How to choose a body cream

In order for a body cream to live up to expectations after purchase and not go on the shelf to “live out” until the end of its expiration date, you need to intelligently approach its choice while still in the store.

First, decide what effect you want to get from the cream. What does your skin need? Nutrition, hydration, toning effect - these are various goals that a skin care product can meet. We recommend that you pay attention to skin nutrition during the winter. In summer, the skin needs hydration more.

In addition, when choosing, you must take into account the beneficial properties that the body cream should have. Composition, packaging, consistency of the product: you can read more about this here.

Before choosing a cream, independently study the harmful substances that not only do not improve the condition of the skin, but also cause harm. We have prepared a list that can be seen here.

If you choose a natural and high-quality body cream, the result will not take long to arrive. The skin will become healthy and soft.

Choosing the perfect beauty product for the cold season

Moisturizing is the basis of any care. In autumn, it takes on special significance - dehydrated after exposure to the sun, our skin needs careful preparation for winter. ELLE has selected 15 ideal body creams in different price categories, each of which is guaranteed to revive even the driest and tired skin.

Chanel Body Excellence

Chanel Body Excellence Ultra-Moisturizing Milk is a luxurious product that eliminates tightness and leaves the skin feeling incredibly comfortable and firm. The texture of the gentle product is the most delicate: the light, non-greasy milk smells of fresh and floral notes, is instantly absorbed and intensely moisturizes thanks to exclusive ingredients - purple ginger and royal jasmine wax elixir.

Santa Maria Novella >

Idrasol cream from the Florentine brand Santa Maria Novella instantly makes the skin silky thanks to natural avocado and cocoa oils, as well as plant extracts of carrot, rose, orange and aloe juice. A cocktail of healthy ingredients actively moisturizes and tones even the most tired, dry and dehydrated skin. A pleasant bonus is the subtle aroma of rose and gardenia.

Biotherm Baume Corps

Light balm Biotherm Baume Corps with apricot aroma has a texture reminiscent of milk, and the intensity of its effect is in no way inferior to the richest creams. The product nourishes and moisturizes with vitamins E and F, as well as a proprietary ingredient - thermal plankton.

Caudalie

Caudalie Nourishing Body Treatment is a delicate, melting milk that intensely hydrates even the driest skin with grapevine-derived moisturizers and antioxidants. A bottle with a convenient dispenser allows you to use the product economically.

Aveda Stress-Fix

Aveda Stress-Fix Body Cream, as the name suggests, is designed specifically for stressed skin. However, not only your skin will receive a therapeutic effect - the product is a classic of the aromatherapy genre, and its effect is aimed at a general relaxing effect of the soul and body. The composition of the product, as usual with an organic brand, is the most natural (French lavender, lavandin and clary sage), and the packaging is environmentally friendly. By the way, it is this product that the aroma massage masters of the best spa centers in the world use.

Vichy Nutriextra

Extra-nourishing body care Vichy Nutriextra cream is a gentle product for the most sensitive skin. Its hypoallergenic, paraben-free formula based on Vichy thermal water not only deeply nourishes and gives a feeling of comfort for up to 2 days, but also makes even the most capricious skin firm and elastic.

La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP+

Lipid replenishing balm Lipikar Baume AP+ from the pharmacy brand La Roche Posay is a classic of the genre when it comes to hydration. It is ideal for even the driest, irritated and itchy skin. The innovative active component in the formula normalizes skin balance, strengthens its protective barrier and soothes. The product can be used on the face and body, and its hypoallergenic formula is suitable even for allergy sufferers and babies.

Dr Pierre Ricaud Lait Hydra Tonifiant

Moisturizing toning body milk from Dr Pierre Ricaud is suitable for those who prefer light, low-fat products. The product deeply nourishes the skin without overloading, leaving a feeling of comfort and hydration without the effect of a sticky film.

Therme Skincare Thalasso Body Butter

Therme Thalasso whipped body butter in a large jar guarantees intense hydration. The product is enriched with moisturizing mineral salts and algae from the Atlantic Ocean and Dead Sea and provides antioxidant benefits. The classic creamy texture melts into the skin, leaving it smooth and soft, with a light sea breeze scent.

Bio-Oil PurCellin Oil

Bio-Oil body oil is a true expert in body skin care. The product, which contains vitamins and natural oils of calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile, works real miracles - just a couple of drops of the product is enough to moisturize the most dehydrated skin of the body. In addition, the product fights scars and stretch marks, unevenness and age-related changes in the skin.

Yves Rocher Expert Repair

Yves Rocher 100% Shea Herbal Body Treatment contains only ingredients of plant origin - or rather, an ingredient: the composition contains pure shea butter, known for its moisturizing properties. The product melts into the palms and provides comfort to even the driest areas of the body - knees, elbows, feet.

Dove Intensive Nutrition

Dove Intensive Nutrition Cream Body Butter has a thick consistency, but despite the fact that the product is based on apricot kernel oil, it does not leave an oily sheen. Vitamin E in the composition is also responsible for hydration and comfort, which helps prevent moisture loss.

