The Top 3 Things Derms Want You To Look For In A Body Lotion

And as is true in almost all things regarding beauty, how effective a skin care step will be all comes down to formulation. Finding a well-rounded lotion will keep your skin hydrated all day long by trapping in water (without constant reapplication), soften and smooth the appearance, protect it from environmental stressors, nurture the microbiome, and strengthen the barrier framework. That may sound like a tall order for a product, but don't worry; we broke down exactly what to look for in your daily lotion—complete with tips from derms. 

Let me elaborate: Some ingredients act as humectants (like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid), which attract and hold water. These are important in lotions as they can help keep the water in the product in your epidermis. But humectants can't do it alone—they often need an assist from emollient and occlusive ingredients too. An emollient is something that softens the skin and makes it feel more comfortable by filling in cracks (there are many ingredients with emollient properties, like oat oil, vitamin E, and shea butter). An occlusive ingredient is one that acts as a shield on top of the skin, trapping in moisture underneath. These are usually thicker, heartier ingredients like coconut oil. 

The good news is that there are many antioxidants to choose from. You can go for the classics—like vitamins A, C, and E—which have been beloved in the skin care community for quite some time. You can opt for "buzzier" ingredients that aren't necessarily new but are gaining name recognition—coenzyme Q10 and niacinamide for example. Or you can opt for botanical extracts, like green tea, watermelon, apple, and more. These all help your body deal with free radicals, calm inflammation, and improve the appearance of the skin. 

While the above ingredients will also help your biome and barrier, you should also look for biome-specific ingredients, too. ​​However, not all biotic ingredients are effective (many are not—read more here). That's why we're partial to postbiotics. Postbiotics are the latest, most advanced iteration on biotic skin care. Researchers have been able to identify very important outputs from the bacteria living on our skin1. These are things such as peptides and short-chain fatty acids. The idea here is that rather than replanting the bacterial strains (as in probiotics) or feeding the strains we have naturally (prebiotics), postbiotics do the work and supply skin with these natural byproducts from the start.