Dry skin can happen all year round not just in winter. As such, it’s important to make sure that you keep your skin fresh and soft with a body lotion of some kind. We’re here to show you all the best vegan body lotion options out there right now.
Best Vegan body lotion picks
There are many top-notch vegan body lotions out there ready to help you with your skin care regime. These cover everything from butters to sprays. However, all the options we list here are cruelty-free and vegan. Many are also zero-waste too so that not only your body will feel good, but your mind will too.
Take a look below and find a vegan body lotion that suits your skin type. From everyday use to oily or dry, sensitive skin, there’s something vegan-friendly here for you!
Taking a more detailed look into these vegan body lotions
For a full-body moisturising experience, this is the go-to lotion. It’s smooth and doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy or coated, being fully absorbed after application. This body lotion takes its inspiration from the Korean tradition of rubbing chilled watermelon rind into the skin to soothe rashes. Not only is there watermelon seed butter, but also hibiscus AHA, watermelon extract and hyaluronic acid for a completely vegan, cruelty-free experience.
2. Josie Maran Intensive Daily Repair Body Butter for Eczema, Extra Dry & Sensitive Skin – Best for Dry Skin
VisitIf dry skin is one of your biggest issues, then this is the nourishing lotion for you. Not only is it good for dry skin, but it’s also excellent at relieving irritations and itchiness. This is because it uses a prescription-grade colloidal oatmeal ingredient. For the best results, use this every day.
Juice Beauty is an organic brand that offers a vegan body lotion. It uses jojoba, shea butter, fatty acids, Vitamin C, and peptides. The latter has been proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines for firmer skin. It’s also fully certified with the Leaping Bunny as a cruelty-free brand, and it offers sustainable and recyclable packaging.
This is a great option if you’re an itchy or dry skin sufferer. The Polly Plum moisturizer is fantastic at providing relief for skin conditions such as eczema. It’s perfect for sensitive skin with a formula that is deeply moisturizing. There’s calendula as a natural anti-inflammatory and jojoba for that smooth feeling.
This non-fragrant lotion absorbs quickly giving a soft feel to the skin through its more weightless texture. It’s made from natural ingredients including shea butter, seaweed, macadamia, and kukui oils. This lotion is great for providing moisture throughout the day.
For itchy or flaky skin, this is a wonderful option. First Aid’s body lotion uses shea butter, eucalyptus, and oatmeal. The antioxidant element means there is protection against strong damage. Unlike some other lotions, this is great for use on the face, not just the body. It’s suitable for sensitive skin and contains no parabens or harsh chemicals. Instead, it’s all about rehydration in a sensitive, vegan-friendly way.
This is an intensive moisturizer suitable for all skin types. Its aim is to leave skin feeling supple and soft through an easily absorbed formula. Additionally, it’s vegan and dermatologically proven to work using ingredients such as safflower, shea butter and sunflower seed oil.
Lightweight and quick-drying, this body lotion is a great option for use after a workout or a shower. It’s not overly scented either, putting the emphasis on skin hydration. It contains soy protein, macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil and Vitamin E. However, while this specific product is vegan, some of the Jack Black range is not. Some contain lanolin, beeswax, and silk amino acids, so it’s important to check the ingredients of other products from this brand.
Why use body lotion?
Body lotions are great for moisturizing your entire body. By using a lotion, you can boost and support your skin barrier. As there are three layers to the skin, it’s the top layer, the epidermis, that body lotions target. This is the first defense your body has against toxins. If you’re out in harsh weather, this is the first part of your skin to get damaged — sun, harsh soap and humidity also contribute to this. So, by using a good moisturizer, you can ensure that your skin is kept healthy and even repaired for a better look and feel.
Is there a difference between vegan and cruelty-free?
Absolutely, yes there is. Cruelty-free brands are those that don’t test their products on animals. Now, this is a great step forward, but it doesn’t mean that they’re vegan as well. This is because, for a product to be vegan, it can’t contain any animal products or by-products. So, while a vegan brand is always cruelty-free, the reverse is not necessarily true.
Which body lotion brands are cruelty-free?
There are actually a lot of options for ethical moisturizers. A number of different brands offer cruelty-free body lotions. These include Pacifica, Up Circle, Hempz, 100% Pure, Attitude, Dr. Bronner’s, The Body Shop, Kate Mcleod, Pai, Weleda, Glow Recipe and more. For some of our top vegan body lotion picks, take a look at our list above.
Can you make your own body lotion?
Yes, you can make your own body lotion. And, you can make sure it’s vegan and cruelty-free as you know exactly what its ingredients are. Essentially, a homemade body lotion needs four ingredients — water, an oil, an emulsifier and a preservative. The trick is to ensure that all of these ingredients are vegan, so avoid beeswax!
A great option is using vegetable oils including coconut and avocado, and mixing them with shea butter. This mixture needs to be heated up until it all melts into a liquid. At this point, you can then pick your favorite essential oils to give it a pleasing scent. Then put the whole mixture into the fridge to cool.
Once it has solidified, you then add cornstarch (preservative) and some water. Mix this up and then decant it into a container so that you can use it at a later date.
Summary
Body lotions are a great way to help hydrate your skin and keep yourself moisturized. Applying a soft, soothing lotion each day is also relaxing and, for some with skin problems, an absolute necessity. As such, skincare is an important part of self-care, which is why finding vegan-friendly options is a must.
We’ve outlined some of the top brands for the best vegan body lotion in our list above.