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Dry, tight or ashy skin is one of the most common things our customers ask about. The fix is rarely an expensive product. It is choosing the right texture for your skin and putting it on at the right moment. Here is how to choose a body lotion in Kenya, with the ones we stock.
First, how body moisturisers work
A good body moisturiser does two jobs. It adds water-loving ingredients such as glycerin that pull moisture into the skin, and it adds oils and butters that seal that moisture in. Thin lotions do more of the first job. Thick creams, butters and oils do more of the second.
The single biggest tip: apply it within a few minutes of your bath or shower, while your skin is still a little damp. The lotion traps that water in the skin. Put it on bone-dry skin hours later and even the best cream feels like it is not working.
Cocoa butter: for very dry, rough skin
Cocoa butter is rich and melts into the skin. It is the classic choice for rough elbows, knees and heels, and for skin that feels dry again an hour after lotion.
- American Dream Cocoa Butter Original 500ml: a thick cream in a big tub. Great value for the whole family and for very dry skin.
- American Dream Cocoa Butter Body Lotion: the same cocoa butter feel in a lighter lotion you can use every day.
- Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Skin Therapy Lotion: cocoa butter with vitamin E, a long-time favourite.
Shea butter: rich but softer
Shea butter is nourishing without feeling as heavy as cocoa butter, and it has a milder scent. It suits normal to dry skin and people who do not love a strong chocolate smell.
- Palmer’s Raw Shea Body Lotion: creamy and easy to spread.
Very dry, itchy or sensitive skin
If your skin itches, flakes or reacts to perfumed products, keep it simple.
- Aveeno Moisturizing Cream: made with colloidal oatmeal, which soothes dry, itchy skin.
- Vaseline Advanced Repair: a simple, no-fuss lotion for very dry skin.
If the itching is severe, cracked or does not settle, see a doctor or pharmacist, as it may be eczema that needs treatment.
Body oils: the finishing step
An oil on damp skin after your bath locks in moisture and gives a soft sheen. Use it on its own if your skin is only a little dry, or under your lotion if it is very dry.
- Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Body Oil
- Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Body Oil
- Johnson’s Baby Oil: light, affordable, and best on damp skin.
Uneven tone and dark marks on the body
For knees, elbows, underarms or marks that look darker than the rest of your skin, some lotions add ingredients that help the look of uneven tone.
Be patient: it takes weeks of daily use to see a change. Skin that sees the sun, such as arms and legs, also needs sunscreen, or the marks come back. Our guide to fading dark spots explains why.
An honest word on stretch marks. No cream can erase stretch marks. Massaging in a rich cream or oil every day keeps the skin soft and supple, and new, pink marks tend to fade more than old, silvery ones.
Quick pick
- Very dry, rough skin: American Dream Cocoa Butter Original cream
- Everyday dry skin: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter or Raw Shea lotion
- Itchy or sensitive skin: Aveeno Moisturizing Cream
- After-bath glow: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter body oil
- Uneven tone: Palmer’s Skin Success Fade Milk
Questions we get asked
What is the difference between a body lotion and a body cream?
A lotion is thinner and spreads easily, which is nice in warm weather. A cream is thicker and holds moisture in for longer, which is better for very dry skin or cold months.
Why is my skin still ashy after lotion?
Usually the lotion is going on dry skin, the shower is very hot, or the lotion is too light for your skin. Moisturise straight after bathing, use warm rather than hot water, and try a richer cream or add a body oil.
Can I use body lotion on my face?
It is better not to. Body lotions are often heavier and more perfumed than face creams and can cause breakouts. Choose a face moisturiser instead.
How often should I moisturise my body?
Once a day after your bath is enough for most people. For very dry skin, add a second layer at night, especially on hands, feet, knees and elbows.
Browse all body lotions and body oils. Everything is original stock, with same-day delivery in Nairobi when you order before 5pm and free delivery over KSh 3,000.