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Exfoliating body lotions are the dual-purpose skincare heroes that smooth, brighten and refine skin texture
By Chloe Burcham &Hanna Ibraheem
2 years ago
All products on this page have been selected by the editorial team, however Stylist may make commission on some products purchased through affiliate links in this article
4 min read
Experiencing dry, rough or bumpy skin? It’s time to bolster your body care routine with one of these exfoliating lotions.
Whether you’re a skincare fanatic or a beauty novice, you’ll likely have at least a couple of different steps in your everyday skincare routine.
Between all the cleansers, serums, moisturisers, spot treatments, eye creams and face masks, the products in your skincare beauty arsenal quickly add up. But what about the products you use on your body? The skin below our necks is just as important, yet many of us don’t really bother when it comes to body skincare.
At the very least, the skin on your body deserves a three-step skincare routine: cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise. The good news? You don’t need to splash out on a load of new products to do this. Thanks to an influx of clever new exfoliating body lotions, you can now combine two steps in one.
What is an exfoliating body lotion?
Exfoliating body lotions are essentially souped-up versions of your everyday body moisturiser.
They contain exfoliating ingredients, usually in the form of enzymes or acids, which help to slough away dry and dull skin cells while boosting hydration levels.
“Acids, such as lactic acid, are able to minimise the build-up of dead skin cells which can add to surface roughness, and also help enhance moisture levels in the skin,” explains Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder and medical director of Adonia Medical Clinic.
Unlike grainy body scrubs that need to be washed off in the shower, exfoliating body lotions do two jobs in one – you can take care of your skin, without adding extra steps into your routine. Bingo.
Below are the best exfoliating body lotions that will help slough away dry and dead skin cells, all while hydrating and nourishing your body. Expect smooth, glowing skin from top to toe.
Q+A Salicylic Acid Smoothing Lotion
Gentle yet effective, this body lotion contains popular BHA salicylic acid to shift any build-up of dead skin while also minimising blemishes and smoothing skin texture. However, it isn’t drying in the slightest. The lightweight formula also contains hydration wonders hyaluronic acid and colloidal oatmeal.
Shop Q+A Salicylic Acid Smoothing Lotion at Q+A Skincare, £10
Naturium Retinol Body Lotion
This clever body lotion is made with encapsulated retinol, a form that won’t cause redness or irritation. When applied, it sinks in quickly and leaves skin feeling softer and nourished.
Frank Body Smoothing AHA Body Lotion
An exfoliating blend of lactic and glycolic acids slough away dead skin and unclog congested pores, smoothing out uneven texture to reveal brighter, glowing skin. Mango seed butter and macadamia seed oil help maintain the skin barrier’s healthy functioning while also keeping skin hydrated.
Shop Frank Body Smoothing AHA Body Lotion at Frank Body, £17
Paula's Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum
A silk-textured serum, Paula’s Choice combines smoothing niacinamide with antioxidant-rich prickly pear extract and hydrating B5 to impact moisture and improve texture on the body. Good for addressing uneven skin tone and improving dullness, the serum absorbs quickly and easily, getting to work while you do.
Shop Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum at Liberty London, £36
Facetheory Glycomide Body Cream
Created with 9% glycolic acid, this nourishing, luxurious-feeling body cream smooths and refines rough skin texture, while rice bran oil, organic cranberry seed oil and organic jojoba oil hydrate and calm the skin.
Dr Sam’s Flawless Body Therapy
A potent mix of bakuchiol, niacinamide, lactic acid, shea butter and squalane, this hydrating body lotion brightens the skin, unclogs pores and helps to encourage faster cell turnover, leaving you with softer, clearer skin.
Drunk Elephant TLC Glycolic Body Lotion
Perfect for dry, scaly skin, this resurfacing body lotion harnesses the power of AHAs (glycolic, tartaric, lactic and citric acids) to exfoliate dull, drying skin, leaving your limbs smooth and silky soft.
Shop Drunk Elephant TLC Glycolic Body Lotion at Cult Beauty, £28
Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion
Lactic acid helps to melt the ‘glue’ that binds dead, follicle-clogging cells to the skin’s surface while also acting as a humectant, attracting moisture from the air and ‘locking it’ into the skin.
Shop Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion at Lookfantastic, £24
Ren Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum
Enriched with lactic acid and probiotics, this exfoliating body lotion helps to boost the skin’s defence barrier while hydrating the skin and smoothing its surface.
Shop Ren Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum at Cult Beauty, £37
Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Body Spot Exfoliant
Another one from Paula’s Choice, this is a great option for blemish-prone areas like the chest and back. It contains salicylic acid to decongest clogged pores.
Shop Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Body Spot Exfoliant at Sephora UK, £33
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream with Salicylic Acid
CeraVe’s affordable formula uses salicylic acid to exfoliate along with urea, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture levels and barrier strength.
Shop CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream with Salicylic Acid at Cult Beauty, £15
First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA
Made specifically to tackle keratosis pilaris (ie the bumpy skin that often appears on the backs of arms and thighs), this formula contains a high percentage of exfoliating acids to nibble away at dead skin.
Shop First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA at Lookfantastic, £24
Images: courtesy of brands
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