The weather may still be warm, but those colder months are about to hit and the best body creams for dry skin are about to become an essential product.
Using one of the best moisturisers for dry skin is always a good place to start, but keeping your body hydrated is a crucial part of your skincare routine - and that’s especially true if you have particularly dry, mature or eczema-prone skin.
For those of us with dry skin, a change in temperature can often exaggerate this - at the moment it's the warmth outside and the aircon inside - but as soon as it gets colder, we'll be worried about the cold bite outside and the stifling heating inside and this can play havoc on our skin.
The best body cream for dry skin needn't be heavy or greasy (unless that's your preference) - I’ve rounded up my favourites, from lightweight water-based lotions and rich butters to super nourishing balms to rub into particularly dry areas. They have one thing in common: they’ll all keep dry skin hydrated for at least 24 hours, whatever the weather.
How do I know? I thoroughly road-tested them myself.
What did I look for in the best body cream for dry skin?
- Consistency - whether it’s a lightweight lotion or rich butter, it has to feel comfortable on the skin and sink in easily - no greasy formulas here.
- Hydration - it has to keep my skin hydrated for at least 24 hours.
- Price - I go through body creams like water, so it has to feel worth its price point.
- Scent - does it smell delicious? Fab! Is it fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin? Also fab. Either way, if I’m not a fan of the scent, it’s not going in this list.
- Ingredients - natural is always best: for the environment and your skin.
Best body creams for dry skin: tried & tested
1. Sol de Janeiro Delicia Drench body butter
Since hearing MC’s Executive Beauty Editor Shannon Lawlor wax lyrical about this Sol de Janeiro body butter I simply had to try it out for myself. I had already smelled Shannon’s tub in the office, so I knew I would get on with the delicious warm musky vanilla-y scent, but it's the consistency of this moisturiser that truly sets it apart for me.
It’s not super lightweight, like other whipped cream formulas but feels really rich and nourishing on the skin. Whenever I want a rich body butter that will sink in quickly and make me smell like a dream, this is what I reach for. Even better: it’s currently reduced in price on Lookfantastic - don't walk, run to the checkout.
2. Dove Essential Care body lotion
A new discovery for me, this Dove body lotion has been my go-to everyday moisturiser since the day I opened it. It has that classic, clean Dove smell which I love and feels both lightweight and incredibly hydrating.
In fact, once rubbed in, this lotion feels like water gliding over the skin - leaving a non-oily sheen which still feels very fresh. I have no qualms about popping my clothes right on top of this lotion (like I can do with richer body butters), which makes this perfect for using on rushed mornings. At this price, I can see myself stocking up on this regularly - it's already become a staple in my body care routine.
3. Nivea Creme
"You cannot go wrong with a big pot of Nivea Creme next to your bed. It's a brilliant and effective cream that's an icon for a reason. It's incredibly rich, so dry skin in winter and parched skin in summer are taken care of. It takes a while to sink in, which is why I prefer to use it at night just before I jump into bed. It has that classic nostalgic Nivea scent, which I cannot fault. It's also so readily available and incredibly affordable, which is important. You can pick it up on the high street, online and even with your weekly shop at the supermarket. If it's thick texture is a worry for you Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream is much more lightweight and equally as effective." - Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
4. Weleda Skin Food
There’s a reason the entire MCUK team can’t get enough of Weleda products, and the brand’s Skin Food moisturiser is definitely its most iconic. This affordable little tube is beloved by celebrities - counting Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber and Priyanka Chopra as fans - and for good reason.
The cream has a rich, thick texture, making it perfect for particularly dry areas of your body like your knees, elbows, feet and hands. The soothing formula contains natural ingredients like wild pansy extract, calendula and chamomile, making it ideal for dry, sensitive skin. It doesn’t just hydrate the skin but also creates a barrier over it, locking in moisture and defending it against environmental stressors. I’m a huge fan.
5. CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment
Having used this balm religiously for a few months now, I couldn’t imagine life without it. As a cost-conscious Shopping Editor, I always get excited when an affordable beauty brand delivers a product worthy of a much higher price tag - and CeraVe never fails to hit the mark when it comes to targeted skincare.
Less of an all-body moisturiser, this ointment is intended to target and repair particularly dry, cracked and sensitive areas - and repair it certainly does. I had a bout of unexpected eczema recently and this was the only product that could soothe my cracked skin without irritating it further. Seriously - my skin had practically healed overnight (I wish I had taken photos), and it’s also great for stretch marks too. It’s pure magic in a tube, all for under £15.
6. Sanctuary Spa Melting Pearls Body Butter
This body butter feels surprisingly light and fresh, but still very nourishing thanks to the argan oil ‘pearls’ that melt into the skin as you rub it in. it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and nourished, all day.
