Is it normal for men to use body lotion?

Men's skin can get dry , but men often don't use lotion. That could be because it's thought to be a "woman's" product, or because many men prefer a lower maintenance body care routine. Just because men often don't use lotion doesn't mean it wouldn't help their skin feel more hydrated, though.

When should men use body lotion?

All people should use body lotion at the same time, regardless of gender. Ideally, this occurs after you bathe , whether you've taken a shower or a bath. You'll want to dry yourself off first, then apply moisturizer. It's ok to moisturize while your skin is still a bit damp. Allow the lotion to dry completely before using any additional products.

What happens if you don't put lotion on your body?

Skin gets dry, and lotion moisturizes it. So if you have dry skin and you opt to not do that, your skin may continue to get drier. Your skin can get flaky if the dryness becomes excessive. This is especially the case in the winter when temperatures are cold and humidity is low.

The 11 Best Body Lotions for Men of 2023

If you, like many of us, subject your skin to long, hot showers, over-drying soaps, excessive hand washing or sanitizing, or exposure to cold air or high winds (hello, winter), then it's guaranteed you're going to have some moisture loss. Enter hydrating body lotion. But moisture loss isn't the only issue that body skincare needs to address. There are also things like exposure to harmful UV rays, excessive sweating, ingredient sensitivities, and more. And men may have a range of different considerations when it comes to finding the perfect body lotion.

When choosing a lotion, it's important to think about your body's needs (whether it's year-round, seasonal, or one-off instances), and then stock up on your favorite to save your skin throughout all the seasons. You'll want to ensure the fragrance is one you enjoy and that the lotion contains moisturizing oils. As a bonus, some have nourishing vitamins and antioxidants, too. Luckily, there are a ton of outstanding unisex body lotions that cover any and all bases. Available in a range of price points, there's something for every skin type and concern.

Read on for the best body lotions for men.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Kiehl's Corps Bottle at Sephora

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Best Budget:

Art of Sport Daily Skin Lotion at Amazon

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Best Drugstore:

Dove Shea Butter Body Lotion at Amazon

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Best for Dry Skin:

SheaMoisture Coconut Oil Body Lotion at Amazon

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Best for Sensitive Skin:

CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion at Amazon

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Best Scent:

Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Balm at Nordstrom

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Best with SPF:

Supergoop! Body Butter SPF 40 at Amazon

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Best Nourishing:

Nécessaire The Body Lotion at Amazon

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Best Body Oil:

Jao Goe Oil at Anthropologie

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Best Powder Lotion:

Anthony No Sweat Body Defense Lotion at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What To Look For
FAQ

Courtesy of Nordstrom

View On Sephora View On Kiehls.com

What We Like

Instant results
Recyclable packaging
Liter size is refillable

What We Don't Like

Can feel greasy

Reviewed: Kiehl's Creme de Corps Is an Iconic Body Lotion for a Reason

Who else recommends it? Men's Health, Men's Journal, and Esquire also picked the Kiehl's Creme de Corps.

What do buyers say? 1,400+ Kiehl's reviewers rated it 4 stars or above.

A buttery richness is what gives this classic body cream the top prize. It's restorative for dry winter skin and smoothing for any textural inconsistencies (we're looking at you, cracked heels). The key ingredients here are squalane, cocoa butter, aloe, plus oils of almond and avocado. All together, they give skin a supple, smooth recharge.

Price at time of publish: $32

What Our Testers Say

"With continued use, it's easy to see why Kiehl's Creme De Corps is a best-seller. It feels amazing on the skin, softens immediately, made my skin feel more moisturized over time, and left me with smoother-feeling skin." — Tynan Sinks, Product Tester

View On Amazon View On Artofsport.com

What We Like

Affordable
Pump bottle
Dermatologist-tested

What We Don't Like

Strong smell

This lotion is a really excellent product behind a budget price tag. This brand is fast becoming "the Nike of Skincare" in that it appeals broadly to athletes and people with active lifestyles. This high-performance shea- and aloe-rich body moisturizer are the perfect follow-up to an intense workout and hot shower—it keeps your skin feeling smooth and sleek.

