A Dermatologist Ranked the 3 Worst Body-Lotion Mistakes You Can Make

If there's anything I'm very strict about when it comes to my beauty routine, it's body cream. I might forget a step in my nighttime skincare routine, but I never forget to put on body lotion in the morning, whether or not I shower that day. For the most part, it's paid off; aside from the occasional eczema flare-up on my hands, arms, or neck, I have pretty smooth skin. But since I'm a curious person and like to question everything, I wanted to know if there were some things I was missing when it comes to body lotion application.

So I reached out to dermatologist Dr Naissan Wesley of Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills in the U.S. to get her tips and to see what role body lotions play in reducing signs of looking after our skin as we grow older. We're not talking anti-ageing here—it's a privilege to age after all—but how using a body lotion can keep our skin protected and looking and feeling its best as we move through life.

In general, the guidelines for applying body lotion are pretty simple. "I recommend applying body lotion daily," Wesley says. "If recently showered, the best time to apply is within three to five minutes after a bath or shower to help trap moisture in and restore the skin barrier that may have been disrupted by soap or cleansers."

But whilst it seems straightforward, there are some mistakes you can make with body lotion, according to Wesley.

What Are the Most Common Body Lotion Mistakes?

1. Not applying enough: Don't be stingy with the stuff. Of course, you don't need to empty the whole bottle onto your body, but be generous with how much you apply.

2. Not applying it all over: Make sure you're moisturising every inch of your body; don't just apply lotion on your upper body and forget about your legs.

3. Applying a lotion that isn't moisturising enough: This might depend on your skin type or needs. Overall, you'll want to choose a product that contains the nutrients, vitamins, and ingredients that will keep your skin hydrated for a while. "I prefer to use body lotions that contain natural and fewer unnecessary ingredients," Wesley says. "I find that a creamier texture or one that is a lotion mixed with oil often has longer-lasting moisturising effects than a thinner, more watery lotion that just tends to evaporate off the skin's surface. Ingredients such as shea butter, cold-pressed oils, borage seed oil, and/or fatty acids such as ceramides tend to have great barrier-protecting properties."

How Can Body Lotion Look After Our Skin as We Get Older?

One thing I didn't realise about body lotions? They can play a big role in protecting your skin as we grow older. Here I was just honing in on the eye creams, serums, face oils and night creams of the skincare world and not even thinking that my body lotion habit could also be helping to maintain radiant and firm skin.

"The skin often tends to appear more wrinkled when it's drier," Wesley explains. "Thus, the same moisture-enhancing and barrier-protecting ingredients [mentioned above] also help reduce the appearance of fine lines. Additionally, topical antioxidants can be helpful to repair free-radical damage from the sun and the environment, whilst peptide ingredients can be useful to help support collagen proliferation."

How Often Should You Apply Body Lotion?

As for application, Wesley says you can apply it as often as it feels good, as long as you don't have acne-prone skin and the lotion isn't clogging pores. "For mature or dry skin, applying lotion morning and evening would be appropriate, especially after bathing or showering," she advises. Regardless of whether you have mature skin or not, Wesley says application frequency will depend on the climate of where you live because cold, dry, and windy conditions might require more moisture support. Other factors include exposure to hard water and soap, and any underlying conditions like eczema or thyroid disorders.

The Best Anti-Ageing Body Lotions

• Best scented option: Sol de Janerio Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
• Best luxury option: La Mer The Reparative Body Lotion
• Best affordable option: Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion
• Best retinol option: Naturium Retinol Body Lotion

1. Drunk Elephant Sili Whipped Body Lotion

2. Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Ageing Body Cream

3. Sol de Janerio Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

4. Caudalie Vinotherapist Nourishing Body Lotion

5. Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion

6. The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

7. La Mer The Reparative Body Lotion

8. Philosophy Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion

9. Nivea Rich Nourishing Body Lotion

10. Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Fragile Skin Therapy Body Treatment

11. Kai Rose Body Lotion

12. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

13. Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment

14. Cowshed Replenish Uplifting Body Lotion

15. Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Body Crème

16. Lancer Skincare The Method: Body Nourish Créme

17. Naturium Retinol Body Lotion

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