The Best Fragrance-Free Lotion for Every Need, From Your Face to Your Feet
Whether you are prone to allergic reactions or simply don’t want to use anything that competes with your perfume, there are plenty of fragrance-free lotions to choose from.
We’ve picked ten for you to try, but before you shop, let’s quickly go over some best practices for moisturizing your skin so you get the most out of your lotions and creams. The main thing to remember is to always apply it while your skin is still slightly damp (i.e. right after you shower or wash your hands or face) to trap in moisture. Apart from this, you’ll want to be consistent with use, particularly if you have a skin condition like eczema or are trying to smooth over those pesky bumps on the backs of your arms and legs.
Ahead, the top ten fragrance-free lotions to slather on now.
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1. Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
It’s the anti-lotion person’s lotion: non-sticky, non-greasy and with non-descript packaging that doesn’t visually clutter your nightstand. When you squeeze it from the tube, you’ll notice how rich and creamy it feels, which makes it that much easier to spread across your body. As soon as you begin to massage it over your skin, it absorbs quickly without leaving behind an oily film, so you can get dressed immediately after applying.
2. Best Value: Lubiderm Daily Moisture Lotion
If you’re looking for a no-frills option that doesn’t break the bank, this one’s a classic. Developed by dermatologists, the fragrance-free formula is loaded with vitamin B5 to moisturize your skin without feeling heavy or slick. The easy-to-use pump and generously sized bottle will keep you (and your family members) well-moisturized all year round.
3. Best for Itchy Skin: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
Got an itch you just can’t scratch? There’s a lotion for that. This beloved moisturizer is a go-to for the chronically dry and itchy thanks to its signature ingredient: colloidal oatmeal. Loaded with finely-ground oats to lock in moisture and form a protective barrier over your skin, it’s admittedly richer in texture and can take a bit longer to absorb. The easiest workaround to this is to use it at night, right after showering, so you can reap all of the hydrating benefits without having to wait to get dressed in the morning.
4. Best for Sensitive Skin: The Honest Company Purely Sensitive Face + Body Lotion
Though it’s technically a baby lotion, it’s a solid choice for anyone whose skin needs extra coddling. With no potentially irritating fragrance or dyes, this all-over lotion has a thinner consistency than some others on this list but holds its own in its hydrating prowess. Key ingredients include organic shea butter, olive and jojoba oils, chamomile and calendula to smooth and soothe dry skin on contact.
5. Best for Hands: Eucerin Advanced Repair Hand Cream
With all of the frequent hand washing and sanitizing we’ve been doing this year, we’ve really come to appreciate and rely on hand cream. And sure, there are more, shall we say, aesthetically pleasing options out there, but for repeat use, this is our top pick because it keeps our hands soft and not sticky. Plus, each small tube (we buy ours online in packs of three) lasts longer than you’d think because you only really need a pea-sized amount to get the job done.
6. Best for Bumpy Skin: AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
Got a case of chicken skin on the backs of your arms? Also known as keratosis pilaris or “kp” for short, it’s a fairly common skin condition that’s caused by a buildup of keratin (a protein that exists in the skin, hair and nails) and results in that dreaded bumpy texture. The good news is that most cases of KP can be managed at home with the right moisturizers and exfoliants. This lotion combines both in the form of lactic acid (a chemical exfoliant) with humectants to gently and gradually dissolve dead skin while hydrating. Stay consistent and use it twice daily for the smoothest results.
7. Best for Very Dry Skin: Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream
Chances are you may already be familiar with this derm-favorite brand. Their classic lotion is well-known for its lightweight, yet emollient formula, but if you find that you need a bit more hydration, this rich cream might be better suited for you. With many of the same hydrating properties (i.e. ceramides) as the lotion, we like to swap this in for colder, drier months or use it anyplace we need extra moisture like the soles of our feet and over our elbows and knees.
8. Best for Face: CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
We love a fancy face cream as much as the next person, but you know what we love even more? A fancy feeling face cream that delivers on results and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy. This drugstore darling has all of the bells and whistles that you’d want in a face cream—like hyaluronic acid, ceramides and niacinamide to keep your skin soft, smooth and even toned. Apply a few small dots around the face before bedtime and you’ll be hard pressed to find any dry patches in the mornings.
9. Best Texture: Cure Water Treatment Skin Cream
Psst. We’ll let you in on a little secret. This Japanese import is a godsend in the muggy summer months. The unique all-in-one formula can be used anywhere from your forehead to your feet and is made with micro-encapsulated hydrogen water that bursts on contact when you massage it over your skin (which sounds exactly as refreshing as you’d imagine). Plus, it’s oil-free so you don’t have to worry about clogging your pores or exacerbating mid-day shine.
10. Best for Pain-Relief: Lord Jones
No matter where you stand on CBD (for the record, we’re cautiously optimistic), you’ll enjoy using this lotion. It’s fast-absorbing and deeply hydrating, and it has a light cooling effect thanks to the menthyl ethylamido oxalate in the formula. Each bottle contains 200 milligrams of full spectrum CBD (which equates to roughly 4 milligrams per pump), and we’ve really come to relish our post-shower ritual of massaging this into our shoulders every night.
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