In stores, Bath and Body Works recently began to advertise its Signature Collection body lotion as the #1 selling lotion in America. Available in scents like invigorating Cucumber Melon and romantic Moonlight Path (pictured), is Bath and Body Works lotion really worth your $9.50 for 8 floz.? Or are drugstore products like Olay Body Quench a better buy, at $18.64 for four to five times as much product?
Ingredients in Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Lotions: Fair
Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion contains very hydrating ingredients: glycerin, petrolatum, dimethicone, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, avena sativa (oat) kernel extract, and many formulations also contain hydrating oils from various sources. Oat extract also has anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory properties. Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion also contains antioxidant vitamins C and E, which together exhibit a synergistic antioxidant effect; and another potent antioxidant, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract.
Unfortunately, vitamin C tends to breakdown and lose efficacy upon exposure to air and light; the transparent packaging of the Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotions does not help this fact. Adding to the problem is the fact that it has been reported in the journal Clinics in Dermatology that vitamin C in unstable formulations can actually trigger aging free-radical formation in the skin. Although vitamin C can be stabilized in lotions, this is expensive, so it would probably be best if Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotions were alternatively packaged in opaque, air-tight bottles (capsules, maybe?). Luckily, the amount of vitamin C in Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion does not appear all that high based on the ingredients list, so the product should still be doing more good than harm. As prevention, however, prolong the life of vitamin C in your Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion by keeping it air-tight, and store it in a dark place.
Are there drugstore body lotions with better ingredients?
One of my favorite new drugstore lotions is Olay Age Transform Intensive UV Serum ($9.99 for 5.9 floz, Amazon.com), which is more expensive than the Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion, but which contains a fairly high concentration (based on the ingredients list) of niacinamide, an incredible anti-aging and hydrating ingredient that has been touted as the favorite Dr. Leslie Baumann (author of The Skin Type Solution). Like the Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion, the Olay Age Transform Intensive UV Serum contains antioxidant vitamin E, but adds in the super potent antioxidant green tea in place of the vitamin C in the Bath and Body Works lotions. In addition, Olay Age Transform Intensive UV Serum contains a chemical block with SPF 15. This means that the average user will acquire an SPF 5 from using this product. Therefore, one should be advised to apply a stronger sunscreen over this formulation, particularly when going to be in the sun for prolonged amounts of time. Still, however, having an SPF in the product is better than having none at all! (One caveat: you probably want to use a lotion with a physical sunblock like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide instead if you are pregnant or nursing or using this product on small children.)
Another favorite drugstore body lotion is Olay Body Quench Lotion ($18.64 for two, Amazon.com), which is cheaper than the other two products, and contains niacinamide fairly high on the ingredients list, as well as hydrating petrolatum and dimethicone. Antioxidant vitamin E is also on the ingredients list. The product also contains titanium dioxide, so it offers some level of sun protection, although not likely very much.
Two caveats with Olay products: one, although they can be good, you will not get the results like from a clinical dermatologist’s office. And two, the amino acids contained in their body lotions — Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine — have little more than hydrating properties. However, they seem to have enough independently proven ingredients, like niacinamide and vitamin E, high enough on the ingredients list to make up for the mostly ineffective amino acids and panthenol (according to Paula Begoun, the “Cosmetics Cop,” panthenol has been shown to be effective for hydration and wound healing, and acne by one isolated study; however, there do not seem to be any long-term anti-wrinkle effects of panthenol at this time).
Another excellent drugstore body lotion is Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($17.29 for two, Amazon.com), with soothing and hydrating oat kernel extract and a high concentration (1.25%) of dimethicone, which is a hydrating skin protectant. It may be noted that both ingredients are found in Bath and Body Works Signature Collection lotion, although the concentration of dimethicone is not known.
So should I keep on using my Bath and Body Works lotions?
Sure, but keep in mind that there are many drugstore body lotions that are equally as good, if not better. I personally like the scent of the Bath and Body Works lotions, but often spray the Bath and Body Works perfumes over products like Olay Age Transform Intensive UV Serum, because of the proven effects of niacinamide, green tea extract, and the luxury of having a light sunscreen built-in. (It is still advisable to apply a stronger sunscreen over the product on exposed areas).
When shopping for body lotions at the department store or the drugstore, always keep in mind that the same ingredients that do wonders on your facial skin can do the same for your body. (Although keep in mind that the reverse is not true: some body lotions have richer formulations that can cause clogged pores or breakouts on your face!) In your body lotion, some ingredients to look for are antioxidants, niacinamide, amino acid peptides (palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 or matrixyl) (these may be very hard to find), hydrating ingredients like petrolatum… and don’t forget the sunscreen! 🙂
Ingredients in Bath and Body Works Signature Collection Pleasures Lotion: Moonlight Path scent
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteryl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Ceteareth-20, Aloe Barabdensis Leaf Juice, Lavandula Angusifolia (Lavender) Extract, Macademia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Diasodlidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, BEnzyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Red 33, Blue 1
Ingredients in Olay Age Transform Intensive UV Serum
Active Ingredients: Octisalate (4%), Avobenzone (2%), Octocrylene (1%), Ensulizole (1%)
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Isostearate, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Disodium EDTA, Cetearyl Glucoside, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Stearic Acid, PEG 100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyethylene, Aluminum Starch Octenyl Succinate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, C12-13 Pareth 3, Laureth 7, Benzyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Sorbitan Stearate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, BHT, Fragrance, Yellow 5, Red 33
Ingredients in Olay Body Quench Body Lotion
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isohexadecane, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Aluminum Starch Octenyl Succinate, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Sodium Acrylates, Behenyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Ethylparaben, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, PEG 100 Stearate, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Thereonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, C12-13 Pareth 3, Laureth 7, Sodium Hydroxide
Ingredients in Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Active Ingredients: Dimethicone (1.25%) (Skin Protectant)
Inactive Ingredients: Avena Sativa Kernel Flour (Oat), Benzyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Petrolatum, Sodium Chloride, Water
“Looking for the best skin care? FutureDerm is committed to having its customers find — and create — the best skin care for their individual skin type, concern, and based on your ingredient preferences. Learn more by visiting the FutureDerm shop!