Ask ten women what their favorite body lotion is and you’ll likely get ten different responses. Everyone’s skin has different needs, and that’s probably why so many of us have such a fierce loyalty to our chosen brand of skin softener. Our team here at DivineCaroline dishes about which lotions do the trick for their skin.
Shyla Batliwalla, Editorial Coordinator
I know it’s winter when I start seeing scales on my hands. My skin gets parched, chapped, and just plain gross from the months of November to February. While I love splurging on an expensive lotion once in awhile, my nightly regimen is much simpler and cheaper. I smooth Trader Joe’s Vitamin E over my legs, arms, belly, and even face. It keeps my skin supple and dewy all winter long. The best part is that Vitamin E is rumored to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. I’m not admitting that I have any … cough, cough … but I’m just sayin’.
Allison Ford, Staff Writer
I’m not a lotion person, and even if I were, I wouldn’t be a $30-per-bottle kind of lotion person. My elbows and legs do have a tendency to get dry and itchy in the winter, though, and Kiehl’s Crème de Corps makes everything better. It’s lotion for people who hate lotion—creamy, unscented, no-fuss perfection. I use it only when the weather’s cold and dry, and it does the job perfectly. Cheaper lotion may work just as well, but I think I deserve at least one beauty indulgence. That way, putting it on is always a treat.
Vicki Santillano, Staff Writer
I’ve tested countless brands of body lotion, each with unsatisfying results—that is, until Yes to Carrots C is Smooth came into my life. C is Smooth doesn’t come with chemicals and multi-syllabic words. It’s mostly comprised of organic ingredients like carrot juice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and melons. The scent is delicately sweet and the lotion itself leaves my sensitive skin soft all day. No need to worry about greasy or parched skin with this brand. Yes to Carrots is proof that quality skincare doesn’t have to cost a fortune—it’s inexpensive, but makes you look and feel like a million bucks.
Annie Tucker Morgan, Editor
Bath & Body Works can keep its Dancing Waters and Blushing Cherry Blossom moisturizers—nothing can tear me away from my tried-and-true body lotion, Eucerin Calming Creme. Thick but not gloopy, long-lasting, and relatively inexpensive, it protects my skin from scaliness all year. Plus, it’s unscented, so if I get a hankering for a spray of perfume, my lotion won’t compete with it. Who needs yoga? Eucerin Calming Creme has all the soothing powers I need.
Rebecca Brown, Editor-in-Chief
“Wow, you sure are cold!” I’ve heard that my entire life when people touch my arms, thanks to a skin condition called keratosis pilaris, which causes small, raised bumps and rough, dry skin. Unfortunately, I can’t get rid of the bumps, and finding a lotion to give my skin some semblance of softness has been a lifelong quest. Last year, I tried Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion with Aloe, and for the first time ever, my skin actually felt not-so-rough. Since then, I’ve been diligent about applying Gold Bond every morning, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how soft my skin still feels every night. My ’derm may still be a long way from smooth and silky, but it will gladly take whatever TLC it can get.
Bijani Mizell, Editorial Assistant
Ah, winter. Chestnuts roasting, hot cider steaming … and itchy, scaly skin. Thanks to genetics, I have dry skin all year round; in fact, I’m convinced one of my ancestors was an alligator. But when cold weather hits, my skin becomes nearly unrecognizable and none of my “summer” lotions work. Enter Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. It doesn’t smell or look pretty, it comes in an ungainly tub, and since it’s “dermatologist recommended,” it’s the cream equivalent of a neck brace. But it’s a godsend to my ashy skin—so rich, so luxurious; it’s like wrapping cashmere around my entire body. I’m also convinced it eradicated my childhood eczema, so I’ve been a lifelong fan. I refuse to spend a fortune on expensive cream when Cetaphil costs less than $10—and the tub lasts all winter. Thank Santa for Cetaphil!
Natalie Josef, Managing Editor
I’m not normally the type to care about skin products. I don’t wear makeup and until I was thirty, I washed my face with whatever soap was around. But I do like things that smell good, and since we all need some lotion from time to time, I set out to find the one that worked for me. My friend brought a sample of Lather Yuza Bergamot Moisturizer lotion home from a hotel and the search was over. The official description of the lotion is that it possesses the distinct sharpness of yuzu mixed with sweet bergamot orange to create a pleasantly uplifting citrus blend. Man, you’re telling me. This stuff smells divine. It’s rich and creamy, but not oily, and uses only natural ingredients. The best part? They don’t test on animals.
Jennifer Hastings, Partner Coordinator
Eucerin Plus Smoothing Essentials goes beyond being my favorite lotion—it’s the only lotion I’ll use. I am as stubborn as my acne-inclined, psoriasis-prone skin and no other lotion has met my fussy but necessary standards. I love its light texture that absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling silky—like it’s just been exfoliated. My bottle should read “plus smoothing essentials, minus the itch and irritation so you can get on with your day” lotion! It’s an equation that makes me feel comfortable in my own God-given skin.
Emi Hofmeister, Account Executive
Unless beauty sleep counts as primping, my morning beauty regimen leaves something to be desired. Especially during dark winter months, I often opt for an extra five, fifteen, uh, yes, even fifty minutes in bed, resulting in a daily commute with wet hair and dry skin. I figured I was doomed to a life of ashy legs and elephant elbows until I discovered the amazing Olay Body Shower Lotion. Besides smelling phenomenal, it’s a powerful moisturizer and serious timesaver since it’s applied in the shower, doesn’t need to be rubbed in, and rinses off easily. Now if the subway would just install hairdryers …
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