For Impossibly Soft Skin, You Need To Be Familiar With These Two Products

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September 22, 2021 — 23:04 PM

Call me dramatic, but there’s nothing more sensorially satisfying than covering yourself with body lotion post-shower. Frosting your skin with a delicious formula is downright luxurious, and not to mention, replenishing necessary lipids is key for supporting a healthy skin barrier. All that to say: If I emerge from the bathroom with the glass-like skin of a slippery seal, I know I’ve done something right. 

Selecting a hydrator, though, is a bit of a journey—while I’d argue the search for the dreamiest product is half the fun, it can also be confusing to wade through various ingredient lists and marketing claims. For example, many shoppers are left scratching their heads when browsing body creams versus lotions: Are these two products actually different, or is it merely semantics? 

Wonder no more: Here’s what you need to know about using them both. 

In a nutshell: Body creams are thicker than lotions. “Lotions have a higher water content compared to creams,” says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., which makes the consistency thinner and more spreadable, with a non-greasy feel. Creams, on the other hand, typically call on heavier ingredients (like shea butter and coconut oil) to create a fortress of moisture. 

Because of their higher concentration of oils and butters, “Body creams take longer to rub in, and body lotions tend to not be as sticky,” adds board-certified dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D., co-host of The GIST Show. 

At the end of the day, though, ​​there are no stringent rules for what’s considered a body cream versus a lotion (you may even discover a lightweight product that calls itself a body cream or a butter-thick formula sold as a lotion). Ultimately, we can chalk the difference up to marketing, but overall most experts agree on this textural distinction. 

Even if you don’t have dry skin, you may find it helpful to fold in a body cream during chillier months: “This will be particularly important during the winter to prevent and treat dry skin, supporting the skin barrier and locking in moisture,” King adds. 

The timing matters, too, as the skin is more permeable at night (here’s a 2016 study explaining why), which means your skin can lose significant hydration as you sleep. That’s why experts recommend applying a heavier, more occlusive moisturizer before bed to help your skin deal with trans-epidermal water loss. 

Shop these products:

Beneath Your Mask Heal Vegan Whipped Skin Soufflé

Beneath Your Mask Heal Vegan Whipped Skin Soufflé

Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid-Boost Body Cream

Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid-Boost Body Cream

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter

Lotions, generally, are best for skin types that need some hydration—just not an extra thick layer. For example, those with combination, oily, or acne-prone skin still need to hydrate (dehydrated skin just leads to more oil and breakouts, in case you need a reminder), but a lightweight water-based moisturizer will do the trick. 

Those with acne-prone skin might fare better with a lotion, as these typically aren’t as occlusive as their body cream counterparts—meaning, they don’t include heavier ingredients (the shea butter, the coconut oil) that can be comedogenic for those prone to breakouts.  

When moisture is practically hanging from the humid air, you may find you don’t need a thick-as-butter cream to help your skin stay hydrated. That said, you may reach for a lighter body product, like lotion. Again, hydrating your skin is important no matter the weather, but you may have a little wiggle room when the air is already sticky with humidity. 

A thinner lotion is also best for daytime use, says King: “It’s more readily absorbed by the skin and it leaves a less greasy residue.” Lotions also tend to have a quicker dry-down time and an easier slip, which makes them more wearable for daytime hours (read: It won’t stick to your clothes).  

“Lotions are often preferred for oilier areas,” says King, or areas prone to clogged pores. Think: your chest, back, shoulders, etc. 

See here for our list of body lotion recommendations, make a vat of your own DIY version, or select one of the lightweight confections below. 

Shop these products:

Nécessaire The Body Lotion

Nécessaire The Body Lotion

Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Honest Beauty Face + Body Lotion – Purely Sensitive

Honest Beauty Face + Body Lotion – Purely Sensitive

If you have easily congested skin, you’ll want to make sure whichever product you use is noncomedogenic. While body creams tend to be more occlusive (which can trap oil and bacteria and potentially lead to breakouts), don’t think that lotions are an immediate safe bet. See, there is no set definition for this skin care term—so you have to peek at the individual ingredients and point out any red flags. So a lotion, while technically thinner, may wind up comedogenic, whereas a body cream may work just fine for your skin. 

No matter your product, you’ll also want to pay attention to fragrance: “If the body lotion or the body cream is scented it could be more irritating,” says Downie, especially if you have sensitive skin. Artificial fragrance is “one of the most common ingredients to cause sensitivity, puffiness, itch, and rash,” board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, once told us, but even natural fragrances (essential oils and the like) can sneak into the formula and trigger irritation for some. If your skin feels itchy or irritated after slather on a cream or lotion, you may want to opt for a fragrance-free number (these options will make your skin feel like butter).