As a dry-skinned gal from head to toe, I tend to always rely on heavy, thick, deeply hydrating body lotions—even in the most humid of summers. Whether your skin is dry year-round or impacted seasonally, it might be worth switching out your body lotion for a heavier option during the winter months. "I generally recommend my patients switch to thicker, more viscous body lotions or creams in the winter. These tend to feel creamier and provide more of a defense against dryness of the skin surface," says dermatologist Alicia Zalka. "In the winter, when you cover up with more blankets or sweaters, layer up your moisturizer too. Apply a body oil on top after using a body lotion for extra soothing and hydrating of the skin surface."
Some pro-tips to keep in mind: apply to damp skin or after dry brushing for the best penetration of those hydrating ingredients that your skin craves, consider applying two layers for an extra boost, and keep an eye out for glycerin, ceramides, shea butter, glycolic acid, and niacinamide on ingredient lists.
Ahead, the 10 best body lotions for dry skin, according to experts.
The Editor's Pick: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
The Best Drugstore Option: CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion
The Best Luxury Option: Osmotics Blue Copper 5 Anti-Aging Body Lift
The Best Under $20: Amlactin Intensive Healing Body Lotion, 15% Lactic Acid
Meet The Experts:
Dr. Pearl Ugwu-Dike is a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC with training at Harvard and NYU.
Dr. Marisa Garshick is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in NYC and New Jersey.
Dr. Alicia Zalka is a Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist and the founder and CEO of skincare brand Surface Deep.
Skinfix Resurface+ AHA Renewing Body Cream
Let's all take this recommendation as a reminder to exfoliate throughout the winter—your rough, dry skin will thank you. "Sometimes skin isn't just dry; it's really holding on to dead skin cells like they're sentimental for some reason. That's where an exfoliating moisturizer can really make a big difference," Dr. Pearl Ugwu-Dike. "I love this one from Skinfix because it combines fruit-derived acid complexes with really nourishing ingredients, so it's beautifully tolerated and leaves your skin incredibly hydrated."
Eucerin Radiant Tone Dark Spot Corrector Body Cream
What if you could target hyperpigmentation while also providing your skin with rich moisture? Enter Eucerin's dark spot-correcting body cream—perfect for those of us who always seize the chance to kill two birds with one stone. "We've spent years treating hyperpigmentation on our faces, sometimes while largely ignoring the rest of our body. I love this lotion because it brings serious pigment-correcting science to the skin below the neckline," Dr. Ugwu-Dike says. "Thiamidol targets tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, helping improve the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone. I particularly love this for patients dealing with scarring, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or lingering spots from past breakouts."
Amlactin Intensive Healing Body Lotion, 15% Lactic Acid
As a Keratosis Pilaris girl for years, this has been a staple in my routine—but you don't have to have KP to benefit from its ingredients. "This is one of those products that I feel is a beauty staple that has 100% earned its spot on the shelf. The 12% lactic acid works doubly as an alpha hydroxy acid and an incredible humectant to soften dead skin cells and also retain moisture," Dr. Ugwu-Dike says. "I particularly like this for those rough elbows, keratosis pilaris, and any flaky dry skin. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your skin is just give it exactly what it needs and skip all the fluff."
RescueMD Reparative Moisturizer
While 'skin barrier' has been a buzzword in beauty for years, it's usually referring to our faces. This is the year that we stop neglecting the skin on our bodies. This moisturizer repairs dry, damaged skin while protecting the skin barrier through deep hydration," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick says. "It combines hydrating and nourishing ingredients such as glycerin and shea butter with ingredients that help support the skin's natural repair processes like peptides and RescueMD’s Reparative Lapachol. I love that it can be used on the face and body."
Osmotics Blue Copper 5 Anti-Aging Body Lift
Another great pick for the multi-taskers of the world. This one is for those who want anti-aging benefits without sacrificing hydration. "This is a great option for those looking to address dryness as well as visible signs of skin aging on the body, including crepiness and loss of firmness. It incorporates copper peptides, which may help support skin renewal and improve the appearance of skin texture, along with moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to help hydrate and smooth the skin," Dr. Garshick says. "It is especially helpful for those with mature skin who want a body moisturizer that goes beyond hydration to also target the appearance of firmness and elasticity."
Dewsy Down Deep Body Lotion
Sometimes we want hydrated, moisturized, and soft skin without being greasy or oily. If you thought this wasn't possible, think again. "This is a great option for those with dry skin who want long-lasting moisture without a heavy or greasy finish. It contains five essential ceramides, which help replenish the skin's natural lipids and support the skin barrier, as well as glycerin to attract moisture and petrolatum to help lock it in and prevent transepidermal water loss," Dr. Garshick says. "I especially like that it combines these moisturizing ingredients in a lightweight formula, making it a good option for daily use, particularly for those who don't like the feeling of traditional thick body creams."
CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion
What if we told you that you could have soft, hydrated, and soothed skin for under $20? CeraVe has been a pharmacy beauty staple for a reason—its results and simple, effective formulas speak for themselves. "This is an excellent option for those dealing with very dry, rough, or itchy skin, as it combines three essential ceramides to help restore the skin barrier with Hydro-Urea technology to boost hydration and improve moisture retention," Dr. Garshick says. "Urea is especially helpful for dry skin because it acts as a humectant, helping to draw moisture into the skin while also softening rough, flaky areas. I also like that it provides intensive hydration in a lotion formula that is comfortable for everyday use, making it especially helpful during the colder months when the skin is more prone to dryness."
Nécessaire The Body Lotion
Nécessaire has always felt like a luxe brand, one that I love seeing on my vanity or in my bathroom. But beyond the aesthetic, minimal packaging and intriguing fragrances are products that actually work and that are worth investing in—this body lotion, for example. "This product packs in niacinamide for brightening and smoothing, with peptides and plant oils to boot," board-certified Dermatologist Alicia Zalka says. "It's like a fitness class plus a stretch class for your skin. I choose the fragrance-free version for sensitive skin needs."
Surface Deep pH Balancing Body Lotion
We love skincare products that work with the skin's pH—they help preserve and protect the skin's surface. "This is super rich, non-greasy, non-sticky body lotion that honors the skin's optimal pH. The glycolic acid formula helps leave the skin polished and balanced with no fragrance," Dr. Zalka says. "It's loaded with moisturizing glycerin and squalane to provide deep hydration. Just what the doctor ordered."
La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+MAX Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream
My personal favorite body lotion as a dry-skinned girl from head to toe. It's thick without feeling overly heavy or greasy on the skin, it's fragrance-free and, therefore, doesn't irritate my skin, and, despite owning a decent amount of moisturizers, it's the one that I keep returning to. "These three ingredients do it all: ceramides, niacinamide, and shea butter," Dr. Zalka says. "It's all about soothing and smoothing."