Frequently Asked Questions
What is the #1 dermatologist-recommended drugstore lotion?
CeraVe’s body lotions and creams are frequent favorites among derms, including Dr. Shah and Dr. Malik. Their formulas are streamlined, non-greasy, and contain limited irritants, so they’re considered suitable for most skin types and concerns. Dr. Malik also frequently recommends La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar AP+Max Triple Repair Moisturizing Body Cream, especially for those with very dry or sensitive skin.
Which body lotion is best for older skin?
It’s better to look out for certain ingredients rather than specific brands or products when you’re shopping for mature skin-friendly lotions. “As we age, the skin’s protective barrier becomes less effective,” Dr. Shah explains. “The skin produces less oil, becomes thinner, and loses moisture more easily, making dryness and irritation more common.”
With that in mind, it’s important to use body-care products that provide immediate moisture and strengthen the skin barrier for less water loss in the future. Ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, lactic acid, shea butter, petrolatum, retinol, and urea (which exfoliates as well as moisturizes the skin) are all solid bets. “While these ingredients can benefit people of any age, they become increasingly important as the skin matures and its natural ability to retain moisture and protect itself declines,” Dr. Shah says.
Meet the experts
- Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Sejal Shah, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best drugstore body lotions, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
