8 Best Body Lotions That Are Proven to Seriously Hydrate Skin
Our scientists tallied up the results from 1,062 consumer surveys to prove it.
Tested by Chiara ButlerBeauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst
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Body lotion is one of the simplest, most effective solutions for healthy, glowing skin. Moisturizers "should be used day and night," says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York. "Even if skin does not seem dry, it still needs that layer of protection. Everyone benefits from reinforcing the skin barrier."
Whether you're looking to quell dryness, scaliness or flaking or just maintain a strong, healthy barrier, a good body moisturizer is key. To find the best body lotions, our GH Institute Beauty Lab scientists test them via technical Lab tests and consumer fedback. In the most recent test, we analyzed over 6,000 hydration measurements and consumer responses to identify the top-performing lotions on the market.
Best Deal
A steal at under $8, Vaseline's scent-free glycerin and shea butter formula proved to be a powerhouse, winning the GH Beauty Lab body lotion test.
Hydration: It increased skin hydration by an impressive 60% in measurements with the Corneometer device, which gauges skin moisture content — one of the highest levels ever recorded in Lab testing.
Texture & Absorption: Even though it's a heavy-hitting moisturizer, the texture is light: 100% of consumer testers said it absorbed quickly and didn't feel tacky on skin. "My skin felt moisturized all day," one commented. "It went onto my skin very smoothly and spread easily and evenly."
Scent: The unscented, fragrance-free formula goes on odorless, and though some testers stated they prefer a scented lotion, others loved its undetectable scent.
| Key Ingredients | Glycerin, shea butter |
Curél Ultra Healing Intensive Lotion
GH Beauty Lab scientists have long used this fragrance-free drugstore Curél lotion, made with ceramides and glycerin, as a benchmark for skin moisturization.
Hydration: In Lab calculations with the Corneometer device, it boosted skin hydration by 56% for over six hours and earned a perfect score with testers for spreading easily.
Texture & Absorption: Several testers reported that the lightweight texture of this lotion felt "light and silky," though several commented on a finish that felt slightly "sticky" or "tacky," which can be common in highly hydrating formulas with a lot of occlusives.
Scent: While this lotion is fragrance-free and most testers said it "had no smell" at all, it may have a slight citrus scent from the included orange peel oil.
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, glycerin |
Vaseline Radiant X Even Tone Nourishing Coconut Oil Body Lotion
This GH Beauty Award-winning lotion is budget-friendly, lightly scented and enriched with emollients that make skin look and feel deeply hydrated.
Hydration: It received a near-perfect score from testers for making skin appear less ashy and flaky. Testers all said it made skin feel "soft" and "moisturized" for even days after use.
Texture & Absorption: Testers loved that this emollient-rich lotion absorbed quickly without leaving a greasy or tacky finish. "It goes on smooth, absorbs quickly and really hydrates ... all day [and] leaves my skin feeling very silky."
Scent: Most testers didn't notice the mild scent, though those who noticed the scent enjoyed that it wasn't overpowering, with one calling it "a very pleasant, very light, clean scent, maybe with a hint of vanilla and coconut." But if you prefer a boldly-scented lotion, this isn't the one for you.
| Key Ingredients | Niacinamide, coconut oil, vitamin C, peptides |
CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion
A fragrance-free moisturizing powerhouse, CeraVe's intensive iteration scored tops for hydrating skin while leaving a non-greasy finish.
Hydration: The brand claims it's clinically shown to relieve key signs of extra dryness for 72 hours after application, and in our tests, it was second-best for making skin look and feel moisturized all day, with 96% of testers agreeing.
Texture & Absorption: A fan favorite, this lotion got perfect scores from 100% of testers for spreading easily and not feeling tacky or greasy. Testers rated it second-best for absorbing quickly, with one saying, "I liked that it's not too greasy or thick, the texture is just right and it absorbs quickly into the skin."
Scent: This fragrance-free formula is truly nonscented (100% testers agreed as much). "It has no scent, which I love because it feels clean and isn’t overpowering like some other moisturizers," said one.
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, shea butter |
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Body Lotion
A trusted staple for those with sensitive skin who prefer moisturizers sans scent, GH Beauty Award winner Lubriderm’s simple, scent-free formula has proven hydrating effects.
Hydration: A study on 27 people found that the fragrance-free lotion kept skin moisturized for a full day after application, according to Beauty Lab data analysis.
Texture & Absorption: According to data reviewed by our Beauty Lab, 91% of consumer testers agreed that the product absorbs quickly, and 93% agreed that it doesn't leave skin feeling greasy or oily.
Scent: Lubriderm's formula is fragrance-free, which is often ideal for sensitive skin.
