When the weather gets colder, our skin often needs a little extra care to keep it hydrated and comfortable.
Dry, chilly air can leave skin feeling rough and dehydrated, which is where body lotions, creams, butters, oils, and even solid lotion bars come in.
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Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right moisturizer for your needs, along with recommendations for products that will leave your skin smooth and nourished all season long.
Why Hydration is Essential for Fall and Winter Skin
As humidity drops in the cooler months, skin can lose its natural moisture, leading to dryness, flakiness, and irritation.
Properly moisturizing not only keeps your skin soft but also helps protect your skin barrier, which keeps irritants out and locks hydration in. The right product can make a noticeable difference in your skin’s look and feel, so it’s important to find what works best for you.
Types of Body Moisturizers and How to Choose
Body Lotions
- Best for: Normal to slightly dry skin or those who prefer lightweight hydration.
- Texture: Light and fast-absorbing, making it perfect for daily, all-over application.
- When to Use: Right after a shower, when skin is slightly damp, to seal in moisture.
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid for hydration, glycerin as a humectant, and lightweight oils like grapeseed or almond.
Recommended Products:
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – Known for its soothing colloidal oatmeal, this lotion provides long-lasting hydration.
- Onyx Pomegranate Fig Hydrating Body Lotion & Serum Duo – Contains shea butter, almond oil, niacinamide, and ceramides for lightweight hydration that absorbs quickly.
- Clarins Baume Corps Moisture-Rich Body Lotion – Rich and creamy, it boosts your skin’s hydration while also protecting from the elements. Loaded with skin loving ingredients like organic raspberry water, oat sugars, and shea butter.
Body Creams
- Best for: Dry or sensitive skin needing a bit more hydration than lotion can provide.
- Texture: Thicker than lotion but smoother and easier to spread than body butter.
- When to Use: After shaving or exfoliating to soothe and hydrate, or whenever skin feels particularly dry.
- Key Ingredients: Emollients like natural oils (jojoba, sweet almond) and ceramides to nourish and protect the skin barrier.
Recommended Products:
- Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream – Contains urea and ceramides, providing a deeply hydrating formula that’s still gentle.
- Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream – Lightweight but rich in moisture, with vitamin E and jojoba oil.
- L’Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate – Creamy and luxurious with almond oil and milk, ideal for locking in hydration without a heavy feel.
Body Butters
- Best for: Extremely dry skin or rough patches, especially on elbows, knees, and heels. Personally, I love slathering my feet in body butter after getting out of the shower.
- Texture: Very thick and dense, providing a rich, long-lasting moisture boost.
- When to Use: Great for overnight hydration or as a spot treatment on extra-dry areas.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter and cocoa butter for intensive moisture, and beeswax for added protection.
Recommended Products:
- Tree Hut Shea Body Butter – Packed with shea butter and skin loving oils, this option is rich and fragrant, not to mention budget friendly.
- Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter – Infused with argan oil for a silky feel and deep hydration.
- Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula – This budget-friendly, cocoa butter-rich formula helps smooth and soften rough skin.
- DIY Whipped Coconut Body Butter – Want to know exactly what’s in your skincare? Make it yourself with this easy tutorial.
- Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter – Quick absorbing favorite with shea butter and coconut oil that nourishes, conditions, and soothes your skin. This also has the most heavenly scent that’s energizing, but not overpowering.
Dry Oils
- Best for: Anyone looking for a quick-drying, non-greasy finish with a soft glow.
- Texture: Thin and silky, absorbs quickly without leaving a heavy residue.
- When to Use: Ideally, right out of the shower, after you’ve toweled off. Dry oil helps lock in the moisture from the shower. Anytime hydration with a soft, radiant finish is desired, or layered over lotion/cream for added softness.
- Key Ingredients: Oils like jojoba, argan, grapeseed, and rosehip, which offer antioxidants and lightweight hydration.
Recommended Products:
- Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil – A cult-favorite French dry oil that hydrates with a luxurious, non-greasy finish.
- Burt’s Bees Lemon & Vitamin E Body Oil – Contains sweet almond oil, absorbs quickly, and smells amazing.
- The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalane – A budget-friendly, fast-absorbing option ideal for both body and face.
Lotion Bars (Solid Lotions)
- Best for: Eco-conscious users, travel convenience, and those who prefer a balm-like texture for extra-dry areas.
- Texture: Solid at room temperature but melts upon contact with skin, making it easy to apply to targeted areas.
- When to Use: Apply after showering on damp skin or throughout the day on areas that need extra attention.
- Key Ingredients: Beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, and essential oils for deep hydration without mess or spills.
Recommended Products:
- Lush Therapy Massage Bar – Made with organic cocoa and shea butters, it’s great for hydrating and relaxing.
- Hempz Fresh Coconut & Watermelon Herbal Solid Moisturizer – Easy to carry, with a tropical scent and moisturizing hemp seed oil.
- Snowflake Lotion Bars Tutorial – Moisturizing, and they smell oh so good. Plus, you can make a ton of them for gifts. (pictured above)
Choosing the Right Product for Your Needs
- For Quick Daily Hydration: A lightweight body lotion or dry oil will absorb quickly and keep skin soft.
- For Targeted, Intensive Care: Try a body butter or lotion bar on rough patches and areas prone to dryness.
- For Layering and Long-Lasting Hydration: Use a body lotion first, then add a dry oil or lotion bar on top to lock in moisture.
How to Make the Most of Your Moisturizing Routine
Apply to Damp Skin
Right after a shower, pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp to help lock in moisture.
Layer Products
If your skin is particularly dry, layer a lotion or cream with a dry oil for an extra layer of hydration and a natural glow.
Use at Night
Body butters and lotion bars can work overnight to hydrate and soften skin. For hands and feet, apply a thick layer and wear cotton gloves or socks for an at-home spa treatment.
Finding Your Perfect Body Moisturizer
There’s no one-size-fits-all for body moisturizers—lotions, creams, butters, dry oils, and solid lotion bars each offer unique benefits that can complement your routine in different ways.
Consider your skin’s needs and preferences to find what works best, and don’t be afraid to switch up your products seasonally. With the right hydration, your skin will stay soft, smooth, and radiant all season long!