If you've read any of our previous blog posts, you'll probably know that we believe using a quality body lotion should be a part of your daily routine. Not only does dry skin flake, become red and itchy, but dead skin can't repair itself. This leads to ageing skin at a faster rate. There are many different kinds and brands of body lotion, so we've broken down the most important factors to consider when looking for your next lotion to lather!
Most Beneficial Ingredients
While there are a whole array of basic ingredients that will probably be in a body lotion, there are some key ingredients that provide the most benefits and should be factored in when buying. These beneficial ingredients could be antioxidants and anti-irritants. However, the most crucial ingredient to look out for when choosing a body lotion should correspond to the results you'd like to see.
Antioxidants
These help prevent ageing by expelling free radicals which break down skin cells. Antioxidants can help improve your skin's ability to heal itself and produce collagen. So what are antioxidants? The most common ones are Vitamins A, C and E, green tea, grape seed extract and tangerine oil (which is in our body lotion!).
Anti-irritants
These are soothing and calming which is great if you have sensitive skin or struggle with irritation in general. Sometimes, however, skin can become irritated by too much exposure to sun, other skincare products or even pollution. When this happens, it's important to have a gentle body lotion on hand. Our body lotion is very gentle as far as lotions go, but if your skin is particularly irritated, you might consider using something even gentler like aloe vera or organic coconut oil. If you have sunburn, aloe is the best, or if you're suffering with irritation from sunscreen, rinse your skin well then try applying cocoa butter or coconut oil with a drop of chamomile essential oil in. Sometimes when it comes to irritation, the simpler the better!
Avoiding Irritants
Even if you don't consider your skin sensitive, there are certain ingredients which could cause irritation without you being aware of it. This can break down collagen which causes premature ageing. While a scent might be a reason why you bought your previous body lotion, think again when replacing. Synthetic fragrance is the most common irritant and is harsh on your skin. We all love to smell divine after moisturising, which is why we've added a natural, gentle scent to our body lotion with essential oil. But if you're looking for something even simpler for more irritable days, coconut oil smells delicious and does wonders for your skin. Other ingredients which are worth avoiding are sorbic acid, citric acid, benzyl alcohol and parabens.
Your Skin Type
Another major factor to consider when choosing body lotion is your skin type. In fact, this could provide the basis for choosing the right lotion, then refine your choice based on the info above.
Dry skin: try thicker, oil-based creams. It's best to apply these after a shower as the oil helps lock the water into your skin, providing a more moisturising effect.
Normal or combination skin: aim for a lightweight lotion that contains slightly thinner oils like aloe or jojoba.
Oily skin: you might like to try a lightweight moisturiser which does not contain oil. Oily skin is a balancing act, which means if you’re using a lightweight moisturiser, make sure you trial cutting out harsh cleansers so not to strip natural oils away from your skin.
Sensitive skin: dependent on what works for you, this could be an oiler lotion or a lightweight one. The key is that it contains soothing ingredients like chamomile or aloe, and doesn't contain irritants.
Ageing skin: we'd suggest somewhere between an oily and light moisturiser. Ingredients like coffee oil, Vitamin E and retinol are also great for delaying the ageing skin process.