When it comes to men’s grooming, most guys just like sticking to the basics. Shampoo for their hair, toothpaste for their bad breath, hand cream, deodorant and antiperspirant, and a nice bar soap for all the rest. And this makes a lot of sense as up until recently there were virtually no men’s grooming products on the market.

Today’s guide is all about a man’s body and more specifically, body lotions. To spare you the time and research, we did the hard work and we compiled this guide, reviewing the best body lotions for men you can use now and stop stealing your girlfriend’s products when she’s not around.

Best Body Lotions For Men

 Brickell Deep Moisture Body Lotion for MenNIVEA Men Maximum Hydration 3 in 1 Nourishing LotionAveeno Daily Moisturizing LotionBath & Body Works Body Lotion, Noir For MenGold Bond Men's Everyday Essentials LotionHempz Original Herbal Body MoisturizerJack Black Cool Moisture Body LotionNeutrogena Body Lotion For Dry SkinBvlgari Eau Parfumee au the Blanc Body LotionBaxter of California Hand and Body Moisturizer
Brickell Body Lotion for MenNivea for men 3 in 1 Body Lotion for MenAveeno Body Lotion for MenNoir for men Body Lotion for MenGold Bond Men's Everyday Essentials Lotion Body Lotion For MenHempz Body Lotion for MenJack Black Body Lotion for MenNeutrogena Body Lotion for MenBvlgari Body Lotion for MenBaxter of California Body Lotion for Men
CountryUSAGermanyUSAUSAUSAUSAUSANorwayItalyUSA
Size8fl oz / 237ml26.9fl oz/ 500ml4fl oz / 120ml8fl oz / 236ml14.5oz / 411g17fl oz / 500ml16fl oz / 473ml32fl oz / 946ml2.5fl oz / 90ml10oz / 300ml
Price$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Skin TypeAll typesAll typesAll types. Good for dry skinAll typesAll typesAll types. Good for dry skinAll typesAll types. Good for dry skinAll typesAll types
GreasyNoA bitNoNoNoNoNoNoNoA bit
SunscreenNoNoSPF 15NoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Performance4.5/54/54.5/54.5/54/54/54.5/54/54.5/54/5
Ease of Application5/54/54.5/54.5/54.5/54.5/55/55/54.5/55/5
Value for Money4/54.5/54/54/54/54.5/54/54.5/53/53.5/5

But why body lotions? Why would you need to have one more thing on your head besides the overgrowing list of personal care products in your bathroom?

The truth about a man’s personal care regime and the importance of body lotions

Up till today, many of us go by whit what we can get for our personal care regime. If we needed to soften our beard, instead of getting a beard oil, we used our girlfriends hair conditioner. Same goes for the facial washes, and body lotions. Our girlfriends were always there to lend a helping hand. And of course, they would always use your razor to shave their legs when you are not watching.

It’s important to understand why getting a product specifically designed for men is important. Although the above seems convenient, their products never really worked properly on us.

And the simple reason behind is that men’s and women’s skin is different.

Studies have shown that men’s skin is almost 25% thicker, it has a higher collagen density, lower pH, and rougher texture.

Lucky for us, things are changing fast. In the past decade, the market for grooming products aimed at men has grown exponentially.

Today we can go get a face wash, facial moisturizer, hand creams, conditioners made specifically for us men and what is even better they smell manly. We can finally say goodbye to our girlfriend’s cosmetics that smell of lavender, vanilla, and bubblegum.

Most of these products were embraced by the male population. More and more men grow their beards and groom them by using beard balms and beard waxes, they wash their faces with men’s facial wash and scrubs, they apply hand lotions, and creams.

There’s a shift in our mindset towards taking care of ourselves. But to be honest, we usually take care on parts that show, hands, face, hair, and feet.

What about the rest of our body? We are either too lazy or just uninformed and we forget about the most of our skin.

Body lotions are not just for girls. Hydration is crucial for healthy skin, and for that reason, I have compiled the following list of ten great body lotions for men among popular brands to help you make a choice.

The best body lotions for men reviewed

Brickell Deep Moisture Body Lotion for Men

Brickell Men’s Deep Moisture Body Lotion for Men

Brickell is a fairly new company on the market, but their products are shaking the men’s grooming market. They deliver quality products made of carefully selected ingredients that men absolutely love.

