“You smell so good” is undoubtedly one of the best compliments you can receive, but what if we told you that this coveted recognition doesn’t always come from an expensive perfume?
While you might think of scented body lotions as an afterthought that can be quickly applied and forgotten, we think they deserve to last a little longer. Not only are lotions one of the easiest, most long-lasting ways to scent your body, but they can also instantly add a touch of luxury to your daily routine.
To help you find some of the best-smelling options, we took the time to pick the best of the best. We’re not talking about overpowering lavender creams that will leave you feeling sticky.
Our lotions have a smooth, lightweight texture and smell as sophisticated as perfume. They’re so addictive, you’ll be sure to appreciate their scent all day long.
1. Best Overall: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glowing Pink Body Cream: Glow Recipe’s Watermelon skincare line is one of our favorites, and this body cream smells just as delicious.
It’s inspired by the Korean tradition of rubbing watermelon rinds on the skin to soothe irritation, and contains watermelon seed oil, watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid, and exfoliating fruit acids.
Although it smells delicious, it’s not greasy or sticky, so you can apply it directly under your clothes or pajamas after applying it.
2. The Most Affordable Flamingo Daily Moisturizing Lotion: This daily lotion is scented with vetiver and bergamot, making you smell like you just stepped out of the spa.
Not only does it smell amazing, it also contains squalene to moisturize the skin for up to 24 hours, and white willow bark and papaya ingredients to gently exfoliate. You’ll smell as good as you look.
3. Best with Perfume: Byredo Gypsy Water Body Lotion: If you’re obsessed with Byredo’s Gypsy Water scent, have you ever thought about using it as a body lotion? Trust us when we say you don’t know what you’re missing. Its scent is as delicate as perfume, with a blend of pine needles, sandalwood, lemon, vanilla, and bergamot that transports your senses to the forests and campfires of late autumn. It also contains premium ingredients like vitamin E to moisturize the skin. 4. Best Fresh Body Lotion by Splurgediptyque: We haven’t found a scent we love as much as Diptyque, and body lotion is a great way to enjoy it. The brand’s “Fresh” lotion is perfect for all skin types and is packed with moisturizing ingredients like sweet almond oil and macadamia oil, but keeps Diptyque’s signature orange blossom water scent.
5. Best for Firming Skin: Saltaire Pink Beach Body Lotion: Saltaire has a lot of pretty body lotions to choose from, but Pink Beach transports us straight to a tropical island filled with scents of coconut, almond blossom, and vanilla.
Not only does it smell delicious, but it also contains murumuru seed oil, allantoin, and coconut oil to make skin soft. Add a little (or a lot) to enjoy the fast-absorbing, intensely hydrating texture.
6. Best for Circulation Boosting Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Butt Cream: While this signature cream is named after the Brazilian buttocks, its star ingredient, Guarana¡, is designed to nourish skin all over the body.
Native to the Amazon, this plant is a potent caffeine boost that stimulates circulation and is especially beneficial for your butt, thighs, and stomach. Your skin will feel smooth and soft, not to mention the brand’s signature sweet and nutty scent.
7. Best for Lasting Hydration Kora Organics Nourishing Hand and Body Lotion: Infused with certified organic botanicals, this hand and body lotion is as gentle on the planet as it is on your skin.
It contains antioxidant-rich microalgae and noni fruit to soften skin, as well as deeply hydrating ceramides for lasting hydration. It also smells of rose, geranium, and basil.
8. Best Fast-Absorbing Body Lotion with Moroccan Oil: If your skin needs a ton of hydration, but you don’t like the sticky feel of some lotions, might we recommend Moroccan Oil’s product? While it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly, it also contains highly hydrating ingredients like argan oil, toon oil, evening primrose oil, and more. Aloe leaf extract also helps make skin softer and smoother.
9. Best Long-Lasting Fragrance Philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion Nothing beats the feeling of a fresh shower, and this moisturizing lotion ensures longer-lasting results. Its signature scent blends water lily, leafy greens, and frosty musk, along with hydrating vitamin E and skin-nourishing natural extracts. Some reviewers noted that the scent wasn’t as strong as it used to be, but we don’t think that was a dealbreaker.
10. Best for Gifting: Jo Malone Black Pomegranate Body and Hand Lotion Jo Malone’s scent is instantly recognizable, and with this lotion, you can enjoy one of her most popular scents all day long. It’s packed with lightly scented
made with pomegranate, pink peppercorn, and Casablanca lily, and uses coconut oil to deeply moisturize the skin. Massage it into your body after your morning shower, then leave it on your desk to keep your hands hydrated all day.
Jo Malone’s signature packaging also makes it the chicest gift! Final Verdict Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glowing Pink Moisturizer is our favorite moisturizer that brings a heavenly feel to everyday life. It smells great, and is
Enriched with skin-loving ingredients that absorb quickly and instantly moisturize your skin. When it comes to perfecting a trendy scent, we think there’s nothing better than Byredo Gypsy Water Body Lotion.
Apply a lather before a date or dinner to keep your scent lasting all night. What to look for in scented lotion packaging Body lotions usually come in pump bottles or jars. Generally speaking, pump bottles make the contents
more hygienic, as you don’t have to put your fingers in them every time you use them. Pump bottles also don’t expose the lotion to air, which can affect certain ingredients. Jars, on the other hand, make it easier to scoop out every last bit of lotion, which means less waste. Raw Materials If you have very dry skin, look for ingredients like glycerin, urea, and hyaluronic acid in scented lotions.These moisturizers absorb quickly and keep the skin hydrated – the lotion won’t stick to your clothes or pajamas. Natural ingredients like almond oil and macadamia oil are also amazing sources of moisture and are found in many lotions. Acids like glycolic acid and salicylic acid (which you can find in Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C Glycolic Acid Body Lotion) can also add exfoliation to lotions for brighter, smoother skin. They’re also particularly useful for treating rough patches of skin and relieving conditions like keratosis pilaris on the backs of my arms.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
