Skincare is something we’re always concerned about, but what about body care? Body lotion may be something most people easily overlook especially in our hot and humid climate.

Those of us who have dry, parched skin know all too well the struggle of maintaining baby soft skin. It’s always a pain to have stubborn and sometimes itchy rough patches.

Rough, scaly patches aka ‘alligator skin’ is another one of the tell-tale signs of having dry skin and can be difficult to get rid of if you don’t take preventative measures. Eczema and rashes typically follow alligator skin, which will take more than lotion to solve at that point.

Therefore, it is important to keep the skin on your body as hydrated as the skin on your face.

We’ve compiled some tips on what to consider when searching for a lotion as well as our top picks for lotions for dry skin in Malaysia, so you can save that dry, parched skin of yours.

How to find a lotion for dry skin

lotion for dry skin best practices

Before picking a lotion, keep in mind that the body wash you use can also affect your skin condition. Skip stripping soaps and exfoliating cleansers as that can increase the dryness of your skin.

Ingredients to look for

It is always recommended to read the ingredients of whatever you are putting on your skin, which applies to body lotion as well.

You’re going to want thicker, oil-based formulas like shea butter, vegetable oils, and ceramides as they help to hydrate your skin further and heal cracked skin.

Glycerin and cocoa butter are some other must-have moisturising ingredients in a good lotion for dry skin. Hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, colloidal oatmeal, petrolatum, and urea also help to lock in moisture.

What to avoid

Ingredients you should avoid are those that feature harmful or irritating ingredients.

You don’t have to be a chemist to input your ingredient list into a website like Cosdna which will show you the irritant level for each ingredient.

If you don’t want to do the homework, you can opt for products that are labelled fragrance-free, clean, or organic. Otherwise, try avoiding products with parabens, alcohol, synthetic fragrance, dyes, or preservatives.

Patch-testing is your friend

Do you have sensitive skin? Even if you don’t, it’s always recommended to patch-test your products before applying it to your whole body as you never know how your skin will react.

Try applying a small amount to your chest or under your wrist for a couple of days. If there is no reaction after this time, you can then safely apply it to your entire body.

Find your favourite

Like all skincare products, you’re likely not going to use a lotion if you don’t like it. If you don’t like a feel or smell of a lotion, go ahead and try a different one until you find one that you do enjoy using.

What we mean to say is it’s better to try and find your favourite than to stubbornly stick with one that you’re likely not going to use because you don’t like it.

Lotions for dry skin we love

1. AVEDA Cherry Almond Body Lotion

1. AVEDA Cherry Almond Body Lotion

Suitable for all skin types, this lightweight, quick-absorbing body lotion contains 98% naturally derived ingredients such as cherry blossom extract, sweet almond oil, and emollients derived from coconut, olive, and more.

Free from silicones, parabens, petrolatum, talc, and mineral oil, it is naturally scented with 38 flower and plant essences.

It retails for RM135 for 200ml.

Hermo
Lazada
Zalora

2. Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion

2. Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion

Fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin, this lotion for dry skin has been clinically proven to soothe itchy, extra-dry skin and moisturise for a full 24 hours.

That might be because it’s formulated with an active natural triple oat complex and enriched with natural shea butter.

It retails for RM60.40 for 354ml.

Hermo
Lazada
Shopee
Watsons
Zalora

3. CeraVe Moisturising Lotion

3. CeraVe Moisturising Lotion

This lotion for dry skin has a lightweight, non-greasy formula containing three essential ceramides that protects the skin’s natural barrier.

It is fast absorbing and has a patented MVE technology to release skin nourishing ingredients for up to 24 hours to ensure all day hydration.

It retails for RM125 for 236ml.

Lazada
Shopee
Zalora

4. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

4. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion

Suitable for all skin types, this lightweight and easily absorbed lotion is ideal for both the face and body (and promises to not clog your pores too).

It provides long-lasting moisture for up to four days as well as restores your skin’s natural ability to retain the moisture it needs.

It retails for RM62 for 200ml.

Hermo
Lazada
Shopee
Watsons
Zalora

5. Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

5. Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

Formulated with a blend of plant oils and butters, squalene, ceramides, and other hydration-locking ingredients, this lotion is great at restoring dull, and dry skin.

It also offers powerful defence against free-radicals as it contains fruit-derived antioxidants such as beta carotene, Kakadu plum, mango, and banana pulp. Plus, you can even apply this product on top of wet, damp skin.

It retails for RM90 for 240ml.

Sephora

6. Eucerin pH5 Intensive Lotion

6. Eucerin pH5 Intensive Lotion

Specially formulated for those who have dry and sensitive skin, it contains dexpanthenol that is known to regenerate and repair the skin.

Using vitamin E, it also helps to restore the skin’s pH levels. This lotion for dry skin promises to replenish the skin’s own moisture depots for up to 24 hours.

It retails for RM47 for 250ml.

Watsons

7. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

7. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream

This is an all-over moisturiser, which means not only you can use it for the body, but also the face. Suitable for sensitive skin, it provides instant relief and long-term hydration for dry, distressed skin and eczema.

Although it is quick drying, it doesn’t skimp on the hydrating ingredients as it contains glycerin, butyrospermum parkii butter, squalene, ceramide, and oatmeal.

It retails for RM55 for 56.7g.

Sephora

8. Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit Body Lotion

8. Fresh Hesperides Grapefruit Body Lotion

Enriched with citrus fruit extracts, shea butter, and vitamins C and E, this lotion for dry skin helps to moisturise skin for up to 24 hours.