Their Men’s Deep Moisture Body Lotion formula contains 99% natural ingredients of which 80% are certified organic.

The jojoba and aloe vera create a protective layer and help your skin lock the moisture preventing skin dehydration. The shea butter deeply moisturizes your skin replanishing it with essential vitamins. Besides these three main ingredients, it contains vitamin e and green tea, which are powerful antioxidants that block free radicals and allow your skin to heal.

So if you are aiming for that wrinkle-free look, Brickell Men’s Deep Moisture Body Lotion should be an effective solution.

It can be the perfect body lotion for men with any skin type as it is made of all natural ingredients, and it comes in a nice dark, UV-protected bottle that allows for a longer shelf life.

NIVEA Men Maximum Hydration 3 in 1 Nourishing Lotion – Best value for money

NIVEA Men Maximum Hydration 3 in 1 Nourishing Lotion – Best value for money

Nivea is probably one of the best-known companies on the market and it has been around for a long time, since 1882 to be more precise. It is one of those brands that you can find anywhere, and their products come at an affordable price. But does it mean that because their products are low cost they are of suspicious quality?

Apparently no. it is clear to see that Nivea knows a thing or two when it comes to grooming. They invest over $150 million dollars every year on skin research only and have submitted numerous patents for innovations. In fact, their skin research center is recognized as one of the largest in the world employing over 600 scientists, meaning that they conduct serious research.

One of their greatest achievements is their Hydra IQ technology, for which in 2003 won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

What is Hydra IQ?

Without going into too much detail Hydra IQ is a technology that essentially hacks your skin cell pores (aquaporins) that let water in and out of the cell, thus preventing the cell from losing moisture.

This lotion was specially formulated for people with dry and normal skin, and it can be used for your body, hands, and face. Although it contains alcohol, it is very well balanced in the formula preventing that oily feeling on the skin that we all so hate. It absorbs easily into your skin keeping you hydrated and moisturized for 24 hours.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

If you have a sensitive skin that is oftentimes dry, Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is the way to go. Unlike most brands that sprinkle natural ingredients in lotions, usually just to sell them better, Aveeno’s formula contains oats that help soothe your skin.

What else are oats good for besides a tasteless breakfast?

Studies show that oats have a myriad of benefits for your skin. Besides their skin protective properties, they are great for soothing irritated skin, and help calm down irritations and redness, helping your dry sensitive skin get back in shape.

The lotion also contains glycerin and mineral oils that work together very well to keep your skin moisturized all day. The glycerin is humectant (it draws the water from the environment to your skin) while the mineral oil creates a barrier on the skin that locks the moisture in, and your skin hydrated throughout the day.

The great thing is that despite its thick consistency the skin absorbs it quickly without leaving any greasy residue. It doesn’t stain your clothes or gets stuck to them.

The only downside is that it doesn’t contain any antioxidants.

It is a fragrance-free, clinically proven formula to relieve dry skin, and it is dermatologist recommended.

Bath & Body Works, Signature Collection Body Lotion, Noir For Men

Bath & Body Works, Signature Collection Body Lotion, Noir For Men

You want to hydrate your skin and smell awesome in the process?

Then you should try Noir For Men by Bath and body works. They produce a number of body lotions for men which come in several different scents, such as Noir, Oak, Midnight and Ocean. In my opinion, Noir smells nicest of all. Noir’s top notes consisting of crisp bergamot, clary sage, rosemary, and coriander are complemented by calming notes of white vanilla, amber wood, vetiver and white musk that give out that manly smell that girls just adore.

The formula contains:

  • Vitamin E which blocks free radicals from your skin slowing down the ageing process.
  • Shea butter that is packed with vitamins amongst which A, E, and F, offers UV protection of SPF ~6, provides essential fatty acids and nutrients that are essential for collagen production.
  • Aloe vera extract which contains Auxin and Gibberellins in itself that promote skin healing and regeneration, and,
  • Vitamin B5 which is humectant drawing moisture from the environment to your skin.

If you want a change from the cologne when you are going out, you should try Noir For Men Lotion, ladies love it.