Himalaya Herbals Nourishing Cream

Nourishment, hydration and protection - this effect is provided by Himalaya's light, non-greasy cream with aloe. Created in the best traditions of Ayurveda, the cream restores the beauty of the skin using natural ingredients that enhance each other's effects.

Nivea Nourishing milk

Nivea Nourishing Milk for Very Dry Skin is a true SOS product. Intense hydration with the proprietary Hydra IQ component and almond oil eliminates dryness and flaking, eliminates tightness, deeply nourishes and gives a feeling of comfort.

Oriflame Optimals Body

Light refreshing body lotion Oriflame "Body Active" moisturizes the skin, making it silky, soft and radiant. The delicate texture is instantly absorbed, and the water lily aroma will be a real spa treat for those who appreciate beautiful, subtle scents.

Hirst Shkulev Publishing

Moscow, st. Shabolovka, building 31b, 6th entrance (entrance from Konny Lane)

If you still don't have body cream in your bathroom, we advise you to correct this mistake. The skin needs daily hydration and probably hints at this with dryness, or even flaking. Just take a closer look and draw your own conclusions.

1. Why do you need body cream?
2. How to choose a body moisturizer
3. Rules for using body cream
4. 10 products to moisturize your body skin

Why do you need body cream?

Body creams are a category of skin care products for the torso, legs (excluding feet) and arms (excluding hands). True, in addition to the creams themselves, this segment includes milk, lotion, gel, balm, and spray. Let's talk about them in more detail and tell you how they differ from each other.

Body creams can have different textures © iStock

Moisturizing is one of the functions of all the products listed. In general, basic body care is aimed at to maintain and restore skin barrier functions. Therefore, in addition to hydrofixatives, the products include nutritional elements that provide the skin with lipids and prevent moisture evaporation.

Such substances include:

squalane and squalene (yes, they are not exactly the same thing).

Some formulas may contain antioxidants and plant extracts.

How to choose a body moisturizer

There are at least two parameters to choose from: skin type and season of application.

Skin type

Dry. She will need a balm - thick and dense, with a high concentration of oils, for example, shea butter, jojoba, argan. The main goal is to restore the lipid barrier, which retains moisture in the skin and protects it from microdamage. Another suitable format is batter. It is less dense than the balm, but still the texture is quite rich.

Normal. To prevent your skin from facing the problem of dryness, do not ignore care. Choose a product according to the season.

Fat. This type of skin may be prone to breakouts on the back and shoulders, so choose lightweight textures and non-comedogenic formulas without mineral oils.

Season

The skin reacts negatively to sudden temperature changes (from cold outside to warm indoors and vice versa), so it’s worth taking care of an adequate product. Oil-enriched balms, batters and thick creams - that's what you need.

Give preference to weightless textures. Gel, lotion, milk refresh the skin, and sometimes also have a cooling effect. The oil content in them is minimal, so they do not form a dense lipid film.

Universal product - milk with light consistency, hydrating and nutritional properties. Distributes quickly, is instantly absorbed, without leaving a feeling of greasy or sticky.

Rules for using body cream

Apply body products to damp skin after a bath or shower to “seal” water into the epidermis.

Lightly dry your body skin with a towel first.

Apply the cream in circular massaging movements from top to bottom - from ankles to knees, thighs, stomach and beyond.

10 products to moisturize your body skin

Non-sticky, melting formula suitable for summer skin care. It is instantly absorbed, softens the skin, and the moisturizing effect lasts up to 7 days.

Reviews

Chang: “Very good milk, moisturizes the skin well. I recommend it to everyone."

Katerina: “This is not just milk, it is ultra-hydration of the skin, especially in summer! Now it is always with me!”

A product based on argan and almond oils makes the skin soft and tender and prevents dehydration. Useful in the cold season.

Review

Natalya: “Very good effect. I use it after a shower. I have problem skin that is prone to dryness, especially in winter, but after this milk my skin is like silk.”

Lipikar Lait milk for very dry skin, La Roche-Posay

Can be used by the whole family, starting with babies, to restore and protect skin suffering from excessive dryness. Thanks to thermal water, shea butter, cold cream and niacinamide, it soothes and moisturizes the skin.

Reviews

Maria: “Unfortunately, my skin becomes dry in the autumn-winter period. Lipikar is my salvation. I apply it once a day after a shower, which is enough for me, and I enjoy the hydration all day long. It is especially good for application after depilation, as a soothing agent.”

Natalya: “I’ve been using it for almost a year. My skin was dry after taking a bath, so I decided to try it. Just great, the skin became smooth and soft. Children also use it, especially after a bath. Great for the winter, but in the summer you need something lighter.”

Light moisturizing soothing emulsion Lipikar Fluide, La Roche-Posay

The product is suitable for adults, children and newborns with dry and sensitive skin. Forms a protective film on the surface of the skin that protects against dryness.

