These Coconut Lotions Smell Like Summer and Leave Your Skin Silky-Smooth
These Coconut Lotions Smell Like Summer and Leave Your Skin Silky-Smooth
If your skin tends to feel a little dry and patchy, moisturizing is key to help soothe roughness and irritation. Something as simple as a good lotion can help bring your skin back to its glistening, moisturized glory, especially during the harsh days of summer. But not all lotions are the same: While most may get the job done, nothing beats the ultra-hydrating feel (and the delicious, tropical scent!) of coconut body lotions.
Coconut lotions are typically infused with coconut oil or coconut milk, ingredients that have long been praised as being super beneficial for skin and hair. Chock full of essential fatty acids, coconut oil is also antibacterial and is pretty much considered a magic ingredient the world over, with countless uses even beyond the beauty realm.
The Best Coconut Lotions
How Coconut Benefits Your Skin
Sure, coconut lotions usually smell amazing, but there's more to this ingredient than its fragrance — according to New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, it's also a powerhouse of hydration.
“Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer because it is rich in triglycerides,” says King. “One of its main constituents is lauric acid, which imparts antibacterial and antifungal properties.”
King also notes that coconut oil also has antioxidant properties, making it great to apply after sun exposure. With that being said, oily and acne-prone skin types may want to steer clear of this naturally derived ingredient: Coconut is notoriously comedogenic, meaning that it can clog pores and contribute to acne. “Therefore, if you have oily skin and are acne-prone, then coconut oil should not be applied to acne-prone areas,” she says.
However, if you have drier skin and are one of the lucky people who don't deal with body acne, you're in the clear to use any coconut-infused body lotion you please. Our guide to the best coconut lotion is the best place to start, as these are the highest quality products you can find.
What to Consider
Before purchasing a coconut lotion, keep these small details in mind:
- Skin Type: Your skin type should be the main consideration for choosing the best coconut lotion. Just as King said previously, if you have acne-prone or oily skin, you may want to avoid coconut-infused lotions and opt for something non-comedogenic instead.
- Added Fragrance: However, synthetic fragrances are another concern, particularly for sensitive skin types. One of the biggest reasons why we love coconut lotions is because they smell like a tropical vacation, but the synthetic fragrances that they contain may lead to allergic reactions, inflammation, redness, and itchiness. So, if you have sensitive skin, you can still use coconut body lotion, but you may want to pick a fragrance-free option. Sensitive skin types should also avoid using products that contain sulfates, essential oils, and alcohol.
- Texture: If you're in dire need of skin hydration or have really rough patches that need to be softened, an ultra intensive body butter, balm, or lotion that's designed to provide deep hydration will do perfectly. But if you'd rather not feel like you're drenched in slippery lotion or can't deal with any tackiness or stickiness, then a quick-drying and fast-absorbing body moisturizer of any texture will do the trick — but always remember that a little goes a long way!
And of course, we didn't forget about prices. Though treating yourself to a luxury product now and then is nice, saving money is even better. So, our guide to the best coconut lotions includes a variety of price points — because beauty should never make you go broke.
1) Organic Coconut Melt
Kopari
sephora.com
$29.00
If you want a no-b.s. formula suitable for most skin types, then this one from Kopari will do just the trick. We love it for one very important reason: Its only ingredient is coconut oil! This jar of 100% pure and unrefined coconut oil will instantly quench your parched pores, and you can use it just about anywhere (that isn't acne-prone, of course) on your body.
You can also use this coconut oil on your hair as a mask to rehydrate any dry, frizzy strands, and since it doesn't contain any fragrances, sensitive skin types can use it with abandon.
2) Coconut Oil Body Lotion
Palmer's
amazon.com
$6.39
Skincare that truly works doesn't have to be expensive. Take this coconut-infused body lotion, for example: It's packed with certified organic coconut oil to hydrate your skin, and it costs less than a latte. This lotion is also infused with skincare heavy hitters like moisturizing monoi oil, soothing almond oil, and antioxidant vitamin E.
We're not the only ones who love this lotion: It has over 11,000 rave ratings on Amazon! “Used several times before and always does the trick,” said one Amazon reviewer. “I need a thicker moisturizer and this is lovely, the smell is gorgeous too.”
3) Oil Infused Coconut Monoi Lotion
Nivea
ulta.com
$8.49
Sure, the department store lotions are luxurious, but the drugstore works just as well — if not better.
Exhibit A: this lotion from Nivea. Not only does it have a delicious coconutty scent, but it also contains coconut and monoi oils that your skin instantly drinks up. No slippery, oily mess here — just hydrated and happy skin for under $10.