RELATED: Best Body Lotions for Eczema
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, glycerin, shea butter |
Nivea’s inventive gel-like formulation with glycerin, shea butter and soybean oil melts in like water when on contact with skin thanks to a formulation that allows for fast absorption without the heavy barrier.
Hydration: The brand claims it ups skin hydration for 48 hours. "I have never found such a quick absorbing yet hydrating formula like this before," said one expert tester. "Leaves skin velvety smooth," said another.
Texture & Absorption: The GH Beauty Award-winning lotion “absorbs lightning fast yet still moisturized well,” there’s “no wait for it to soak in before dressing” and skin is “silky,” expert evaluators reported.
Scent: One of our only selections that includes fragrance, this lotion has options available in tropical, fresh and light scents that testers said smell "on the milder side and pleasant."
| Key Ingredients | Shea butter, vitamins E & C |
CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Do double duty with CeraVe's fragrance-free, lightweight formula that can be used on both the body and face.
Hydration: Loaded with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it improved skin moisturization by 37% in the Lab's body lotion test. (It was also a winner of the Beauty Lab's face moisturizer test!).
Texture & Absorption: Most testers agreed this do-it-all lotion was non-greasy, but some wished it was faster-absorbing. Testers also noted that it didn't feel exceptionally hydrating, which was echoed in our Lab evaluations. The tradeoff is how lightweight it feels on skin.
Scent: The fragrance-free formula is truly unscented; several testers called it "odorless."
| Key Ingredients | Ceramides, hyaluronic acid |
Of all the body lotions tested, Mary Kay's was the best at making skin look moisturized and glowing while smoothing dull, flaky skin.
Hydration: It had strong hydration benefits, raising skin moisture by 49%. One tester enthused that "my skin didn't look flaky, especially on my legs, which is my problem area."
Texture & Absorption: Two testers said it left a sticky, greasy feel on their fingers after application.
Scent: This pick contains fragrance, which many reviewers describe as "fresh" and most of our testers loved.
| Key Ingredients | Glycerin, mineral oil |
How we test body lotions
The GH Institute Beauty Lab determines which body lotions will actually keep skin hydrated by gathering a wide range of products from drugstore to luxury brands and narrowing them down based on moisturization capabilities.
In the Lab, scientists measure changes in skin hydration with the Corneometer device before and six hours after application of a standardized amount of each body lotion (pictured) to see how well moisturizers keep skin hydrated both short- and long-term.
Our experts mask the labels of the Lab's top-performing products and distribute them to consumer testers with a range of skin types and concerns. Testers use the body lotions for a set time period and report back on ease of use, performance and overall satisfaction.
In the most recent body lotion test, GH Beauty Lab scientists collated 5,040 skin hydration data points and results from 1,062 consumer survey responses to identify the winning products.
What to look for in a body lotion
✔️ Format: Body lotions range in format from thick, paste-like balms that come in tubs to water-like gels that are housed inside pump bottles. The best format is the one that feels best to you, and the one you're most likely to regularly use to foster healthy, hydrated skin.
✔️ Scent: Body lotions come in a range of heavily-scented to fragrance-free, and the choice really comes down to preference. Our testers reported varied preferences, with some saying they prefer odorless formulas and others favoring a scented moisturizer.
One thing to keep in mind: Fragrance can be a potential skin irritant, says Dr. Engelman, so if you have sensitive, reactive or eczema-prone skin, you may want to stick with fragrance-free lotions. (And remember, if you're trying to avoid fragrance in products, "unscented" does not equal fragrance-free — always check the ingredient label for "fragrance" to be sure.)
✔️ Skincare ingredients: A good moisturizer typically combines a combination of ingredients to effectively soften and nourish skin.
- Emollients are hydrating ingredients like oils, squalane, fatty acids and trigyclerides that moisturize and soften skin.
- Humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, draw moisture into skin, explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek.
- Occlusives, like plant butters, petrolatum and beeswax, form a barrier over skin to seal in hydration and prevent transepidermal moisture loss, says Wnek.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Jessica Teich is the director of editorial commerce at Good Housekeeping, with 12 years of beauty editorial experience. To write this piece, she teamed up with Chiara Butler, reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, who led recent Lab and consumer tests and authored testing reports for our latest rounds of moisturizer testing. Jessica and Chiara each regularly test and report on the best skincare on the market.
Jessica (she/her) is the director of editorial commerce and product reviews with over a decade of experience as a product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. Previously she was the beauty editor at USA Today's Reviewed where she launched the Beauty vertical and tested hundreds of products and has covered trends for publications like The Boston Globe and The New York Times. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
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