Gold Bond Men’s Everyday Essentials Lotion

Gold Bond Men's Everyday Essentials Lotion

It has been around for quite some time, and although they are not as well known as Nivea they make one of the best body lotions for dry skin.

Just like Nivea, this is a 3 in 1 lotion that you can apply to your body, hands, and feet.

Its light nongreasy formula has a light refreshing scent which is by no means overpowering. The lotion itself absorbs into your skin quickly and just a couple of pumps would be enough to last you all day.

The formula contains a bunch of goodies for your skin such are Aloe Barbadensis Leaf juice, jojoba, hydrolyzed rice protein, silk amino acids, that will not only moisturize your skin but also take care of the daily maintenance aiding you in the battle against dry skin.

Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer

Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer

If you have a sensitive skin that gets easily irritated by various chemical compounds used in cosmetics, you should check out the Hempz Original Herbal Body Moisturizer.

It is a cruelty-free all natural body lotion for men that includes only select ingredients to get your skin in the best shape possible.

As its name suggests the main ingredient in the formula is hemp seed oil which is responsible moisturizing your skin while at the same time providing it with essential nutrients.

This bad boy is also packed with vitamins A which encourages skin cell production, C helps the production of the collagen molecule which is essential for your skin, and E which work together to moisturize the skin and provide it with a natural healthy glow.

It goes on smoothly on your skin without being thin or watery and absorbs quickly without leaving any greasy residue behind.

And if you are worried that the hemp seed oil might get you high, I hate to disappoint you but this top body lotion  for men is THC free.

Jack Black Cool Moisture Body Lotion – Best Overall

Jack Black Cool Moisture Body Lotion – Best Overall

When it comes to grooming, Jack Black is one of the companies that reigns supreme.

Every product they release on the market contains only the best, carefully select, natural ingredients formulated into a well-balanced product and their Cool Moisture Men’s Body Lotion is no different.

The thing that sets apart the Jack Black Cool Moisture body lotion from other brands are the cooling ingredients that help to refresh and calm hot skin after a hard workout at the gym, hot summer day, or a scorching shower.

The formula works great for those with sensitive skin containing jojoba oil which is great for locking moisture in your skin, vitamin E as an antioxidant, and most importantly soy protein. Soy protein is especially interesting as it helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, it moisturizes your skin and it gets absorbed into your skin quickly.

Lastly, for those of us that tend to be environmentally friendly, it is well worth noting that this body lotion is vegan-friendly, colorant free, gluten free and alcohol-free.

Neutrogena Body Lotion For Dry Skin Light Sesame Formula

Neutrogena Body Lotion For Dry Skin Light Sesame Formula

Another well-known brand in the grooming industry Neutrogena brings us their Sheer Oil Lotion. Their formula contains part lotion, part sesame oil which does miracles for your skin. Sesame oil is a great moisturizer, it acts as a natural sunscreen, a great nutrient source for your skin, it is rich in minerals, vitamins E, B-complex and vitamin D.

The lotion itself is very thin it has a silky creamy texture with a pleasant smell, applies smoothly to your skin and gets absorbed quickly without leaving any grease behind.

It is a godsend product for those cold winter days that take their toll on your skin. And a perfect for people with sensitive skin thanks to the sesame oil with its anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and repair your skin.

Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au the Blanc Body Lotion

Bvlgari Eau Parfumee au the Blanc Body Lotion

Bvlgari is all about chic. Wether it be jewelry, watches, accessories, fragrances, or grooming products Bvlgari is the way to go.

Enter their Eau Parfumee Au the Blanc body lotion. The first thing you will notice even when you open the bottle is its invigorating, luxurious, smell that would make you want to apply the lotion over and over again (although in reality once a day is plenty).

Details aside, what makes Bvlgari one of the best body lotions for men that you can get on this list is their use of white tea extract in the formula which acts as a strong antioxidant and plays a huge part in revitalizing your skin.

It has a silky, creamy texture, and applies smoothly on your skin, leaving it soft and moisturized, while enveloping you in luxurious scent.

Baxter of California Hand and Body Moisturizer – Best runner-up

Baxter of California Hand and Body Moisturizer – Best runner-up

And last but certainly not least, Hand and Body moisturizer by the well known Baxter of California. They are one of the first companies that started producing top notch grooming products specifically for men.

