10 dual-purpose exfoliating body lotions that smooth, brighten and moisturise

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Experiencing dry, rough or bumpy skin? It’s time to bolster your body care with one of these exfoliating lotions. 

Whether you’re a skincare fanatic or beauty novice, chances are you’ll have at least a couple of different steps in your everyday skincare routine. 

Between all the cleansers, serums, moisturisers, spot treatments, eye creams and face masks, the products in your skincare beauty arsenal quickly add up. But what about the products used on your body? The skin below our necks is just as important, so why do many of us not bother when it comes to body skincare?

At the very least, the skin on your body deserves a three-step skincare routine: cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturise. The good news is, we’re not saying you need to splash out on a load of new products to do this. Thanks to an influx of clever new exfoliating body lotions, you can now combine two steps in one. 

What is an exfoliating body lotion?

Exfoliating body lotions are essentially souped-up versions of your everyday body moisturiser.

They contain exfoliating ingredients, usually in the form of enzymes or acids, which help to slough away dry and dull skin cells while boosting hydration levels. 

“Acids (such as lactic acid) are able to minimise the build-up of dead skin cells which can add to surface roughness, and also help enhance moisture levels in the skin,” explains Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder and medical director of Adonia Medical Clinic. 

Unlike grainy body scrubs that need to be washed off in the shower, exfoliating body lotions do two jobs in one – you can take care of your skin, without adding extra steps into your routine. Bingo. 

Below are the best exfoliating body lotions that will help slough away dry and dead skin cells, all while hydrating and nourishing your body. Expect smooth, glowing skin from top to toe.

  • Medik8 Smooth Body Retexturing AHA/BHA Lotion

    An exfoliating blend of lactic and salicylic acid sloughs away dead skin and unclogs congested pores, smoothing out uneven texture to reveal brighter, more even skin. Moringa butter helps maintain the skin barrier’s healthy functioning while also protecting against environmental stressors like pollution. 

    Shop Medik8 Smooth Body Retexturing AHA/BHA Lotion at Cult Beauty, £52

    buy now

  • Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum

    A silk-textured serum, Paula’s Choice combined smoothing niacinamide with antioxidant-rich prickly pear extract and hydrating B5 to impact moisture and improve texture on the body. Good for addressing uneven skin tone and improving dullness, the serum absorbs quickly and easily, getting to work while you do. 

    Shop Paula’s Choice 5% Niacinamide Body Serum, £28.90

    buy now

  • Facetheory Glycomide Body Cream

    Created with 9% glycolic acid, this nourishing, luxurious-feeling body cream smooths and refines rough skin texture, while rice bran oil, organic cranberry seed oil and organic jojoba oil hydrate and calm the skin.

    Shop Facetheory Glycomide Body Cream, £9.99

    buy now

  • Dr Sam’s Flawless Body Therapy

    A potent mix of bakuchiol, niacinamide, lactic acid, shea butter and squalane, this hydrating body lotion brightens the skin, unclogs pores and helps to encourage faster cell turnover, leaving you with softer, clearer skin.

    Shop Dr Sam’s Flawless Body Therapy, £29

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  • Drunk Elephant TLC Glycolic Body Lotion

    Perfect for dry, scaly skin, this resurfacing body lotion harnesses the power of AHAs (glycolic, tartaric, lactic and citric acids) to exfoliate dull, drying skin, leaving your limbs smooth and silky soft. 

    Shop Drunk Elephant TLC Glycolic Body Lotion at Boots, £23

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  • Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion

    Lactic acid helps to melt the ‘glue’ that binds dead, follicle-clogging cells to the skin’s surface while also acting as a humectant, attracting moisture from the air and ‘locking it’ into the skin.

    Shop Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion at Boots, £22.50

    buy now

  • Ren Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum

    Enriched with lactic acid and probiotics, this exfoliating body lotion helps to boost the skin’s defence barrier, while hydrating the skin and smoothing its surface.

    Shop Ren Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum at Boots, £37

    buy now

  • Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Body Spot Exfoliant

    Another one from Paula’s Choice, this is a great option for blemish-prone areas like the chest, back and bum. It contains salicylic acid to decongest clogged pores.

    Shop Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Body Spot Exfoliant, £26.35

    buy now

  • CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream with Salicylic Acid

    Suitable for use on both the body and face, CeraVe’s affordable formula uses salicylic acid to exfoliate along with urea, ceramides and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture levels and barrier strength.

    Shop CeraVe SA Smoothing Cream with Salicylic Acid at Cult Beauty, £12

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  • First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA

    Made specifically to tackle keratosis pilaris (ie the bumpy skin that often appears on the backs of arms and thighs), this formula contains a high percentage of exfoliating acids to nibble away at dead skin.

    Shop First Aid Beauty KP Smoothing Body Lotion with 10% AHA at Lookfantastic, £22

    BUY NOW

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