4) Ultimate Overnight Deep Moisturizing Lotion
Gold Bond
amazon.com
$7.59
Wish better skin were as easy as going to sleep? Well, now it is, thanks to this lotion from Gold Bond. We and Dr. King are obsessed with this coconut oil-infused overnight lotion for when our skin is feeling extra rough.
Not only is it infused with coconut's moisturizing properties, but it also includes hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to give your dry skin the moisture it's begging for.
Other skin-boosting ingredients that you can find in this lotion include niacinamide, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and jojoba esters. Bonus: It's non-greasy and won't stain your sheets!
5) Whipped Body Cream Lavender and Coconut Milk
Dove
amazon.com
$7.59
Dr. King says this is the ultimate body cream for its light, whipped texture. Don't let its fast-absorbing, grease-free finish fool you: This whipped body cream contains coconut milk to hydrate parched skin and lavender for its relaxing, calming scent.
Its light-as-air texture allows you to slather it on without fear of feeling slick and oily, and it gets bonus points for being just under $10.
6) Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer
First Aid Beauty
sephora.com
$30.00
This vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free moisturizing primer has coconut water to hydrate skin while also prepping it. Great worn alone or under makeup, its tinted, sensitive-skin-safe formulation also has micro-pearls to enhance radiance — meaning dull skin gets an instant boost of brightness and moisture, without any sticky feel.
With over 73,000 likes on Sephora, fans love this “simple and fail-proof” primer and praise how it leaves skin with a subtle, brightened glow.
7) Coconut Firming Body Lotion
Eminence Organic Skin Care
dermstore.com
$36.00
If you have sagging skin or cellulite that you'd like to address, then this is the coconut lotion that may help.
This body lotion is formulated with coconut, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and grape seed oil to hydrate while Eminence's proprietary Natural Retinol Alternative Complex helps to boost collagen production and firm your skin.
8) Coconut Body Butter
The Body Shop
ulta.com
$15.99
The Body Shop's cult fave body butters have seen many of us through the driest of times — and there's a reason they're perennially beloved. So if you're all about scented body lotions, then this coconut body butter is a must-have: On top of its rich moisturizing feel, it has a refreshing and inviting coconut scent.
But it's not just about the scent, of course: This body butter is formulated with hydrating ingredients like organic cold-pressed coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter to moisturize and soothe your skin. Plus, the ingredients are certified ethically sourced through The Body Shop's Community Fair Trade program.
9) Coconut & Vanilla Lotion
Native
nativecos.com
$11.00
Aside from the iconic combo of coconut and vanilla, this clean-formulated, lightweight hand and body lotion is also made of all the good stuff. Plant-based moisturizers mix with ingredients like squalane, soybeans, and citric acid for a formula that's not only paraben-, silicone-, and cruelty-free, but also a sheer delight to apply (that price, too!).
10) Ultra Hydrating Moisturizing Oil Stick
Yes To
amazon.com
$11.99
If you've ever been in a situation where you notice a dry patch on your body and don't have any lotion to take care of it, we hear you! That’s why we’re packing this solid oil stick wherever we go: It's tiny enough to stow away in any bag, it's TSA-approved, and its solid formula means you don't have to worry about it spilling on other things in your bag.
It's convenient, but most importantly, it also moisturizes your skin with coconut oil, aloe vera, and niacinamide to instantly relieve and quench dry patches. It's also non-greasy and fast-absorbing, which is another plus.
11) Creamy Coconut Oaks Goat Milk Body Lotion
Dionis
ulta.com
$13.00
Renowned for its ultra-gentle moisturizing and exfoliating properties, goat's milk is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients and is also safe for all skin types. It also has probiotics that help support the skin's microbiome, which is crucial during harsher summers or where too much sun exposure is an issue.
All this and in a cozy coconut-and-oat scent? Sign us up.
12) Coconut Milk Body Lotion
Luseta
lusetabeauty.com
$28.00
Sulfate-, paraben-, and gluten-free, this lotion from LA-based beauty brand Luseta is one that's been flying under the radar, but not for long. Infused with moisturizing coconut oil, it's rich and creamy, but also non-greasy and lightweight. Apply onto any dry, cracked areas (heels and elbows, perhaps?) and be truly summer-ready.
13) Body Crème
OUAI
sephora.com
$38.00
Made with coconut oil, squalane, and nourishing cupua?u butter, Ouai's whipped body crème also has a light, fresh, floral fragrance for those who want something a bit more layered than your regular coconut scent.
It absorbs quickly, with users saying its non-greasy formula is “awesome” and smells “clean and beachy.”
Beauty gurus go coo-coo for anything coconut, and now that lotion season is in full swing, we're stocking up. Check out the best coconut lotions for skin!