According to the American Academy of Dermatology, all skin types—even oily ones—can benefit from supplemental hydration[1] .1 That’s where body moisturizer comes in: It helps hydrate and soothe skin, whether it’s on your hands, knees, feet, or elsewhere. Body moisturizer, such as body lotion and body cream, is usually applied as the final step in your daily body care routine to help keep your skin feeling smoother, softer, and more comfortable. 

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, however they’re formulated into different textures. Lotions, for example, tend to contain more water in their formulations than creams, giving them a more lightweight feeling, which may be more ideal for those with oily or normal skin. 

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

Yes! In fact, CeraVe offers multiple kinds of body moisturizer—along with a targeted body care routine—for dry skin. Our body lotions and body creams for dry skin also span the gamut according to the level of hydration needed for different types of dry skin. For instance, for normal to dry skin, you can opt for our lightweight Daily Moisturizing Lotion. Or, for a little more oomph in the body moisturizer department, try our rich yet non-greasy Moisturizing Cream, which is suitable for the whole family, ages 3 and up.

If your skin is slightly more parched, and dry or very dry, give our Intensive Moisturizing Lotion or Intensive Moisturizing Cream a try. We also have a range of other body moisturizer options that are more niche, such as body lotion and body cream for rough and bumpy skin, as well as body lotion and body cream to help relieve itchy, dry skin. Ditto with body moisturizers specifically formulated for healing dry or very dry skin, in addition to ones formulated to help relieve dry diabetic, eczema-prone, and psoriasis-prone skin.

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. 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 or bath.¹ Putting moisturizer onto clean, slightly damp skin immediately after bathing can help prevent water loss and more effectively retain the moisture in your skin. We recommend adding a body lotion or body cream to your daily shower routine to help you get the most out of your body moisturizing products. 

This will depend on the specific body 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, including both body lotion and body cream, 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 according to the label on your body moisturizer. 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, preferences, and skincare goals.

To help smooth the look and feel 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 help soften very dry, rough skin and visibly improve skin texture. Formulated with salicylic acid and lactic acid, this body cream gently exfoliates dead skin cells and helps smooth the appearance of 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 body moisturizer formulas to help soothe the dryness and itchiness that can accompany eczema prone-skin, as well as other chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis.  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 body moisturizer intensely hydrates skin to help relieve dryness, itchiness, and discomfort.


On the other hand, Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream, is an excellent option for those looking for a body cream to help provide relief from skin itching, scaling, redness, flaking, and irritation. This 2% salicylic acid body cream can help gently exfoliate, comfort skin, and provide smoother skin texture—while also helping to prevent the recurrence of symptoms. However, keep in mind that for eczema, psoriasis, or any other skin condition, it’s always important to consult with a board-certified dermatologist for their expertise on the best body moisturizer options and treatments for your skin’s needs.

1. “How To Pick the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin.” American Academy of Dermatology. Updated January 25, 2022.