These are the 7 best body lotions that I rely on in winter, because I hate the feeling of thick creams on my skin

I’ll be honest: like some of you reading this, I am someone who finds moisturising their body a bit of a chore. I’ve had eczema on and off for my whole life, so there’ll probably always be a bit of me that sees applying the best body lotions or creams as something I *have* to do rather than something I *want* to do.

I speak to a lot of dermatologists, aestheticians and doctors as part of my job, who will all readily drive home the importance of doing so for the condition and health of your skin—it is your body’s largest organ, after all. The idea of having a full body care regime, much like a facial skincare routine, has surged in popularity in recent years and people now invest a lot more care and money in having one, from targeted shower products to body sprays and moisturisers. 

One of the key factors that influences my opinion of any body moisturiser is that I don’t like feeling sticky and waiting around for a thick body cream to soak in (especially in winter when I just want to get dressed). For me, a lotion, cream or balm has to absorb well. In my years of beauty editor testing, I’ve found that these are the best body lotions that will do exactly that while really nourishing your skin. 

The best body lotions, listed:

• Best hydrating body lotion: Caudalie Vinotherapist Nourishing Body Lotion | £18, Space NK
• Best affordable body lotion: CeraVe Moisturising Lotion | £12, Cult Beauty
• Best body lotion for gentle exfoliation: Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion | £10, LookFantastic
• Best rich body lotion: Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion | £16.50, Space NK
• Best body lotion for glowing skin: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream | £23.50, Cult Beauty
• Best brightening body lotion: Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Moisturiser | £17, LookFantastic
• Best lightweight body moisturiser: Soap & Glory The Real Zing Body Serum | £9.99, Boots

The best body lotions for non-greasy nourishment

1. Caudalie Vinotherapist Nourishing Body Lotion

Easily one of my favourite body lotions of all time. Caudalie’s Vinotherapist is all about hydration, with a texture that feels like it’s quenching the skin as soon as you smooth it on. The formula packs in one of the most famous hydrating skincare ingredients, hyaluronic acid, alongside nourishing shea butter and polyphenols, which have antioxidant benefits. It’s a dream both in terms of its texture and skin-softening abilities. 

2. CeraVe Moisturising Lotion

A hero product from dermatologist-approved brand, CeraVe’s Moisturising Lotion is great if you don’t want to spend too much on a body lotion and is one of my favourites. It lasts ages and is plain and fuss-free with the perfect balance of nourishing and lightweight, with a kind of silky texture. As with other CeraVe moisturisers, it features the patented MVE technology for gradual delivery of ceramides to the skin barrier throughout the day, plus hydrating hyaluronic acid. 

3. Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion

As well as delivering gentle exfoliation to the skin, what I love about Ameliorate’s Transforming Body Lotion is how quickly it absorbs. The LaH6 complex (a combination of lactic acid, a hydrating complex, and six actives including urea and allantoin) works to gently exfoliate and nourish, and is particularly good for rough, bumpy skin conditions such as keratosis pilaris. It does have a slightly unusual smell to it, but not overly noticeable and it doesn’t hang around after applying. As AHAs can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, you'll need to be extra diligent about using sun protection on any exposed skin while using this product, too.

4. Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion

Naturium only came to the UK last year but the excitement it sparked in people was undeniable—beauty editors included. The products have been a hit with the TikTok crowd and this is one of its best-sellers. With several different ingredients to support, nourish and restore the skin barrier, the consistency is definitely thick for a lotion, but it’s really softening, stretches well and soaks into the skin easily. I love it. 

5. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream

This is quite lightweight for a cream so I’m sneaking it in here because it has more of a lotion texture. Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream isn’t a mega-illuminating product but it does help to keep skin glowy and healthy-looking, thanks to its vitamin-rich formula. It soaks in nicely and has a subtle watermelon scent. Do note it’s another that contains exfoliating skincare acids in the form of fruit-derived AHAs. 

6. Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Moisturiser

While Isle of Paradise is best known for its incredible lineup of tanning products, it actually has a lovely body care offering too with cleansers, exfoliators and body lotions to help both prep your skin for tanning and keep it naturally radiant if you’re not into bronzing your body. Mica Ricketts, Freelance Beauty Editor and Marie Claire contributor rate this as one of the best body moisturisers on the market. “I am obsessed with keeping my body moisturised and have all the best lotions and body butters, but since discovering this last year it has become my go-to throughout both summer and winter. Firstly, the sunshine yellow packaging is a much needed dose of brightness on cold winter mornings. But the formula inside is just as radiance-boosting. Brimming with moisturising hyaluronic acid and a brightening blend of niacinamide and vitamin C, it instantly injects both hydration and glow into my dry limbs. Plus, the scent is incredible—like a fruity pineapple and grapefruit cocktail—so it brightens the senses too. I adore it.”

7. Soap & Glory The Real Zing Body Serum

If you really don’t like the feeling of body butters or thick lotions then this velvety-smooth serum is one that Mica also swears by for hydration without any heaviness. “Although it’s described as a serum, I’m including it amongst my favourite body lotions as it definitely has more viscosity than a classic serum. Instead, I’d describe this as more of a gel-cream texture that sinks into skin with ease—leaving no residue behind but transforming dry skin into something soft, smooth and bright. It’s infused with an array of AHAs, including glycolic, lactic and mandelic acids, so as well as moisturising it actually works to rid any dry patches too. And the subtle citrus scent is fresh and uplifting. A guaranteed hit for anyone that avoids classic body lotions.”