It’s almost dry skin season — here’s what to look for in a body lotion

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The benefits of an effective lotion extend beyond its ability to soften your skin: It should also help lock in moisture and support the skin barrier, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King . “An impaired barrier will leave the skin more vulnerable to damage, dryness, irritation, inflammation and infection,” she says.

I spoke to dermatologists about the importance of moisturizing , what to look for in a quality body lotion (including ingredients) and which lotions you should use based on your skin type. I also gathered some expert-recommended lotions to consider, as well as options NBC Selected staffers have tried and loved.

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The best body lotions for dry skin

With this expert guidance in mind, I rounded up a handful of dermatologist-recommended lotions and creams, plus ones NBC Selected staff have tried, to help your dry skin heal.

Best overall

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

This NBC Selected Wellness Award winner , which is formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to heal dry skin , comes recommended by Dr. Shoshana Marmon , a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at New York Medical College. Former NBC Selected managing editor Leah Ginsberg also swears by it: “The two things I love most are its soft texture and I notice more of a moisturizing effect on my skin that lasts longer compared to other creams I’ve used and definitely more than when I use lotions,” she says. Ginsberg also appreciates that it doesn’t have a strong scent or a hefty price tag.

Best for skin barrier repair

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Moisturizer Cream

“I’ve been using La Roche-Posay products for years and love their gentle scent and the fact that they’re lightweight, providing deep moisture without leaving behind a greasy residue,” says former NBC Selected editor Christina Colizza. The moisturizer is also a favorite of Marmon’s because it is formulated with ceramides, shea butter, glycerin and niacinamide .

Best for very dry skin

Eucerin Advanced Repair Body Lotion

This highly rated body lotion helps keep skin moisturized for up to 48 hours, according to the brand. The formula relies on ceramides, an emollient our experts recommend, to hydrate the skin and prevent dryness. Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Body Lotion is also fragrance-free.

Best cream

Vaseline Radiant x Deep Nourishment Body Lotion

Although this NBC Selected Wellness Award winner has a thicker consistency than your typical lotion, it leaves skin soft and hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy, in our experience. “The hydration I got from the lotion lasted all day, and I didn’t feel like I needed to reapply it all the time,” says former NBC Page Alexa Casanueva. Suitable for all skin types, this noncomedogenic moisturizer also has a subtle coconut scent.

Best long-lasting

Hempz Dark Red Cherries Lotion

“This lotion makes my skin really soft after using it. With most body creams, I end up having to wash my hands after applying because of the greasy, sticky feeling it leaves on my skin, but this is not the case with Hempz,” says NBC Selected editorial operations associate Jem Alabi . “The scent is really nice and natural, and it lasts for a long time.” It has hemp seed oil and shea butter to provide up to 48 hours of hydration, according to the brand.

Best for eczema

Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion

Vanicream is by no means a new, splashy brand, but it’s a stalwart in the world of skin and hair care and comes recommended by Marmon. Out of all my body lotions, this one stands out because it gives me more moisture than any of the other ones I’ve tried and doesn’t cause any eczema flare-ups. In fact, it actually helps treat my eczema and soothes any itchy, dry, red patches. If you prefer a thicker consistency, consider the cream version , which I also use daily, if not weekly.

Best exfoliating

AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin

Marmon also recommends Amlactin’s moisturizer for dry skin. It’s formulated without parabens or fragrances and relies on humectants like glycerin to hydrate the skin. Also, the lotion contains 12% lactic acid, which the brand says is both a powerful humectant and gentle exfoliant that can relieve skin issues like keratosis pilaris .

Best for sensitive skin

Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion

King also recommends this option from Vaseline, which contains humectants (like glycerin) to hydrate the skin, emollients( like shea butter and sunflower seed oil) to support the skin barrier and occlusives (like petrolatum) to lock in moisture. It’s formula also includes colloidal oatmeal, which helps to soothe and protect the skin, she says.

Best multitasking lotion

Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Moisturizing Body Lotion

This body lotion combines key hydrating ingredients like shea butter to help improve tone and texture and protect and moisturize the skin, according to the brand. It’s the perfect all-in-one cream, in my opinion. I see and feel a difference in how my skin looks, but I also love how fast-absorbing it is, and despite its lightweight feel, I feel like my skin is hydrated from morning to night.

Best fragrance-free

Gold Bond Healing Sensitive Daily Body & Face Lotion for Dry, Sensitive Skin, 13 oz.

When it comes to treating her itchy, dry, and sensitive skin, NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin reaches for this lotion. “I apply this hydrating cream whenever I start to feel uncomfortable, and it soothes my skin,” she says. “The skin on my legs tends to get dry and cracked in the winter, and if I use this before I go to bed, it’s significantly more moisturized in the morning.”

Editor’s pick

Kiehl’s Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalane Cream

Made for dry or sensitive skin or those who live in colder areas and need intense moisture, this cream uses ingredients like squalane and ceramides to repair and strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate and lock in moisture, according to the brand. My skin feels more comfortable and less tight, appears way less dry, and any cracks I have are reduced overnight. I cannot recommend this body moisturizer enough.

Best splurge

Tronque Firming Body Butter

This is a body butter you don’t have to stop using in the summer because it’s nourishing without being heavy or greasy, says NBC Selected senior editor Nikki Brown . The moisturizer focuses on improving dry and damaged skin and increasing firmness and tightness, according to the brand. “A little goes a long way, which is always nice when you don’t want to sacrifice a huge chunk of money for quality products,” says Brown.

Best for acne-prone skin

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

Former NBC Selected reporter Harry Rabinowitz is a fan of Cetaphil’s lotion as both a body and face moisturizer. “It’s totally unscented, it comes in a large, affordable bottle, and I’ve seen it recommended by many dermatologists,” he says. Cetaphil is formulated with hydrating glycerin and is noncomedogenic, meaning it shouldn’t clog pores or cause breakouts.

Best packaging

Lather Coastal Coconut & Sea Moss

It took me forever to find a moisturizer that worked for everyone in my family until I tried this one. My younger brothers (both under the age of 10) swear lotions make them itchy and their skin uncomfortable, but this is the first one they haven’t complained about and don’t mind applying. It’s not too thick or thin, has a subtle scent that doesn’t cause any irritation on all our skin types and is super fast absorbing.