“You smell wonderful” is certainly one of the best compliments you can receive, but what if we told you that this coveted recognition doesn’t always come from expensive perfume?
While you might think of scented body lotions as an afterthought that can be applied quickly and forgotten, we think they’re worth a little longer. Not only are lotions one of the easiest and most long-lasting ways to scent your
body, they can also add an instant sense of luxury to your daily routine.
To help you find some of the best-smelling options, we’ve taken the time to select the best of the best. We’re not talking about strong lavender cream that leaves you sticky.
Our range of lotions are smooth, lightweight and smell as delicate as perfume. They’re so addictive that you’re sure to find yourself admiring your scent all day long.
1. Best Overall: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Body Cream: Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Skincare range is one of our favorites, and this body cream smells just as delicious.
Inspired by the Korean tradition of rubbing watermelon rinds on the skin to soothe irritation, it contains watermelon seed oil, watermelon extract, hyaluronic acid and exfoliating AHAs.
Although it tastes delicious, it’s non-greasy and non-sticky, so you can put it on right away under your clothes or pajamas after applying it.
2. Best Budget Flamingo Daily Moisturizing Lotion: This day 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 skin for up to 24 hours, as well as white willow bark and papaya to gently exfoliate. You’ll smell as good as you look.
3. Best match with perfume MatchByredo Gypsy Water Body Lotion: If you’re obsessed with Byredo’s Gypsy Water fragrance, 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, a blend of pine needles, sandalwood, lemon, vanilla and bergamot that transport your senses to late autumn forests and campfires. It also provides moisture to the skin with high-quality
ingredients such as vitamin E.
4. Best Splurgediptyque Refreshing Body Lotion: We’ve yet to find a scent that we love as much as Diptyque, and body lotions are a great way to enjoy them.
Suitable for all skin types, the brand’s “Fresh” lotion is enriched with hydrating ingredients like sweet almond oil and macadamia nut oil, while retaining Diptyque’s signature orange blossom water scent.
5. Best for firm skin: Saltair Pink Beach Body Lotion: There are many beautiful body lotions to choose from in Saltaire, but Pink Beach transports us straight to a tropical island filled with the scent of coconut, almond blossom
and vanilla.
While it smells delicious, it also contains Murumuru Seed Oil, Allantoin, and Coconut Oil to help soften and smooth the skin. Add a little (or a lot) and enjoy a fast-absorbing, intensely hydrating texture.
6. Best for promoting blood circulation Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Butt Cream: While this iconic cream is named after the Brazilian gluteal muscles, its key ingredient, Guarana¡, is designed to nourish skin all over the body.
This native Amazonian plant is a powerful form of caffeine that stimulates blood circulation and is especially good for the buttocks, thighs and belly. Your skin will feel smooth and soft, not to mention the brand’s signature
sweet and nutty scent.
7. Best for long-lasting hydration Kora Organics Nourishing Hand and Body Lotion: This hand and body lotion is enriched with certified organic botanical ingredients that are as gentle on the earth as they are on your skin.
It contains antioxidant-rich microalgae and noni to soften skin, as well as deeply hydrating ceramides for long-lasting hydration. It also smells of rose, geranium and basil.
8. Best Moroccan Oil Fast-Absorbing Body Lotion: If your skin needs lots of moisture but you don’t like the sticky, heavy feel of some lotions, may we recommend a product from Moroccanoil? Although the texture is light and
fast-absorbing, it also contains highly moisturizing ingredients, such as argan oil, toon oil and evening primrose oil. Aloe vera leaf extract also helps make skin softer and smoother.
9. Best Long Lasting Fragrance Philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion There’s nothing like the feeling of a fresh shower, and this moisturizing lotion will make the results last longer. Its signature scent combines water lily, leafy
greens and frosty musk with hydrating vitamin E and skin-nourishing natural extracts. Some reviewers noted that the smell wasn’t as strong as before, but we don’t think that was the deciding factor.
10. Best for gifting: Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Body & Hand Lotion Jo Malone’s scent is instantly recognizable, and with this lotion you can enjoy one of her most popular scents throughout the day. It contains delicate scents
of pomegranate, pink pepper and casablanca lily, and uses coconut oil to deeply hydrate the skin. Massage it onto your body after your morning shower and place it on your desk to keep your hands moisturized throughout the day.
Jo Malone’s signature packaging makes it the chicest gift, too! final verdict Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Pink Moisturizer is our favorite moisturizer that brings a touch of heaven to everyday life. It smells great and is
packed with skin-loving ingredients that absorb quickly and instantly moisturize your skin. When it comes to perfecting an on-trend fragrance, we think it doesn’t get any better than Byredo Gypsy Water Body Lotion.
Apply lather before a date or dinner to keep your scent scented all night long. What to look for in a scented lotion Package Body lotion usually comes in a pump bottle or jar. Generally speaking, pumps make the contents more
hygienic because you don’t have to dip your fingers into them every time you use them. The pump bottle also doesn’t expose the lotion to air, which can affect some of the ingredients. Jars, on the other hand, make it easier to
scoop out every last bit of lotion, which means less waste. raw material If you have very dry skin, look for ingredients like glycerin, urea, and hyaluronic acid in scented lotions.
These moisturizers absorb quickly and keep skin hydrated – the lotion won’t stick to clothes or pajamas. Natural ingredients like almond oil and macadamia oil are also amazing sources of moisture, and you can find them in many
lotions. Acids like glycolic acid and salicylic acid (which you’ll find in Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C Glycolic Acid Body Lotion) can also add an exfoliating element to the lotion, leaving skin radiant and smoother. They are also
particularly useful for treating rough skin patches and improving conditions such as keratosis pilaris on the back of the 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.
