The Best Body Moisturizers for Dry Skin

In this article:
The best body moisturizer for extremely dry skin
What about a body lotion with antioxidants?
Other body moisturizer ingredients for dry skin

If seriously dry skin on your body is the bane of your existence, we completely understand your struggle. Rather than just picking out whatever body lotion you happen to find at the store, we’ve taken the guesswork out by creating a list of things you should look for when shopping for your next body moisturizer.

The best body moisturizer for extremely dry skin

For VERY dry skin, body butters with richly emollient ingredients like shea, mango, and jojoba are incredibly helpful. This type of body butter for dry skin is even suitable for skin prone to eczema.

For all-over smoothing, seek out a fast-absorbing body cream for dry skin that features barrier-repairing ceramides, peptides, and antioxidants for all-day dry skin relief. This is a great option for moisturizing from the neck down, and you can apply body butter over it on extra-dried areas.

If you’re looking for the best body lotion for smooth skin, the secret is to opt for one with a built-in, leave-on exfoliant. Multi-tasking skin care doesn’t get much better than this.

To soften and smooth dry, rough patches or thickened skin (think knees, elbows, feet), go with an AHA body lotion for dry skin. Higher strengths of AHA are helpful for dry body skin, so an option with a concentration of 10% can yield impressive results.

If bumpy, “chicken skin” is your main concern, use a moisturizing body treatment for dry skin featuring 2% BHA (beta hydroxy acid, also known as salicylic acid). Bonus: This also helps banish other types of clogged pores from the neck down, and leaves skin feeling extra silky.

What about a body lotion with antioxidants?

When looking for a body lotion with antioxidants, opt for a body lotion for dry skin with anti-aging powerhouse retinol (it's an antioxidant!) to help diminish advanced signs of aging, including those on the neck and chest.

Other body moisturizer ingredients for dry skin

Body creams for dry skin often contain the following ingredients, some are good, and some are bad, and we want you to avoid the bad ones, so your skin won’t suffer. Keep them in mind when shopping for your ideal body moisturizer.

Good ingredients in body lotion for dry skin

Argan oil
Cocoa butter
Coconut oil
Ceramides
Evening primrose oil
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Petrolatum

Bad ingredients in body lotion for dry skin

Fragrance (natural or synthetic)
Essential oils

Learn more about dry skin.

Learn more about body care.

References for this information:
Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology, August 2015, pages 455–461
Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, February 2013, pages 55–60
British Journal of Dermatology, September 2014, pages 19–28
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, June 2011, pages 45–55
Journal of Oleo Science, 2010, pages 169–176