As someone with legs like loofahs, I’m always amazed that so many people avoid body moisturiser. Our skin needs hydration to stay smooth, silky and healthy, and this needn’t come with residual tackiness or grease.
I’m impressed with almost the entire lineup from Naturium. Its reasonably priced facial products are well worth your consideration. The body range may feel less economical, since even luxury skincare lovers are often used to parting with a fiver or less for a body lotion, but the brand delivers as well below the neck as above it.
Its Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion (£18) is close to perfect if you experience dry, itchy, perhaps eczema-prone skin but find heavy, unctuous creams a turnoff. This has a whipped, rich texture that hits the driest spots without stickiness, and the large bottle and generous, time-saving pump (one depression is enough for a leg, from hip to toe) make it feel luxuriously abundant.
I’m a longtime fan of Garnier’s Body Superfood, an affordable range of gratifyingly stout pots of cream. If you’ve found some too rich in texture, do try the watermelon variant, the Glycerin Hydrating Body Cream (£9.99). The lighter, refreshing silky gel consistency disguises a healthy dose of glycerin that leaves rough limbs soft and supple for hours. It’s a good option for body cream haters, but also for those looking to switch to something less cloying in warmer weather.
Similar in texture is Beauty Pie’s Superdose Vitamin C Bio-Vitamin Brightening & Firming Body Lotion (£17.50 to members), which has a pleasant citrus smell and passes the silk blouse test: you can get dressed soon after applying without any seepage on to thin fabrics. It immediately gives the effect of evening out skintone and smoothing mild blotchiness with glowy hydration (there’s an accompanying body cleanser too).
It’s been ages since I found a new Vaseline product noteworthy – not because they underperform (they are consistently effective and reliable), but because it’s rare that it launches anything with a texture distinct from the rest of the range. However, its new Gluta-Hya Overnight Radiance Serum Burst Lotion (£12.99) has a lighter, more elegant and silken “skincare” feel that won’t cause one’s limbs to be glued to the bedsheets. And because it is applied before bed, those truly averse to body moisturiser could skip morning application and still feel the daytime benefit.
For more, read the Filter’s guide to the best body moisturisers
