5 Emollient Body Products to Deliver Truly Soft, Smooth Skin

July 25, 2022

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | skincare.com by L'Oréal

On your quest for soft, smooth skin, you’ve likely already tried a variety of emollients — aka lipids, oils, colloidal oatmeal, petrolatum, shea butter and cocoa butter. These ingredients help prevent moisture loss and soothe dry skin.

As Dr. Peter Schmid, a plastic surgeon and Skincare.com consultant previously explained to Skincare.com, “Emollients have a tendency to spread on the skin and increase the rate of skin barrier restoration.” This makes them great at calming red, itchy flare-ups. Keep reading for some of our favorite softening body products that are packed with emollients.

CeraVe Healing Ointment

Petrolatum, hyaluronic acid and ceramides make this ointment the perfect antidote to dry, chapped and cracked skin. It’s also non-comedogenic, meaning you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores. You can apply this solo for a layer of hydration or try the “slugging ” method to lock in other moisturizing skincare products. Bonus: This product has a Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

This anti-aging cream is a splurge, but it contains a powerful ratio of lipids (2% ceramides, 4% natural cholesterol and 2% fatty acids) to help restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It also enhances radiance and improves the look of skin fullness, the appearance of skin’s texture and pores. A blend of calming, lavender, rosemary and peppermint essential oils help cool the skin and give the cream a spa-like scent.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Body Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Accepted by the National Eczema Association, you can count on this body lotion to help calm even very dry, rough and sensitive skin. It contains antioxidant-rich thermal water, ceramides to help support the skin’s moisture barrier and shea butter, a deeply nourishing emollient.

Carol’s Daughter Love Butter Body Balm

Treat your skin to a restorative blend of shea butter, cocoa butter and sweet almond oil in this deeply moisturizing balm. It’s especially beneficial for extra dry areas such as the knees, knuckles and elbows. The warm, spicy scent brings to mind the calming smell of incense.

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter

Rich with cocoa butter, shea butter and squalane, this lotion sinks into your skin for a softer, more radiant appearance. It’s non-greasy yet deeply hydrating. You can purchase the bottle in multiple sizes, or opt for the refillable pouch below, which replaces four whole bottles with 81% less plastic packaging.

Design: Juliana Campisi