Body lotions help hydrate and soothe dry skin, whether it’s on your hands, knees, feet, or anywhere else on your body. They’re usually applied as the final step in your daily body care routine to help keep your skin smooth, soft, and comfortable-feeling. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, for example, can be used as often as needed to provide 48-hour hydration and help restore your skin’s protective barrier. This lightweight, oil-free body lotion is also formulated with three essential ceramides and MVE Delivery Technology, which encapsulates hydrating ingredients to ensure efficient delivery and slow release over time. 

Body lotions and body creams provide similar moisturizing benefits but offer different texture options. Lotions, for example, tend to contain more water in their formulations than creams, which gives them a more lightweight texture. This type of formula may be ideal for those with oily or normal skin. 

On the other hand, body creams (such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream) have a richer formula with more emollient ingredients than lotions. Their nourishing texture can be helpful for anyone with normal to dry skin or for seasonal dryness during the harsh winter months. Creams can also be useful for mature skin, as skin loses its ability to retain moisture with age. To learn more, read our skincare guide on the differences between lotion, cream, and ointment.

Ointments provide an effective moisturizing option for skin that is extremely dry. They can be especially helpful for dry, flaky skin on your heels, knees, and elbows. These rich, occlusive formulas are generally the thickest of all body moisturizer options since they contain the highest concentration of emollients. Some ointments, such as CeraVe Healing Ointment, are designed to help temporarily protect, soothe, and hydrate skin as it recovers from cracking, chafing, and extreme dryness. There are also ointments that can be used to help treat and help prevent diaper rash, such as CeraVe Baby Healing Ointment.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the ideal time to apply body moisturizer is right after you get out of the shower.¹ Putting moisturizer onto clean, slightly damp skin immediately after bathing can help prevent water loss and more effectively trap moisture in your skin. We recommend adding a body lotion or cream to your daily shower routine to help you get the most out of your body moisturizing products. 

This will depend on the moisturizer formula you choose. Although they may seem similar in appearance, face moisturizers and body moisturizers are not always interchangeable. Some moisturizers may be suitable for use on your face and body—such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Daily Moisturizing Lotion—while others are designed for use on certain parts of your body. Always read the product label carefully to identify whether your moisturizer is designed for use on your body, face, or both. To learn more about face moisturizers, head to our guide on how to choose a facial moisturizer for your skin type.

In general, body moisturizers (such as body lotion) should be applied twice daily as part of a consistent body care routine, morning and night. This can vary, however, depending on your skin’s individual needs and the product you’re using (make sure to apply body moisturizers as directed on the packaging for the best results). External factors, such as seasonal climate shifts, can also play a role. They can impact your skin’s dryness, and therefore, your desire to moisturize more (or less) often. When in doubt, your physician or dermatologist can guide you in determining the ideal frequency to complement your lifestyle and preferences.

To help smooth the feel and appearance of rough and bumpy skin on your body, we recommend adding a targeted moisturizer with salicylic acid to your body care routine. For example, you can try CeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin, our fragrance-free moisturizing cream designed to soften very dry, rough skin and improve skin texture. Formulated with salicylic acid and lactic acid, this formula gently exfoliates dead skin cells and smooths bumpy skin—such as scaly skin and “chicken skin” on your upper arms and thighs. For a more lightweight skin-smoothing option, consider CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin.

CeraVe offers a range of targeted treatments to help soothe the itching and effects of eczema prone-skin and other skin conditions, such as psoriasis. Our Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream, for example, is an excellent option for those looking for relief from skin itching, scaling, redness, flaking, and irritation associated with psoriasis. This 2% salicylic acid cream can help gently exfoliate, comfort skin, and provide smoother skin texture—while also helping to prevent the recurrence of psoriasis symptoms. 

For eczema-prone skin, we recommend our Eczema Relief Creamy Oil. Formulated with three essential ceramides, 1% colloidal oatmeal, hyaluronic acid, and safflower oil, this moisturizer intensely moisturizes your eczema rash to help keep your skin feeling comfortable. For eczema or any other skin condition, it’s important to always consult with a board-certified dermatologist on the best targeted moisturizer options and treatments for your skin’s needs.

1. “How To Pick the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin.” American Academy of Dermatology Association, 2022.