Five superstar body moisturizers that go beyond the basic – you can use them in the shower, they exfoliate as they hydrate, or they act like makeup for your body.
Body moisturizing is pretty much the dullest beauty task we can think of, alongside taking off nail polish and anything hair-removal-related. But it’s also a must, especially in winter when skin gets extra dry. Conventional lotions and creams are often heavy and take ages to be absorbed, so you end up doing windmill impressions around the bathroom before you can get dressed. We’ve been looking for products that either make the process faster or easier, or do more than simply moisturize. These are the best five.
1. You can use it in the shower: LUSH Body Conditioner
This is such a brilliant idea that I can’t believe every brand doesn’t make one. It’s the body equivalent of hair conditioner – you use it after cleansing to smooth and moisturise, then rinse away. It comes in two varieties: Ro’s Argan, which is rose scented and contains super-moisturizing argan oil; and African Paradise, with aloe vera, moringa oil and a light floral fragrance. How to choose? Rose scents are very love-or-hate, and I don’t love them, so I go for the African Paradise. The fragrance is less assertive and tenacious than Ro’s, and the cream is moisturizing enough to keep skin smooth and itch-free, all day.
Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner, $32.95 for 225g; African Paradise Body Conditioner, $39.95 for 250g, at LUSH stores and www.LUSH.ca.
2. It dries in seconds: Vaseline Spray and Go
Spray-on moisturizers are launched every few years, to much fanfare, and then rapidly skulk away. Why? Because they’re designed to be more convenient than creams, but often don’t moisturize very well, and take forever to dry. This one is different. It gives a good 12 hours of hydration, is non-sticky (though you do need to rub it in) and can be sprayed at every angle, so you can easily cover hard-to-reach spots like your back. It comes in three varieties: Original, Aloe Fresh and Cocoa Radiant.
From $3.99 for 184g, at major drugstores.
3. It exfoliates as it moisturises: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Body Cream
I can’t even be bothered to moisturize my body, so you can imagine my stance on exfoliating it. This product does both at once, thanks to salicylic and glycolic acids (chemical exfoliants) and glycerin, a humectant, which means it helps the skin attract and absorb moisture. It’s particularly good if you have oily or acne-prone skin on your body because the acidic ingredients help reduce excess oil.
$12.99 for 200ml, at Shoppers Drug Mart.
4. It’s like makeup for your body: Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream
Our faces have BB, CC and now, EE creams, which promise to address multiple problems at once. So it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a do-it-all BB for body. This hydrates, as you’d expect from a moisturizer, but also brightens, firms and reduces redness. Our favourite feature: it has a small dose of DHA (the main ingredient in self-tanners) that’s just enough to take away the wintry pallor, without the Oompa Loompa look. It does take five minutes to dry, but the colour develops almost instantly and looks totally natural. In two shades.
$12.99 for 7.5 oz, at mass retailers and drugstores.
5. It gives you a glow: L’Occitane Almond Milk Veil
We might think of L’Occitane as a pampering bath and body brand, but these days, it does some seriously good skincare. This moisturizer has both luxe factor and effectiveness, thanks to a mix of almond oil and milk to soften, and proteins to smooth skin. The light and easily absorbed lotion also has micro-pearls that add a subtle touch of shimmer.
$42 for 250ml, at L’Occitane boutiques and www.loccitane.ca.
Feature image: Shutterstock
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