Which Body Lotion Ingredients Are Best for Dry Skin?
Dry skin on your body is uncomfortable, itchy, and can make you feel less than enthusiastic about showing some skin.
Keep reading to learn what causes dry skin, how to spot it, and how to moisturize the skin on your body with the best hydrating ingredients.
Let’s get started.
What causes dry skin?
Dry skin has many causes – it can be genetic or influenced by environmental or lifestyle factors. Here are the most common causes of dry skin:
- Cold, dry weather conditions
- Being too close to direct heat – such as a furnace or fireplace
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Side effects from medications or medical conditions
- Poor diet
- Not drinking enough water
If you want to know the underlying cause of your dry skin, first rule out genetics or medical issues. If you don’t think it’s caused by either of those, focus on improving your lifestyle or taking precautions in your environment.
For example, if you live in a cold, dry climate, stay bundled up to avoid skin exposure. Don’t stand too close to heating sources, like a furnace or fireplace.
Don’t drink alcohol in excess or smoke cigarettes as they both lead to dry skin. Ensure you’re eating a balanced, healthy diet and drinking enough water every day.
How can you tell if you have dry skin?
Dry skin on your body can feel tight or uncomfortable, so it’s usually easy to spot where you have dry skin.
You may also experience signs and symptoms of dry skin such as:
- Redness or rashes
- Scaly-looking skin
- Peeling skin or white flaking
- Itchiness
If you have any of these signs or symptoms of dry skin, first consult with a doctor if it’s severe or not improving after treatment. If your dry skin is mild to moderate, follow a dry skin body care routine to hydrate the skin and improve dryness.
What are the most moisturizing ingredients for dry skin?
When you’re on the hunt for body care products for dry skin, keep an eye on the ingredient lists for these ultra-hydrating super-stars:
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in your skin and helps to retain moisture. Many body care products for dry skin contain hyaluronic acid because of its excellent moisture-retaining properties.
Hyaluronic acid locks in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated for longer. Even though it’s naturally occurring in your body, it’s helpful to boost hyaluronan levels with your skincare and body care routine.
Hyaluronic acid is most effective when applied to slightly damp skin so it can pull the moisture into your skin and lock it in. It features in a few of our Biotherm products, including the Biocorps Body Serum, an ideal body serum for sensitive skin.
Shea butter
Shea butter is a natural fat that’s extracted from shea tree nuts. Shea butter contains a selection of fatty acids that help to boost moisture in the skin. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for added benefits.
You can find shea butter in our Lait Corporel Le Beurre Body Butter, a deeply hydrating body butter for dry skin. It also features in our After Sun Body Milk to help replenish moisture and prolong a tan after sun exposure.
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernel oil is an ultra-hydrating vegetable oil rich in fatty acids that also improves skin tone and texture. It’s extracted from apricot kernels and is very similar to almond oil in its composition.
It’s great for sensitive skin and dry skin on the body since it retains moisture and soothes sensitivity.
Apricot oil is one of the star ingredients in the Biotherm Oil Therapy Baume Corps Lotion – a nourishing body milk for dry skin. A study with 30 women found that this body milk hydrates the skin for 24 hours after application, so you’ll stay hydrated all day long.
Apricol Kernel Oil also contains Tocopherol (Vitamin E) A powerful antioxidant that helps repair damaged skin, provide skin hydration, and promote skin regeneration. This ingredient is also part of the formulas of many Biotherm’s body lotions such as the Lait Corporel Active Recovery, the Biomains the Biotherm’s Anti-drying hands treatment or the body milks from the Les Eaux range.
Biotech PlanktonTM
Biotherm’s star proprietary ingredient is derived from thermal plankton, a microorganism found in the thermal springs of the French Pyrenees. This aquatic bacterial life plankton, co-functions with 35 nutrients to regenerate your skin texture – it’s a key ingredient in many Biotherm’s products including body lotions for dry skin.
The skin barrier is the upper layer of skin that protects against harmful toxins in the environment or harsh chemicals. When it’s in good shape, it acts as an armor for the deeper layers of your skin, maintaining moisture and a healthy tone.
When your skin barrier is damaged or weakened, you’re more susceptible to getting dry skin since it’s not protected by harsh ingredients in your skincare or harmful toxins in your environment. Protecting, maintaining and rebuilding your skin barrier should be the first line of defense for hydrating your skin, and adding Biotech PlanktonTM to your body care routine will help you do just that by amplifying the efficacy of other ingredients that promote healthy skin.
Our Lait corporel L’Original is the best exemple of this Biotech PlanktonTM effect, its formula contains a blend of regenerating Biotech PlanktonTM, anti-oxidizing vitamin E, and nourishing lipids that work together to strengthen and hydrate your skin's barrier from the very first use.
How do you apply body lotion for dry skin?
A body care routine for dry skin starts in the shower. Cleanse your skin with a gentle, hydrating body wash such as this Biotherm Nourishing Shower Oil. It cleanses away dirt and impurities while soothing and hydrating the skin. It’s important to avoid harsh body washes that can strip the skin and damage the skin barrier. This oil body wash is a great option for maintaining moisture while cleansing.
After your shower or bath, apply a body butter or body lotion while the skin is still slightly damp (but not wet). This will help the active ingredients to properly lock in moisture and hydrate dry patches. Opt for the Lait Corporel Le Beurre Body Butter for the most hydration or the Oil Therapy Baume Corps Lotion for a more lightweight daily option.
Always protect your skin from the sun by applying a body sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Reapply every two hours and after swimming or bathing. Choose a hydrating sunscreen with nourishing ingredients such as this Lait Solaire SPF 30 Body Sunscreen. After sun exposure, apply a hydrating after sun lotion or balm such as this After Sun Body Milk.
And that’s it! Follow this body care routine for dry skin and you’ll have hydrated, supple skin all day long. You’ll no longer feel the tightness and itchiness that comes along with dry skin, no matter the season.
