How to Choose a Body Lotion in the UK
Key Points to Consider
- Depending on Your Skin Type, Choose Hydrating, Soothing or Plumping Ingredients
- Decide if You Want a Scented Body Lotion
- Check the Ethical Credentials and Consider Natural Formulas if You're Vegan
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Whether to Hydrate, Soothe, Plump or Smooth, Choose Ingredients That Will Benefit Your Skin Type
Normal Skin? Opt for Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter, and Oat Extract
If you have normal skin, you're in luck because not only does it allow you more freedom to look for products with beauty-focused goals like brightening, you'll also rarely suffer from dryness, oiliness, or breakouts. For this reason, we recommend looking out for ingredients like aloe vera, cocoa butter, and oat extract.
Aloe vera seals moisture into your skin, cocoa butter maintains elasticity, and oat extract has lots of good fats which help to plump up your skin. Using a product with these ingredients will hence keep your body feeling nourished and looking healthy.
If you're adopting plant-based skincare, aloe vera gelis a good place to start.
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
The action of aloe vera as a moisturising agent has only recently been studied, even though it has been in use for decades to formulate hydrating products. The polysaccharide-rich (long-chained sugars) composition of aloe vera extracts imparts moisturising properties to any product it's added.
Studies have shown that aloe vera extract attracts water from the other layers of the epidermis to the stratum corneum (the outermost layer) and that it provides short-and-long term benefits to skin hydration regardless of the concentration found in the formulation.
Glycerin, Oils and Shea Butter Are Good Choices for Dry, Dull Skin
There are lots of useful ingredients out there for dry or dehydrated skin. Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient for dry skin as itcan hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water molecules - perfect for retaining your skin's natural moisture! Similarly, glycerin helps to prevent moisture loss by forming a protective layer.
Nourishing oils like walnut, olive, and omega also benefit dry skin by maximising hydration. Lastly, shea butter is soothing and aids in the skin’s natural collagen production, which is definitely needed when you have dry skin that's starting to look lacklustre.
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
Shea butter contains a mix of fatty acids that have been shown to improve the skin barrier, such as palmitic, stearic, linoleic, and oleic acids. It also contains fatty acids, allan, vitamins E, A and D, that have been shown to improve the skin's protecting function, helping to hydrate, plump, and protect the skin. It also contains phenolic components that exert antioxidant effects.
Hyaluronic Acid Will Retain Moisture Without Feeling Greasy if You Have Oily Skin
Those with oily skin might be tempted to skip moisturising, but there are still plenty of products that can work in harmony with your skin type! Aloe vera is one particular ingredient that's ideal for oily skin - it helps to lock moisture in, but doesn't feel too heavy.
Hyaluronic acid is also beneficial if your skin is a little greasy - it moisturises without stripping away any of your body's natural oils (which is what actually leads to an overproduction of oils in the first place).
Lock in moisture to plump your complexion with hyaluronic acid serums.
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a poly-saccharide (sugar) that can bind moisture up to 1000 times its weight when topically applied, making your skin appear plumper, dewier, and more hydrated after each use.
In most cases, these agents draw water from the dermis (the middle layer of the skin) into the epidermis, although they can also draw water from the air when there is high humidity. It also helps the skin heal after injury.
For Sensitive Skin, You'll Need Soothing Aloe Vera and Protective Ceramides
Got sensitive skin that's prone to irritation and acne flare-ups? We recommend looking for simple yet soothing ingredients like aloe vera, which has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to treat inflammatory skin issues.
Ceramides, molecules which contain fatty acids, are also great because they hold the skin together, preventing damage and strengthening the skin to protect itself against irritants and pollution. While ceramides occur naturally in the skin, they reduce as you age, so you need to replenish them by using products like lotions.
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
Ceramides play a crucial role in the barrier function of the skin and water retention. The addition of synthetic ceramides to moisturisers (there are no natural sources of ceramides) is beneficial for people with dry skin.
Studies have shown that ceramide-enriched creams increase skin hydration and demonstrate an immediate and sustained reduction in the visible signs of dry skin and subjective perceived tightness or itching.
Look to Collagen, Elastin and Green Tea to Leave Mature Skin Looking Plumper
We should all be moisturising at any age - including those of us with mature skin! Collagen production decreases with age, making skin lose some of its plumpness, so trya formula with collagen and elastin proteins if you want tolook more youthful.
As green tea extract is renowned for slowing down the ageing of cells and preventingwrinkles and fine lines, we also suggest looking out for this ingredient in your body lotion.
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
While topically applied collagen and elastin will moisturise the skin, that's about the extent of what it can do. Applying collagen topically has never been shown to stimulate collagen synthesis or growth, mainly because they are too large to penetrate the top layer of skin and get into the dermis, where these substances are supposed to exert their effects.
In some products, the collagen or elastin is supposedly "re-engineered" to be made small enough so it can be absorbed into the skin. However, even if nano-sized, these ingredients will not fuse with the collagen and elastin in your skin.
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Go For Scented Lotions If You Like to Smell Good and Pamper Yourself
Applying a body lotion with a pleasant fragrance can make your moisturising routine feel even more luxuriousand can even save you from having to spritz on perfume after you get dressed. If you like the idea of a lotion with a strong masculine fragrance, it's worth scanning for a warm spicy scent which will give off a powerful smell that lasts well.
For a calming aroma that'll help you drift into relaxation, look out for a lotion with a sweet-smelling scent like vanilla and coconut. The comforting aroma of a vanilla-scented lotion will blend with your perfume containing notes of citrus, lavender, chamomile or lemon. Otherwise, a woody or spicy fragrance with black pepper or patchouli works great as an everyday scent.
If you have normal skin, this kind of product shouldn't cause you any problems. However, we suggest thatthose with sensitive skin avoid heavily scented lotions as they may cause irritation or breakouts.
Check out the best perfumes for men and women while you're here.
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
Some products may require the use of fragrances to mask the unpleasant scent they might otherwise have and would detract people from applying them continuously.
Most dermatologists agree that if you have a story of sensitive skin or atopic dermatitis, it is advisable to stick to fragrance-free products. To identify fragrant ingredients, look out for other words in the ingredient list like eugenol, geraniol, citronellol, linalool, and limonene.
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Check the Ethical Credentials and Consider Natural Formulas If You're Vegan or Prefer Plant-Based Beauty
Lastly, many people like to consider whether the skincare product they're purchasing has been tested on animals or contains animal-derived ingredients - in the case of body lotions, these can includeglycerine or collagen.
Vegan, cruelty-free lotions are often made with natural ingredients (which are often organic too), so they are a good choice if you want to use more plant-based beauty products. Since our skin absorbs lotion, using natural lotion with non-toxic ingredients improves skin cell growth and reduces irritation or redness. Not to mention, they're also greener for the planet!
Dermatologist
Felipe Partarrieu
“Cruelty-free” and “vegan" are often used interchangeably by companies and consumers alike, but they don’t mean the same thing. Cruelty-free means that the product was developed without any tests on animals, while vegan means that the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients.
Cosmetics produced in the UK and Europe cannot be tested on animals, so they are de facto "cruelty-free." Another fact to consider is that there is no standard or legal definitions for these labels, so companies can use these labels in whichever way they like.