Their Hand and Body Lotion formula contains all sorts of natural goodies such are coconut oil with it’s antibacterial and antifungal properties, sunflower oil, shea butter, and bunch of antioxidants, which work together to moisturize, regenerate, and purge your skin of irritants.

It has a thick consistency, almost like a sunscreen lotion, and a little goes a long way so apply sparingly.

What is a body lotion, and what is it used for?

How to use a body lotion for men

Image courtesy: kuchina/BigStock.com

The skin is the largest organ of the body, it has a total area of about 20 square feet. Its purpose is to protect us from microbes, the elements, help us regulate our body temperature and permits the sensations of touch, heat, and cold.

Besides protecting you from the environment it helps your body clean itself from toxins that are ingested or produced.

Being exposed to the elements it takes serious beating every day. This results in dry, chapped skin, that feels rough and can even split in cold weather. And you wouldn’t want that firstly because poorly maintained skin is a potential doorway for illnesses, and secondly it just doesn’t look very attractive.

Enter the body lotion.

Body lotion is one of the few inexpensive ways that you can use to keep your skin healthy. It seals moisture into the skin preventing it from drying, it is used to rejuvenate scaly, dehydrated skin that feels rough and looks unattractive, and leaves your skin with a shiny bright complexion.

So lotions can be used to protect your skin from sun injury, to give your skin the necessary minerals and vitamins, and to moisturize it.

Yes, I understand all this seems unimportant, new age, nonsense. We are men, and we couldn’t care less about grooming parts of the skin that are hidden beneath our clothes. But you will be surprised to know that applying skin care products dated back to Mesolithic era ten thousand years ago.

Native American tribes used animal fats to keep warm and to keep their skin supple. Ancient civilizations used pulverized plant, animal or mineral materials combined with oils and wine before applying it to their body. Cleopatra was known to apply sesame and olive oil to her skin. They must have had a good reason for doing it.

Fast forward to today, with the advances in science and technology, we have a much better understanding of our skin and its needs.

Today’s body lotions have moved away from the used of animal-based materials toward vegetable ingredients. Common ingredients you would find in modern body lotions are: water, oils, glycerin, emulsifiers, citric acid, aloe, fragrances, antimicrobials, color, e.t.c.

How do you choose a perfect lotion for yourself?

Selecting the best men's body lotion

Image courtesy: 279photo/BigStock.com

Choosing a body lotion is not that hard, however, there are few things that you should keep in mind:

The first and most important thing that you should do is to always read the ingredients so that you can fully understand what you are putting on your skin.

There are many excellent products on the market that would help your skin remain healthy, but there are twice as much of those that contain cheap synthetic compounds that could have the exact opposite effect. The simple rule of thumb is to go with products that contain mostly natural ingredients.

Here is a list of ingredients that you should look for when purchasing your body lotion:

  • shea butter,
  • aloe vera,
  • glycerin,
  • green tea,
  • natural plant extracts,
  • vitamins,
  • antioxidants.

And if you spend a lot of time outdoors look for a lotion that also acts as a sunscreen.

You should try to avoid lotions which contain alcohol which can dry out and irritate your skin, and parabens which are proven to be a xenoestrogen (substance that mimics estrogen in your body) and that just does not sound like a good idea for men.

How to use a body lotion properly?

Applying body lotion os not exactly rocket science, however here are few pointers that might help you on the way to healthier skin:

  1. Figure out your skin type
  2. Purchase a body lotion that is suitable for your skin
  3. Wash (a 5 to 10-minute shower would do a great job at removing all the impurities and dead skin cells from your skin)
  4. Dry yourself with a soft towel until you are damp not completely dry, this way your body lotion will absorb fully and lock in moisture.
  5. Pump a small amount of lotion into your hands.
  6. Rub your hands together to warm up the lotion and then apply to your body gently pressing it into your skin (focus your application on areas that are particularly dry).
  7. Apply lotion focusing on one area of your body at a time.
  8. Give it about 5 minutes to sink in into your skin.
  9. Put your clothes on, you are ready to go.

Like your face, hands, or hair, an important aspect of your grooming routine should be making sure that you take good care of your skin.

Just leave behind that blue collar masculinity-complex that we should be rough, sweat, and get dirty, and just take my word for it, everyone likes a well-groomed man.