lanolin, are not suitable for every type of skin.

Humectants - Humectants are active ingredients that attract water to the protective layer, the stratum corneum. They hydrate the skin by drawing water in extremely humid conditions or from the dermis. Some known humectants are panthenol, glycerin (very inexpensive and effective), propylene glycol (slightly smoother than glycerin) and hyaluronic acid among many others.

Emollients - Emollients fill the gaps between cell clusters, giving them the appearance of smoothness and can even seal the moisture in, in some instances. They also make the skin pliant and soft. Emollients number in hundreds and to name them all would be pointless, but some of them include jojoba oil, shea butter, plant oils (non-fragrant), fatty acids and cholesterol.

Other Ingredients

A balanced body lotion will contain some of these ingredients listed above, along with other components that nourish and balance the skin. These are anti-irritants, antioxidants and other agents that communicate with your skin cells and are important if you want to see comprehensive enhancement in your skin tone.

Antioxidants help greatly in slowing down premature aging and are hence a natural preservative. These are vitamins A, B and C and boost your skin’s ability to produce healthy collagen (the main structural protein in the skin) and heal itself.

Anti-Irritant Ingredients - These are other important components of a good body lotion, especially if you have sensitive skin. Irritants break down collagen that naturally protects your skin and keeps it looking healthy and young. Anti-irritants protect your skin from the effects of external factors such as the sun, pollutants or damage caused by other beauty products. These include grape extracts, green tea and aloe.

Even otherwise, say if you have normal skin, it is important that you avoid products that contain irritants. You may particularly favor a product because it smells divine and makes you feel good, but always remember that scent is one of the topmost irritants that are present in most body lotion products.

Sun Creams - Popularly known as sunscreen, this ingredient helps protect your skin, because too much exposure to the sun will start making you look older than you are. But do not go overboard with it also, because if the sunscreen component of a particular body lotion is higher, it might not have other ingredients in the required quantities. At the same time, if your skin is very sensitive, dry or mature, you can give this ingredient (in a body lotion) a pass altogether; and apply sunscreen after you have applied the body lotion.

What Is Your Skin Type?

Now that you know what components to look for while picking a body lotion, you will have to consider what component to use on which type of skin. Let’s have a quick look at each skin type:

Best Body Lotions

There are a great many skin products, but a majority of them are surprisingly for, you guessed it correct, your face! It is indeed curious how much time and money we spend making that small portion of our body look good and ignore the rest of it.

We have compiled a list of some of the best body lotions on the market. Take a look:

Puracy Organic Hand and Body Lotion

The manufacturers of this lotion claim that you will start seeing noticeably smoother skin right after the first use! This all-natural (99.95% natural) product has been made in the United States and is packed with rich, hydrating, plant-based ingredients to provide all-day moisture, without being greasy; it leaves no residue on your fingertips and is absorbed quickly. The formula is free and hypoallergenic, making it safe to use on all skin types anywhere (hands, feet, face or anywhere nourishment is required) and has been formulated by doctors.

The Naked Bee Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion

This natural product (70% certified organic) by The Naked Bee is a hypoallergenic lotion and packed with moisturizing nutrients that leave the skin beautiful looking and comes with great fragrances (sans phthalates) that are soft on the senses and are invigorating. It also contains antioxidants such as white and green tea that protect the skin from stress and hence increase the longevity. It also contains no parabens, dyes or pigments and is suitable for all skin types.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

Customers with dry skin swear by this product, with several claiming that they saw the results right after the first use and visible improvement within the first two weeks. The lotion contains rich emollients that protect the skin all day long and leave your skin feeling smooth and soft. It contains no fragrance, is non-greasy and the brand is trusted because of its use of natural ingredients in its products.

Herbz Pumpkin Spice & Vanilla Chai Herbal Body Moisturizer 

This moisturizer comes infused with 100% pure hemp seed oil that conditions and soothes your skin; the amazing smell that lasts for hours is a bonus! It doesn’t leave a greasy, heavy feeling after application and hydrates the skin. It has the natural goodness of shea butter which not only helps moisturize the skin, but, at the same time the nutrients enable it to fight against daily elements.

Lavender Body Lotion by Tree to Tub

This product is packed with the goodness of nature: colloidal oatmeal, chamomile, cocoa butter that nourish your skin, but also contains wild soapberry, which balances the pH, enabling your skin to manage its own moisture! The soapberries are harvested all the way in ecosystems of Taiwan, are wild, sun-dried and separated. This amazing product is perfect for your dry skin, because it hydrates and calms it and leaves moisture without any residue.

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Conclusion

By now you will have a working knowledge of what to look for in a body lotion. Don’t get distracted by glossy advertisements and assume that high-cost products are better. There are a great many body lotions that are inexpensive and do the job of hydrating and nourishing your skin perfectly. Though, always remember that what has worked for others might or might not work for you.

Another way to go about is to look for free samples that you can try before buying. With a little trial and error, you will find that ideal body lotion that is perfect for you!

Sources:

Health.harvard.com

Transparencymarketresearch.com

Benthamopen.com

Clinmedres.com

Consumeraffairs.nic.in