If you've noticed that your skin tends to get irritated by traditional lotions, body washes, or perfumes, you're not alone. Overall, ~60-70% of women and 50-60% of men report having some degree of sensitive skin.
Gentle Body Lotions For Everyday Dry Skin: What Causes Dry Skin Irritation and How Lotions Help
The dry - flaky irritation that sensitive skin often experiences can be caused by a variety of factors. One major factor is a defect in the skin barrier, which causes the skin to lose moisture and become vulnerable to outside irritants. And while sensitive skin may react to ingredients found in makeup, lotions, and soap, a good moisturizer can provide much-needed relief.
For dry skin - a good moisturizer restores the skin barrier and prevents water from evaporating. Many lotions contain ceramides, which are lipids that help keep skin healthy and balanced. We looked for products that are packed with nourishing ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and other hydrating ingredients - as well as additives like phytosphingosine, an ingredient that mimics the body's natural immune defenses.
We also sought out lotions that are free of irritants such as alcohol, dyes, parabens, perfumes - phthalates, petrolatum, phenoxetol, and sulfates. Here are five gentle body lotions to consider if your skin tends to get irritated throughout the year.
Nivea Norweigan Formula Nourishing Body Lotion
This lotion is enriched with shea butter, glycerin - vitamin E, and ceramides, which penetrate the skin to prevent moisture loss. It has a rich texture, but absorbs easily, leaving skin soft and smooth. Since there's no fragrance added to this lotion - it won't bother those with skin that reacts to perfumes or certain ingredients used to mask fragrance.
Alcohol is often used to thin out lotions, making them easier to spread, but can dry out and irritate skin, so we look for products that are alcohol-free. This lotion is completely free of alcohol, as well as parabens - mineral oil, and colorants.
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion Plus
CeraVe is a brand dermatologists frequently recommend for dry skin, and for good reason: Their products are packed with ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid - which help restore the skin barrier and bring hydration to even the driest, most sensitive skin. The brand's Moisturizing Lotion Plus has a thick, rich formula that's easy to apply and quickly absorbed. The 17-ounce jar is also affordably priced, especially considering how long it tends to last.
CeraVe's products are specifically formulated to help those with atopic dermatitis and dry, sensitive skin. A small study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that participants with dry skin experienced significant improvement in skin hydration - flexibility, and smoothness after four weeks of daily application of CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion.
Eucerin Hydrating Body Lotion
Like CeraVe, Eucerin is another affordable, pharmacist-created brand that delivers quality skin care. Added ceramides help repair the skin barrier so that moisture stays in and irritants are kept out.
There are few things more irritating to skin than dry, itchy flakes - but Eucerin Hydrating Lotion may actually reduce flaking. Real users experienced a reduction in flaking in just one day.
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+
If you have extremely dry skin that tends to scale, crack, or peel, this product is for you. La Roche-Posay's Lipikar Balm AP+ is a silicone-based balm that can soothe irritated skin and deliver intense, long-lasting hydration. The only ingredient in this product that might cause irritation is propylene glycol - which is similar to alcohol, but many users with eczema, psoriasis, and other conditions that cause chronic dry skin swear by this balm.
One reviewer wrote that this "actually soothed my itchy skin within seconds of applying," while another said it "has the unique ability to penetrate even the thickest - toughest dry, scaly skin."
According to La Roche-Posay, real users experienced a reduction in flaking in just one day. Originally formulated for children - the brand says the balm can also help relieve the intense itching associated with eczema and psoriasis.
