The 11 Best Body Lotions For Dry Skin, According To Dermatologists

Rather than simply hydrate skin, this cream goes the extra mile by gently exfoliating skin as it nourishes; this allows its moisturizing ingredients, such as squalane and colloidal oatmeal, to better penetrate and smooth, soften and firm skin. It sloughs away dead skin cells with the help of urea, which doesn’t cause irritation. For these reasons, not only is this cream great for dry skin, but it can be good option for addressing body acne and keratosis pilaris.

CeraVe has a cult-following for good reason. It’s an affordable drugstore brand with high-quality ingredients and textures, says dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch, who especially likes this oil-free lotion for face and body. Made with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, it’s a dependable option for anyone, whether you need a boost of moisture in cold, dry months or are prone to eczema (since it has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance). The gentle, fragrance-free formula is also a top pick in our roundup of the best moisturizers for sensitive skin.

Like most of Augustinus Bader’s skincare products, this body cream contains the brand’s proprietary blend of ingredients known as TFC8, a complex that contains amino acids and vitamins that are naturally found in the body to help plump and firm skin. One of the best cellulite creams on our roundup, the luxurious formulation also has bisabolol to help calm irritation or itchiness—as well as sustainably sourced shea butter as its base.

Hirsch swears by this cream from French brand La Roche-Posay—as do many enthusiastic fans on Amazon, where it has thousands of positive reviews. The formula contains prebiotics to help rebalance the skin’s microbiome and is designed to provide 48 hours of hydration to the face and body. The sensitive skin-friendly cream is fragrance-free, and also contains calming niacinamide.

It’s no secret that skin glows when it’s well hydrated. Despite this lotion’s blend of rich ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil and sweet almond oil, it’s lightweight and fast-absorbing. With consistent use, the addition of niacinamide can even improve skin’s elasticity, minimize pores and smooth wrinkles.

Those with redness or itchiness may appreciate the cooling effect of this fragrance-free, lightweight lotion. It contains peptides to help smooth skin, while rice protein works to strengthen and firm. Use it as a targeted lifting treatment on specific areas of your body, or all over for a full-body treatment. It doesn’t offer quite as much moisturizing power as other options, so you may want to layer a thicker cream on top if your skin is very dry.

The hands, elbows, torso and backs of knees—where there are fewer oil glands—are more prone to itchiness as well as itch-related skin conditions like eczema. Besides avoiding hot showers, Hirsch recommends applying a steroid-free balm like this one, which has the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Approval. Enriched with colloidal oatmeal and ceramides, it can help smooth and soothe scaly, itchy skin. It’s billed as a night treatment because of the immediate itch relief, which can help you get a good night’s sleep—but the cream can really be used any time you’d like to reap its itch-controlling benefits.

This multitasking balm features a blend of safflower seed and coconut oil, both of which lock in moisture for long-lasting hydration. It also contains alaria esculenta seaweed, which is known to help firm skin while improving its elasticity over time. Reviewers love its light, citrus scent, too.

This body cream features a list of nourishing ingredients like nutrient-rich Dead Sea minerals, shea butter, olive oil and pink rock rose extract to hydrate and soothe dry skin. Although it transforms into an oil when applied, its fast-absorbing formula leaves skin soft and not greasy. Plus, it’s laced with a calming eucalyptus-cedarwood fragrance.

Hirsch likes this heavy duty cream because it contains skin-soothing colloidal oatmeal, an emollient rich in fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that allow it to repair cracks in the skin barrier. Plus, the sensitive skin-friendly pick is free of fragrance, parabens, mineral oil and lanolin (an ingredient derived from sheep’s wool that can be an allergen). Despite having a thicker consistency than most of the lotions on this list, reviewers say it still absorbs quickly.

This body butter features a list of ingredients you’ll likely recognize, such shea butter, mango seed butter, avocado oil and cocoa butter. Combined they deliver vitamins E and A—both antioxidants—along with fatty acids, which can help to improve barrier function and strengthen skin over time. It feels nice, too: As you warm the butter between your hands and smooth it on, it absorbs into the skin quickly.