It’s lightly scented as well, so you’ll likely love the pleasant citrus smell that it gives off as you quench your skin.

It retails for RM153.30 for 300ml.

Lazada
Zalora

9. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream

9. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Dream Body Cream

If you love watermelon, you’re going to love this lightweight body cream. Infused with moisturising watermelon seed butter, exfoliating hibiscus AHA, and hydrating hyaluronic acid, this is a good lotion for dry skin.

It is recommended to add another layer to rougher and more dehydrated areas like the elbows, knees, and cuticles for that extra boost of moisture.

It retails for RM130 for 240ml.

Sephora

10. Naturals by Watsons Argan Body Lotion

10. Naturals by Watsons Argan Body Lotion

This body lotion by Watsons is made from certified organic Argan sourced from Morocco. It spreads on well and leaves a smooth finish, thanks to a non-greasy formula.

Other than argan oil, it also contains other moisturising and nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, avocado oil, wheat germ extract, and argan kernel extract.

It retails for RM26.90 for 490ml.

Watsons

11. Nivea Naturally Good Oats Body Lotion

11. Nivea Naturally Good Oats Body Lotion

Made with 98% naturally-derived ingredients, this lotion for dry skin offers up to 48 hours of moisturised skin.

What we also like about this product is that it uses 50% less plastic than the regular Nivea Body Milk, and that you can also squeeze and roll up the bottle till the last drop.

It retails for RM25.90 for 350ml.

Hermo
Lazada
Shopee
Watsons
Zalora

12. QV Skin Lotion

12. QV Skin Lotion

This skin lotion is a pH balanced, low-irritant formulation which is free from fragrance, colour, lanolin, and propylene glycol. It is so gentle that you can even use it on infants and the elderly.

It is recommended to use this lotion after your bath or shower to achieve the best results. You can also use it after shaving too.

It retails for RM42.60 for 250ml.

Lazada
Shopee
Watsons

13. Rosken Dry Skin Lotion

13. Rosken Dry Skin Lotion

We’ve got another non-greasy and quick-absorbing lotion for dry skin here. This lotion uses vitamin e and mineral oil to provide hydration and defend against free radical damage.

It has also been clinically proven to increase the skin’s moisture by 62% on continuous, so keep slathering this on.

It retails for RM49.90 for 400ml.

Lazada
Shopee
Watsons

14. Sebamed Moisturising Body Lotion

14. Sebamed Moisturising Body Lotion

Gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin, this nourishing lotion guards against eczema and psoriasis and is balanced at a pH level of 5.5, which means it has great affinity with our skin.

This rapidly absorbed and non-greasy lotion is further enriched with chamomile extract and allantoin to soothe and moisturise your skin.

It retails for RM33.30 for 200ml.

Lazada
Shopee
Watsons

15. Sephora Collection All Day Body Hydrator

15. Sephora Collection All Day Body Hydrator

Formulated with 93% ingredients from natural origin, this lotion for dry skin contains a combination of shea butter and mango butter. It is non-greasy and non-sticky in texture and is easily absorbed into the skin.

One reviewer from the USA says that the product is perfect for her skin, and she lives in a place with dry, extremely cold winters – so you know this product will definitely do its job.

It retails for RM120 for 400ml.

Sephora

16. St. Ives Soothing Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Lotion

16. St. Ives Soothing Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Lotion

Made with 100% natural moisturisers such as shea butter, coconut oil and soybean oil, this lotion for dry skin delivers intense hydration without leaving behind a sticky residue.

Paraben-free and cruelty-free, the presence of oatmeal also helps to hydrate the skin as well as soothe and calm skin.

It retails for RM25.90 for 400ml.

Hermo
Lazada
Shopee
Watsons
Zalora

17. Thayers Soothing Unscented Body Balm

17. Thayers Soothing Unscented Body Balm

Formulated with natural moisturisers such as vitamin E, coconut and jojoba oils, and mango seed, shea, and cocoa Butters, this body balm quickly absorbs into the skin to help it feel hydrated and renewed.

It also contains other healing and nourishing ingredients such as oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and aloe vera.

It retails for RM59 for 237ml.

Hermo
Lazada
Shopee
Zalora

18. The Body Shop Almond Milk Body Yogurt

18. The Body Shop Almond Milk Body Yogurt

The Body Shop has great lotions and body butters, but we’ve got to recommend their Almond Milk Body Yogurt as it’s not only easily absorbable, but it’s also suitable for sensitive skin.

Enriched with Community Trade organic almond milk, this gel-cream spreads on like a dream, offers up to 48 hours of moisture, and is not sticky at all.

It retails for RM63 for 200ml.

Lazada
Shopee

19. Vaseline Expert Care Extremely Dry Skin Rescue

19. Vaseline Expert Care Extremely Dry Skin Rescue

This is an advanced moisturising formula that combines glycerin, pro-lips and vaseline jelly to provide immediate and lasting moisturisation.

Hypoallergenic and fragrance free, this lotion for dry skin deeply hydrates and repairs skin in only two hours.

It retails for RM34.90 for 365ml.

Lazada
Shopee
Watsons

Wunderbath Calming Body Butter Hakuna Your Tatas

Wunderbath Calming Body Butter Hakuna Your Tatas

We’re always a fan of Wunderbath here due to their handmade products and their body butters are no different. This one is formulated with natural, calming ingredients like lavender, chamomile, and licorice.

SLS-free and paraben-free, this body butter uses rice bran oil, coconut oil, and shea butter to moisturise your skin.

It retails for RM51.59 for 100g.

Zalora

Featured image credit: My Dad the Chemist and Linda Prebreza