A steal at under $8, Vaseline’s unscented glycerin and shea butter formula proved to be a powerhouse, winning the GH Beauty Lab body lotion test. It increased skin hydration by an impressive 60% in measurements with the Corneometer device, which gauges skin moisture content — one of the highest levels ever recorded in Lab testing. Even though it’s a heavy-hitting moisturizer, the texture is light: 100% of consumer testers said it absorbed quickly and didn’t feel tacky on skin. “My skin felt moisturized all day,” one commented.
2
Best Fragrance-Free
Curél Ultra Healing Intensive Lotion
GH Beauty Lab scientists have long used this fragrance-free drugstore Curél lotion, made with ceramides and glycerin, as a benchmark for skin moisturization. In Lab calculations with the Corneometer device, it boosted skin hydration by 56% for over six hours and earned a perfect score with testers for spreading easily. Several testers reported that it was absorbed quickly and wasn’t greasy. One called it “light and silky” and another said “I like pretty much everything about this.”
3
Best for Anti-Aging
DefenAge 10 Luxe Hand & Body Cream
4
Best for Sensitive Skin
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Body Lotion
A trusted staple for those with sensitive skin who prefer moisturizers sans scent, GH Beauty Award winner Lubriderm’s simple formula has proven hydrating effects. A study on 27 people found that the fragrance-free lotion kept skin moisturized for a full day after application, according to Beauty Lab data analysis.
RELATED: Best Moisturizers for Sensitive Skin
5
Best Lightweight Formula
Nivea Breathable Nourishing Body Lotion
Say goodbye to heavy, sticky body moisturizers: Nivea’s inventive gel-like formulation with glycerin, shea butter and soybean oil instantly melts in like water when it comes in contact with skin. The GH Beauty Award-winning lotion “absorbs lightning fast yet still moisturized well,” there’s “no wait for it to soak in before dressing” and skin is “velvety smooth,” expert evaluators reported.
6
Best Shea Butter Formula
Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating Lotion
Enriched with nourishing shea butter, Cetaphil was a strong performer in Beauty Lab testing, boosting skin’s moisture by 54% per Corneometer measurements. Users loved that it spread easily onto skin and several reported that it “absorbed quickly,” though a few noted a greasy feel.
7
Best for Body and Face
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Do double duty with CeraVe’s fragrance-free, lightweight formula that can be used on both the body and face. Loaded with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it improved skin moisturization by 37% in the Lab’s body lotion test. (It was also a winner of the Beauty Lab’s face moisturizer test!). Users ranked it tops for absorbing quickly into skin. “I would absolutely buy this!” one raved.
RELATED: Best Face Moisturizers
8
Best Smelling
Weleda Refreshing Body Lotion
From a brand known for its aromatherapy-like scents, Weleda’s body lotion was a favorite among GH Beauty Lab testers for its vibrant citrus aroma. Two shared that the fragrance was “fresh” and “energizing in the morning.” The aloe and plant oil-based formula upped skin hydration levels by 40%. Many users praised the product’s “fast absorption,” but a few didn’t like the “thin” consistency.
9
Best for Glowing Skin
Mary Kay Hydrating Lotion
Of all the body lotions tested, Mary Kay’s was the best at making skin look moisturized and smoothing dull, flaky skin. It also had strong hydration benefits, raising skin moisture by 49%. Though two testers said it left a sticky, greasy feel on their fingers after application, another enthused that “my skin didn’t look flaky, especially on my legs, which is my problem area.”
10
Best Luxury
Jurlique Rose Body Lotion
Treat your skin to a little luxury by smoothing on this rose-scented Jurlique lotion infused with a plethora of plant oils and extracts. It increased skin hydration by 46% and testers loved how it applied easily and didn’t feel tacky or greasy. “It goes on smoothly and I didn’t feel sticky getting dressed after using it,” one remarked. Note that some users found the fragrance overly “strong.”
How we test body lotions
The GH Beauty Lab determines which body lotions will actually keep skin hydrated by rounding up a wide range of products from drugstore to prestige brands and narrowing them down based on moisturization capabilities. In the Lab, scientists measure changes in skin hydration with the Corneometer device before and six hours after application of a standardized amount of each body lotion (below).
Then, Lab experts mask the labels of the top-performing products to eliminate brand bias and distribute them to consumer testers. Testers use the body lotions for a set time period and report back on ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction. In the most recent body lotion test, GH Beauty Lab scientists collated 5,040 skin hydration data points and results from 1,062 consumer survey responses to identify the winning products.
Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today’s Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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