Price at time of publish: $20

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Affordable
Lightweight
Can help heal hangnails

What We Don't Like

Strong smell

This shea-butter formula will resuscitate even the driest, roughest, most cracked skin and delivers excess moisture with a lightweight, breathable application. It's especially effective on dry hands and for healing hangnails.

Price at time of publish: $9

View On Amazon View On Walmart

What We Like

Affordable
Pump bottle
Contains organic ingredients

What We Don't Like

Thick texture can clog the pump

When you meet a coconut oil convert, you'll get an earful about how effective the wonder ingredient is for skin, hair, and cooking. So it's no surprise that SheaMoisture used 100 percent coconut oil for this all-over lotion. Combined with murumuru butter, this rich treatment gives a nutritious, ultra-moisturizing boost to the driest, roughest skin.

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Ulta View On Walmart

What We Like

Lightweight
Non-comedogenic
Can use on face and body

What We Don't Like

Must reapply often

From cleansers to hydration, CeraVe rounds all the bases for people with sensitive skin. This body lotion is no exception, utilizing hyaluronic acid (known for its ability to absorb and retain 1,000 times its weight in moisture) as well as skin-smoothing niacinamide and firming ceramides. It lacks any fragrance—super important for sensitive skin—and it keeps the skin's barrier functions strong. (That is, it keeps the pollutants out and the moisture in.)

Price at time of publish: $15

View On Nordstrom View On Aesop.com

What We Like

Smells good
Pump bottle
Vegan

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Aesop's body balm is rich in the oils of coconut, macadamia, sweet almond, and bergamot, along with a hearty dose of shea and cocoa butter. But its exceptional hydrating and revitalizing powers aren't its only calling cards. This one also delivers a refreshing, almost therapeutic essence of geranium and citrus rind. Lather it on everywhere (except the face) and hide it from your roommates or significant other because you're not going to want to share. They'll benefit simply by being in your soothingly scented orbit.

Price at time of publish: $100

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore

What We Like

Provides antioxidant protection
Lightweight
Smells good

What We Don't Like

Can feel sticky

A Byrdie summertime favorite, Supergoop's SPF 40 body butter is foremost an antioxidant-rich, invisible, nourishing lotion, featuring argan oil, meadowfoam seed, and sea buckthorn extract. However, it's that addition of SPF that makes it even more exceptional, meaning you can swap out the dense, questionable sunscreen in favor of this much lighter, equally defensive shield. It carries a light scent of eucalyptus, vanilla, and clove, and is equally useful on the ski slopes in winter as it on the beach.

Price at time of publish: $38

Supergoop! Forever Young Body Butter — Byrdie / Joline Buscemi

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Boosts radiance
Firms skin
Vegan

What We Don't Like

Doesn't absorb fast

This pH-balancing body lotion is chock full of skin-saving vitamins, like niacinamide to smooth texture, and vitamins A, C, and E to brighten, firm, and hydrate. It calls on fatty acids omega-6 and omega-9 to keep moisture barrier functions in top form, and a trio of oils (meadowfoam, cacay, and marula) to leave skin feeling soft, supple, and restored.

Price at time of publish: $28

View On Anthropologie

What We Like

Soothes skin
Boosts radiance
A little goes a long way

What We Don't Like

Pricey

This unique body oil from Jao starts with a more jelly-like texture before warming and dissolving into the skin. It's a hybrid of 28 different oils extracted from flowers, fruits, and plants. It is one of the more luxuriating things you can lather on after a long day, hot shower, or bath, and to wake up with smoother, softer, glowing skin.