The light, floral lily and damask rose scent might seem like a particularly summery scent, but there's a deepness and richness to it that means it will work throughout the year.
7. Naturium Bio-Lipid Lotion
Naturium is a relatively new brand to the UK, and I’ve tried and loved a number of their body care and skincare products - especially because they look and perform way beyond their price tags. A particular favourite (aside from the genius body washes) is this Bio-Lipid body lotion. It’s on the thicker side for a lotion and fragrance-free, so brilliant for sensitive skin.
The clever formula works to help restore the skin’s natural barrier over time, consistency-wise, it sinks in easily and has a non-greasy formula. I have it in the handy travel size which is perfect for taking in my handbag or carry-on, but it also comes in this larger pump bottle for super speedy application.
8. Tatcha Hinoki Body Milk
This lightweight body milk smells fresh and floral, which works well for the warmer months. But don't let that stop you from trying it now. For a lightweight milk formula, it’s pretty hydrating. It’s on the pricier side, but feels like a truly indulgent treat thanks to the woody essential oils which replicate the Japanese ritual of forest bathing - dreamy.
I also have this in the travel-sized tube bottle, and it comes in super handy for overnight stays and travelling.
9. Dizziak Body Conditioner
Loretta De Feo, founder of Dizziak, launched this after she heard that people were using her Deep Conditioner on their skin. And I'm very thankful. When I’m after a super rich lotion that will leave a glossy shine finish on my skin, I reach for this body conditioner. It smells fresh and botanical, which is unsurprising, considering it’s packed full of natural ingredients like jojoba and sacha inchi oils. At £20, it’s reasonably priced (and the huge tube will last you ages).
10. Garnier Body Superfood Nutri Glow Body Cream
Enriched with vitamin C, this body lotion is ideal for mature skin thanks to its brightening properties - yep, vitamin C isn’t just for your face. Considering it’s so packed with nourishing, good-for-your-skin ingredients, I can’t quite believe the price tag. It comes in a huge tub too, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with this product.
11. The Body Shop Bluebell Body Butter Melt
When I fall for a product from The Body Shop, I fall hard, and it was love at first sniff with this new body butter. I have loved every bluebell-scented product I've ever smelled, and this is no exception - it literally smells like a field of flowers.
Despite being a body butter, it has a lightweight consistency, similar to the brand's body yoghurts, but nevertheless it leaves a lovely sheen on the skin and keeps my limbs hydrated all day long. I'm gutted that it's limited edition, as I know I'll want to stock up on this stuff.
12. Nursem Caring Body Balm
After a super thick and deeply nourishing body cream? This is it. If you find that your moisturiser usually feels hydrating for the first few hours but then dries out come 1pm, you won't have that problem with this body cream. It does take a little longer than lighter formulas to rub in, but once it is, you'll have incredibly hydrated and super soft skin that genuinely lasts all day.
13. Neom Real Luxury Multi-Mineral Body Milk
I use and adore both the body milk and shower cream from this range and the name doesn't lie - it truly does feel like Real Luxury upon application. As the name suggests, it's more of a lightweight lotion than a thick cream, but that doesn't make it any less moisturising. I love using this after an evening shower - the calming scents of lavender, jasmin and ylang ylang combined with soothing and nourishing ingredients like magnesium and prickly pear makes for the perfect pre-bedtime treat.
14. Aviela Pure Shea Butter
I'd tried hydrating products with shea butter in them before, but hadn't tried a pure, unrefined shea butter till this one from Aviela. It's of an incredibly high grade, and the quality really shines through: it doesn't just calm dry, irritated and cracked skin but also forms a protective barrier, ensuring the moisture is locked in all day long.
It absorbs surprisingly quickly, despite the nourishing butter consistency - I like to use it on my elbows, knees and heels - areas I'm most in need of an extra hydrating boost.
15. Espa Deeply Nourishing Body Cream
"This is luxury in a pot and at that price you would expect it. The smell is a floral that's slightly spicy, slightly sweet and pure spa-like. It's rich and nourishing, so soothes my dry skin in an instant, but doesn't leave behind a tackiness. It absorbs really quickly, which is great in the mornings, but that's not when I use this. I keep this next to my bath as an end of day treat. " - Katie Thomas, Senior Beauty Editor
What’s the best body cream texture for dry skin?
According to Abi Weeds, Founder and Director of Odylique, texture doesn’t matter as much as the quality of ingredients in your body cream. She states “the choice of butter or lotion is more of a personal one; and indeed, for very dry skin, both can be beneficial with a butter helping to lock in the moisture that a lotion provides. What matters more is the ingredients in the product and the frequency of application. Vitamin-rich organic plant oils will always go further in providing long-lasting hydration and nourishment than synthetic or technical oils. And applying moisturiser little and often rather than a lot of product less frequently, will yield better results on dry skin.”
