Top 10 Best Body Lotions in the UK 2021 (Dove, Garnier and More)

Let's take a look at the most important factors to consider when deciding on a body lotion: beneficial ingredients for each skin type, the style of container, whether you want something with a scent, and the ethical values of the product.

To get the most out of your purchase, you'll want to choose beneficial ingredients that will help your skin to look and feel at its best. Whether these work will all depend on your skin type, though!

If you're lucky enough to have normal skin, which rarely suffers from dryness, oiliness, or breakouts, then 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.

There are lots of useful ingredients out there for dry or dehydrated skin. Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient for dry skin as it can 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. 

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). 

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 them in skincare to replenish the lost or damaged ceramides in your skin.

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 try a formula with collagen and elastin proteins if you want to look more youthful. 

As green tea extract is renowned for slowing down the aging of cells and preventing wrinkles and fine lines, we also suggest looking out for this ingredient in your body lotion.

Body lotions tend to come in either a bottle or a squeezy tube, and are designed to make application a breeze. Squeezy tubes are easy to use and allow you to access plenty of lotion, but they can be a little messy.

On the other hand, bottles - particularly those with a pump dispenser - deliver a more precise amount of product which should be enough to cover your whole body. It's totally up to you which style of container you prefer though, there's no right answer!

Applying a body lotion with a pleasant fragrance can make your moisturising routine feel even more luxurious, and saves you having to spritz on perfume after you get dressed. 

If you have normal skin, this kind of product shouldn't cause you any problems. However, we suggest that those with sensitive skin avoid scented lotions as they may cause irritation or breakouts.

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 include glycerine 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. 

Now that you know what to look out for, it’s time to check out our top 10 body lotion picks. Whether you require something dermatologist-approved for dry skin or a creamy formula with a revitalising scent, we've got some great recommendations!

If we've got you in the mood for some self-care, why not check out some of our other skincare product reviews? Our recommendations will help you find the best beauty bargains, so you can scrub and moisturise yourself from head to toe!

Whatever your skin type and budget, we hope you've enjoyed browsing our favourite body lotions from high-end names and budget brands alike. With our help, you can easily achieve the beautifully smooth skin of your dreams from now on!

Author: Nicola McClements