Active Ingredients: Rosehip oil, meadowfoam oil, rice bran oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil, mango butter, pumpkin seed oil, jojoba oil, chamomile, calendula, kukui nut oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 3 oz. | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Anthony No Sweat Body Defense Tapioca Cream to Powder Lotion

View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Walmart

What We Like

Talc-free
Non-greasy
Travel-friendly

What We Don't Like

Can leave behind a white residue

Some lotions have a particular function, like this one from Anthony, which turns into a powdery film on contact. Lather it onto your nether regions or feet, and it will absorb moisture as it accumulates, thus preventing things like swamp crotch, jock itch, thigh chafe, soggy feet, and more. (It's a lifesaver for athletes and those who are prone to sweating). The lotion relies on a talc-free formula that deploys tapioca starch and aloe vera for the dual task of nourishing skin and protecting its natural moisture levels.

Price at time of publish: $32

View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Pump bottle
Smells good
Lightweight

What We Don't Like

Pricey

Diptyque's body lotion relies on a calming blend of sweet almond oil and macadamia nut oil. These ingredients allow it to soothe, balance, and hydrate skin on impact, while the inclusion of orange blossom water delivers a positively fresh, uplifting aroma. High end? Sure. Worth every penny? Absolutely.

Price at time of publish: $62

Final Verdict

Body lotions are far more varied than you may think. We like the SheaMoisture Coconut Oil Body Lotion and the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion for dry, cracked, sensitive skin (especially at the height of winter), while the SPF 40-packed Supergoop Body Butter is great for added sun protection. And our all-around favorite (for any time of year) is the rich and hydrating Kiehl's Crème de Corps.

What To Look For in a Body Lotion for Men

Moisturizing Oils

Lotion ingredients can sometimes read like food ingredient lists these days, with oils like avocado, olive, and pumpkin seed showing up more and more. That's because they have excellent benefits for your skin, so you may be well-suited with a moisturizer that contains one or more. Dermatologist Marie Hayag, MD, founder of 5th Avenue Aesthetics, told us that avocado oil is a good choice for skin because "it both softens the skin and traps humectants and emollients onto skin."

Vitamins and Antioxidants

We know: Just when you thought you were busy eating enough of these nutrients, now you have to put them on your skin too? Well, yes, and your skin will thank you if you do. Vitamins are lauded for their contributions to skincare, such as the ability of vitamins C and E to fight free radicals.

Appealing Fragrance (or None at All)

For those who get headaches from synthetic fragrances, finding a fragrance-free lotion is imperative. Lotion goes all over your body, so the smell can linger for a good long while. And for people who enjoy fragranced products, it's also important that the one you're putting all over your body is a choice you can live with all day long.

FAQ

Is it normal for men to use body lotion?

Men's skin can get dry, but men often don't use lotion. That could be because it's thought to be a "woman's" product, or because many men prefer a lower maintenance body care routine. Just because men often don't use lotion doesn't mean it wouldn't help their skin feel more hydrated, though.
When should men use body lotion?

All people should use body lotion at the same time, regardless of gender. Ideally, this occurs after you bathe, whether you've taken a shower or a bath. You'll want to dry yourself off first, then apply moisturizer. It's ok to moisturize while your skin is still a bit damp. Allow the lotion to dry completely before using any additional products.
What happens if you don't put lotion on your body?

Skin gets dry, and lotion moisturizes it. So if you have dry skin and you opt to not do that, your skin may continue to get drier. Your skin can get flaky if the dryness becomes excessive. This is especially the case in the winter when temperatures are cold and humidity is low.

The 19 Best Hydrating Body Lotions and Creams of 2023 For Every Skin Type

Article Sources

Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

You Need a Great Body Lotion. Here Are 15 of the Best. Esquire. https://www.esquire.com/style/grooming/g34988965/best-mens-body-lotions/
21 Best Body Lotions for Men. Men's Journal. https://www.mensjournal.com/style/best-body-lotions-men/
The 15 Best Men's Body Lotions to Keep Your Skin Smooth, Tested by Experts. Men's Health. https://www.menshealth.com/grooming/g26449934/best-body-lotion-for-men/
Rattanawiwatpong P, Wanitphakdeedecha R, Bumrungpert A, Maiprasert M. Anti‐aging and brightening effects of a topical treatment containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract: A split‐face, randomized controlled trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(3):671-676.