I replaced my lotions with this $11 body gel
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I don't ever remember having dry skin as a kid. But as an adult, it's something I battle on a daily basis. If I could add something to the bottom of Maslow's hierarchy of needs pyramid, it would be moisturizer. I've always been a big fan of traditional body lotion. However, after learning about how Bio-Oil Skin Care is trending on TikTok as a way to get rid of stretch marks and dark spots, I decided to try its oil-based gel on my extremely dry skin.
Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel
Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel
"The next generation of skin care"
Bio-Oil calls gel the next generation of skin care. I'm no dermatologist, but I believe it. When I first discovered Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel facial moisturizer a few years ago, it was a total life-changer. I swear it lasted hours longer than my old moisturizer. Furthermore, because it went on so lightly, I felt like I wasn't clogging my pores. While I still use Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel on my dry face, Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel seemed like the solution to my dry body.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Facial Moisturizer
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Facial Moisturizer
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Facial Moisturizer $15.63 at Amazon
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Facial Moisturizer $16.97 at Walmart
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Facial Moisturizer $24.99 at Ulta
Less is definitely more
Because it’s a gel, not a cream, you don’t need as much of it. Where I might need two tablespoons of lotion to cover my arms, I only need one tablespoon of this. Less is also more when it comes to water content. This gel is only 3% water. According to The Soap Queen, most recipes for lotion are 70-80% water. Why does this make a difference? With less water, the active ingredients aren't as diluted. In this case, the active ingredients include lavender oil, sunflower seed oil, rosemary oil and calendula oil. Calendula oil is great for sunburns and even works on bug bites (which I don't need now that I swear by The Bug Bite Thing.)
Personally, with a more potent formula that has less water, I notice better and faster results. While this product doesn't have many reviews yet on Amazon (I'm assuming it's because it's new), the description does say that in a clinical trial 82% of users saw a difference in just two days. In the same trial, apparently 62% of users said it was better than any other product they'd tried for their dry skin.
Did it work for me?
Thanks to my Irish genes, I have the kind of dry skin that peels even when it's not burnt. It's like I have body dandruff. The first time I used this gel was after I came back from a long day of hiking in Portugal. I was touring the Paiva Walkways, a series of stairs seemingly created for Instagram, and didn't have shade for much of the 5-mile-long walkway. Any ounce of moisture I had in my skin, especially in my hands and around my knees, quickly evaporated.
However, when I got back to my room and applied this gel, I immediately noticed a significant difference. My skin went from being like scratchy sandpaper to a polished wood floor. The best part about this gel is that the effects are immediate and they last. I can apply it in the morning without needing to reapply until evening. With lotion, I always have to carry a bottle in my bag.
Do I recommend it? Gel yes!
Again, I don't remember suffering from dry skin as a kid. One day, I hope to entirely forget what it's like to suffer from dry skin. With this gel, I think it just might be possible.
This article was originally published on Aug. 20, 2020.
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