Yes, Good-Looking But Effective Body Lotions Do Exist
These bottles and jars don't get hidden in my bathroom.
Facts are facts: Your skin doesn't stop at your neck, so if you want to be hydrated and glowing (who doesn't?) you need a body lotion in your life.
While there are an overwhelming number of scented lotions, butters, creams, and milks to choose from, not all of them are created equal. Some scents are too floral, while other formulas leave skin a little too greased up.
In my personal experience, the best body lotions aren't always Instagram friendly. When you have extremely dry skin or eczema like I do, the jumbo size drugstore bottles are often exactly the tall glass of water my thirsty skin is asking for.
However, there are exceptions and many of them are by some of my favorite clean beauty brands. These formulas are infused with subtle, not-in-your-face scents and long-lasting moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and shea and cocoa butters, and look just as good in your shower or on your vanity as they make your skin feel.
Whether you swear by floral or citrus scents or prefer fragrance-free, I've complied my favorite clean body lotions at all price points, ahead.
Henry Rose Queens & Monsters Body Cream
Transparency has never smelled (and looked) so good. What sets actress Michelle Pfeiffer's Henry Rose brand apart from other fragrance companies is disclosing the ingredients that make up its various perfumes, including the best-selling Queens & Monsters. The soft floral and woodsy notes translate well into a body cream scent, slightly lingering long after it's dried down.
To shop: $65; henryrose.com
Ellis Brooklyn MYTH Excellent Body Milk
This subtle musky body milk includes notes of jasmine petals, tiger orchid, cedarwood, and you. The musk adapts to the wearer's own body chemistry, creating a scent that's uniquely their own. A blend of rosehip, meadowfoam, and camellia seed oils hydrate dry skin without leaving any greasy residue. Bonus: the forest green glass bottle would make an excellent vase after the lotion's run out.
To shop: $55; sephora.com
Nécessaire The Body Lotion
I'll let you in on a secret: I didn't use body lotion everyday until I tried this one about two years ago. Néssaire made me a convert because the formula absorbs upon contact with my skin, even though it's uber hydrating, and it contains some of my favorite skincare ingredients like niacinamide and vitamins A, C, and E. And with the lotion being scent-free, I feel confident using it year-round because it doesn't irritate my winter eczema flare ups. Oh, the minimalist black-and-white tube is also ridiculously good looking.
To shop: $25; sephora.com
Mutha Body Butter
Mutha's Body Butter deserves all the hype it gets from my beauty industry peers on Instagram. The rich cream glides onto skin like butter (get it?) and offers long-lasting hydration. Plus, it has a fresh citrus scent and comes in a ridiculously chic metallic violet jar that basically doubles as bathroom decor. What's not to love?
To shop: $95; goop.com
Summer Fridays Summer Skin Nourishing Body Lotion
I unabashedly love all of Summer Fridays' launches, and the brand's body lotion is no exception. It's designed to offer all-day hydration, thanks to a blend of shea and cocoa butters, ceramides, and grapeseed, argan, linseed, and rosehip oils. The light vanilla blossom, coconut, and almond smells good enough to eat, but it's best to let your dry skin drink up the lotion instead.
To shop: $26; sephora.com
Augustinus Bader The Body Cream
Whenever I'm feeling fancy, I reach for this thick cream by Augustinus Bader. Like the rest of the brand's skincare products, this body hydrator features it's patented Trigger Factor Complex, a combination of natural amino acids, high-grade vitamins, and synthesized molecules that kickstart the skin's renewal process, on top of keeping skin smooth all day long. Despite being so rich, this cream absorbs almost instantly, which is good news for my clothes.
To shop: $165; nordstrom.com.
Function of Beauty Body Lotion
Function of Beauty has taken customization to the next level with its body lotion. In addition to choosing scent, color, and thickness based on your skin's needs and perfume preferences, you also get to choose a name for the bottle. My go-to combo is a light eucalyptus scent, dye-free lotion for extremely dry skin.
To shop: $20; functionofbeauty.com.
From non-toxic makeup and skincare to sustainability practices, Clean Slate is an exploration of all things in the green beauty space.
