When to Apply Body Lotion for Softer, Smoother Skin
December 29, 2022The Best Times to Apply Body Lotion
Apply Lotion After a Shower
According to Dr. Kaminer, one of the best times to apply body lotion is directly after showering. “Your skin has the most moisture when it’s wet, and most moisturizers work best when skin is already hydrated,” he says. After a shower, Dr. Kaminer says water evaporates off your skin quickly, which can leave your skin feeling dry. The best way to seal in moisture is to apply lotion immediately after a shower while skin is still slightly damp.
Apply Lotion Before Exercising
If you’re going to exercise outdoors, prep your skin by applying a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer first. If the weather is cold or the air is dry, this can help reduce the dryness that may occur post-workout.
Apply Lotion After Shaving
In addition to removing unwanted body hair, shaving also removes the top layer of skin cells, as if you had exfoliated. To help protect newly exposed skin from dryness, as well as to soothe any razor irritation, apply a body lotion or moisturizer after shaving.
Apply Lotion Before Bed
Moisture is pulled out of the skin as we sleep, so applying a body lotion right before bed is key. Plus, it always feels nice to have soft and smooth skin as you slip into the sheets.
Apply Lotion After Washing and Sanitizing Your Hands
To help replenish moisture and prevent irritation and chapping, be sure to apply a hand cream immediately after you wash or apply hand sanitizer.
Apply Lotion After Exfoliating
After exfoliating or using a body scrub in the shower, moisturizing is a must. This will help soothe the top layer of skin and help strengthen the moisture barrier.
The Best Body Lotions, According to Our Editors
Keep scrolling for our favorite body lotion formulas, including a pick for sensitive skin, an option that smells like dessert and more.
The Best Body Lotion for Sensitive Skin
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lotion Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion
This lipid-replenishing lotion is formulated with soothing thermal water, moisturizing shea butter, glycerin and niacinamide. It works to provide all-day hydration to normal, dry and sensitive skin types.
The Best Body Lotion for All Skin Types
Kiehl’s Crème de Corps
Revive extremely dry skin with this rich cream infused with nourishing shea and cocoa butters. The emollient consistency leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated without a greasy residue. You can score it in multiple different sizes, including this 33.8 fl oz refill bag.
The Best Body Lotion for Rough Skin
CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough and Bumpy Skin
If you have rough, flaky or psoriasis-prone skin, this moisturizer is a great fit for your routine. It’s formulated with salicylic acid, lactic acid, hyaluronic acid and vitamin D to exfoliate and moisturize, while also working to repair the skin’s moisture barrier.
The Best-Smelling Body Lotion
Carol’s Daughter Almond Cookie Shea Soufleé
Coat your skin in this incredibly luxurious, almond oil-infused body moisturizer that smells like a sweet almond cookie with notes of vanilla and marzipan. It has a whipped texture that absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
The Best Multi-Use Body Lotion
Lano Everywhere Cream Tube
Made with milk, vitamin E and lanolin, this thick, balmy cream can be applied on multiple areas of the body — think the hands, elbows, arms, legs, on the face, hands, feet and more — to replenish skin with essential moisture. The formula consists of 98.4% natural ingredients.
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