Reviews

Nadezhda: “Fluid is my salvation! I use it in the cold season after a shower, otherwise the tap water makes the skin itchy and very dry. There is no stickiness, it is absorbed instantly. Previously, I used milk from the same series, which is even more comfortable, but the fluid is cheaper, and a 400 ml bottle goes away in 2 months. Of the many other brands I've tried, these worked best for me. I will continue to use it."

Maria: “Every winter I suffer from the problem of dry skin on my hands. It gets to the point where the skin cracks and bleeds. If I stay in water for a long time (even with rubber gloves), my hands also become dry and crack. I tried everything: vitamins, various creams, fatty/non-fat, expensive/cheap - all to no avail. Lipikar Fluide cream was recommended by a friend who has the same problem. And he really helped me in just a couple of days. Now I only use it and recommend it to everyone.”

The brand's bestseller, body milk, is in a new BB cream format. The beloved hydrating formula is infused with encapsulated pigments that adapt to your skin's natural tone for a visibly smoother, more radiant appearance. Attention: the product, like other body formulas, cannot be applied to the face.

The product with a jelly texture is instantly absorbed without leaving a sticky feeling and saturates the skin with moisture throughout the day. Ideal for summer.

Softening body lotion Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion, Kiehl's

Despite its lightness, this product copes well with dryness, dehydration and flaking due to the formula based on squalane, argan leaf extract, and orange essential oil.

Review

Tatyana: “I was very pleased with this lotion! There was a problem with the skin on my legs, itching, rashes. Medicines from the pharmacy did not help me. But this lotion just worked a miracle! Within three applications, the redness and itching disappeared, and the skin took on a completely healthy look! I am very pleased, I recommend it!”

Whipped body cream “Soy milk and honey”, Kiehl's

Customers love this hit of the brand for its pleasant texture and ability to quickly solve problems associated with dry skin. The main ingredients are squalane, shea butter and jojoba.

Reviews

v_lagun: “I just love the smell of honey in body care, I’m ready to buy almost all the products. Of course, I couldn’t pass up this wonderful remedy. It’s just a fairy tale - a delicate whipped cream that melts on the skin.”

Lisabramova: “I want to share with you another little wonderful discovery of mine. Just recently, my grandmother gave me a box of various little goodies: hand creams, various oils, lip glosses, etc. She works as a teacher, and the parents of her students constantly give her something, and she gives almost everything to me. But I paid attention to only one cream, a very cool thing.”

Elenka: “Great whipped cream! It nourishes the skin very well, smells nice and is quickly absorbed.”

Sofia: “I’m purchasing this for the second time. I'm very pleased. Pleasant smell, soft texture, absorbs perfectly, moisturizing the body. I definitely recommend it!”

Designed for skin suffering from dryness, it helps restore lipid balance, stimulating the process of cell regeneration. Contains the proprietary “royal” complex Royal Lipidium plus peptides and hazelnut extract.

Reviews

Sasha Tereshchenko: “Delicious cream! It is quickly absorbed and does not leave a feeling of film or anything extra on the body. The skin is very grateful for such care. Moisturizes and makes the skin soft and velvety!”

Icon BB: “After it, the skin remains soft for two days, and after the course it generally becomes more elastic, velvety, in general, it looks very decent.”

Lyudmila E.: “It moisturizes perfectly, it’s a lifesaver for my dry and sensitive skin. Absorbs quickly and has a very pleasant smell.”

Olga Orlova: “Gentle, light, does not leave a feeling of stickiness - and at the same time, it perfectly nourishes the skin!”

Soothing restorative milk Sublime Sun, L'Oréal Paris

The after-sun product can be used as a basic care product in summer: the light milk is quickly and completely absorbed, softening the skin and moisturizing it for 48 hours.

Review

Daria: “Milk is like milk. Nice smell. It’s very refreshing after sunbathing!”

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More about the ingredients

1. Anastasia June 13, 16:47 I have been looking for a long time for a product that suits me, I was pleasantly surprised that La Roche-Posay produces a cream for seborrheic dermatitis - KERIUM DS CREME. The cream has a pleasant consistency and eliminates itching and flaking. After 3 days of use, the symptoms of the disease practically disappeared, for me this is a salvation. The cream has an anti-inflammatory effect, and this is immediately reflected in the appearance.
2. Polina June 8, 07:52 La Roche Posay Hydraphase XL Legere face cream is very 1) Hydraphase XL is a cream, the texture is very light, delicate, applies well, but for some time I felt it on the skin (I think during hot time of year, it is not suitable for everyone!) Although it has sun protection factor 15. The skin is comfortable, it is really moisturized, smooth, soft! It copes well with the problem of skin tightness, dehydration, and an unpleasant “tingling” sensation. 2) Hydraphase for the eye contour This is a gel for the eye contour and for the eyelids - pleasant in texture, not greasy, light. You can use it 2 times a day: morning, evening. But it is still, in my opinion, more night-time - as it seemed sticky. Either don’t do eye makeup, or do it after some time (and in the morning it’s usually not enough!). I used it at night and on weekends. And of course, it’s better to take samples first. The products are expensive, in case you don’t like them. But overall, I’m happy with this series and this brand in general!

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