Top 5 Organic & Vegan Body Lotions
Rubbing lotion on your warm, freshly showered skin may be one of the best feelings this life has to offer. Similar to getting that first whiff of hot coffee in the morning, it’s a pocket of luxury in your daily routine.
It’s the little things, right?
To make sure that every-day ritual is as good as it can be, we put together a guide to choosing your optimal vegan body lotion moisturizer, whether that be oil, butter, or vegan lotion. With all the vegan body lotion moisturizers available today, you’ve almost got too many choices.
Let’s look at why you might opt for each of these products, depending on your skin’s specific needs. For all the DIY-ers out there, stick around till the end for a recipe you can make yourself.
Why Organic Body Lotions is Important?
Good, non-toxic body moisturizers do more than feel nice upon application. They protect and repair your skin barrier. Within that barrier, there are lipids (natural fats) that are responsible for hydration and firmness. This lipid barrier defends your skin from irritants and maintains natural moisture.
Unfortunately, modern society poses a variety of threats to this barrier. Free radicals from cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants, UV rays, and other toxins all damage lipids. Once compromised, the skin barrier won’t be able to do its job effectively.
Signs Of An Impaired Skin Barrier
Tight, dry skin
Redness and/or a burning sensation
Flaky patches and itchiness
Stinging or sensitivity when applying topical products
As we age, our skin gradually decreases lipid production, making it even more important to preserve this barrier. We can do this by avoiding unnecessary exposure to free radicals, over-exfoliating, and harsh products.
Rather than risk using a product that could harm your skin barrier, look for one that will actively restore and enrich it. Moisturizers containing lipids similar to those found in your skin are ideal.
A popular source for this exact purpose is vegetable oil, which imitates the lipids found in your skin. Thanks to the familiar structure of plant-based oil, our bodies typically respond well to the moisturizing effect.
Vegan Moisturizing Body Oils
There’s a reason people have used oil as a moisturizer for centuries. It saturates the skin and seals moisture in. Today’s oil-based products tend to leave out many of the unpleasant ingredients found in other moisturizers.
Here are our top picks for soothing oils. Since everyone’s skin responds differently, remember to experiment as needed. What works miraculously well for one person may just not do the trick for another.
Kora Organics Noni Glow Vegan Body Oil
With an impressive score of 2 on the EWG toxicity scale, this fragrance-free lotion is loaded with rich, nourishing ingredients that help lock in moisture and improve the appearance of your skin! This lotion is incredibly lightweight and formulated for all skin types, making it the perfect go-to pick for everyday wear. Give it a try!
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Natural Body Oil
This option is on the budget-friendly zone and still packed with essential fatty acids thanks to the Kukui Nut based formula. It also has sweet almond and coconut oil, making it super hydrating and smooth. It contains no harsh chemicals, and the packaging is made from recycled materials.
Vegan Body Lotions and Butters
If oil isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other natural body moisturizers out there. One of the most notable candidates is shea butter.
If you haven’t yet been introduced to shea butter, it’s worth checking out. It’s an anti-inflammatory agent that may also aid in UV protection. In addition to being high in fat and fatty acids, it’s rich in vitamin E. Remember those aforementioned free radicals? Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant to fight off damage from those culprits.
These are our favorite lotions with shea butter, non-toxic body moisturizers with EWG certification.
Attitude Natural Body Cream
This Body Cream utilizes the healing force of avocado oil to moisturize and protect. Made with hypoallergenic ingredients, it’s safe for tender skin. It also includes oatmeal, a calming element on the skin. We also collected our top picks for straight-up shea butter products. You can use these butters on their own or in a homemade recipe.
Osea Ocean Body Lotion
With an impressive score of 2 on the EWG toxicity scale, this fragrance-free lotion is loaded with rich, nourishing ingredients that help lock in moisture and improve the appearance of your skin! This lotion is incredibly lightweight and formulated for all skin types, making it the perfect go-to pick for everyday wear. Give it a try!
Viva Naturals Organic African Pure Shea Butter
We love the creamy texture of this certified organic and 100% pure Shea Butter. It works as a daily moisturizer and is sustainably harvested in Uganda.
Kate McLeod’s Daily Stone
The solid Daily Stone moisturizer is made with five core ingredients and a blend of frankincense, rose, and neroli. It’s made from scratch with zero plastic or chemicals. Once you apply the stone to your skin, it melts for an easy spread. You can use it to moisturize your whole body. We love that it comes in a sustainably farmed and re-usable bamboo canister.
DIY Shea Body Butter Recipe
As promised, here’s a simple recipe to make your own vegan body moisturizer. It’s highly adaptable, so feel free to tinker with it. Make your friend’s day by creating a batch with their favorite scent.
If you’re not already familiar with using essential oils, do a small patch test on your skin first. Certain oils may irritate sensitive skin.
Ingredients
4oz unrefined shea butter
1oz coconut oil
1oz almond oil (or jojoba oil)
40 drops of your favorite essential oil(s)
Directions
Melt the shea butter and coconut oil together.
Remove from heat and mix in your almond (or jojoba) oil.
Add your essential oil(s) of choice.
Let it cool for ten minutes.
Cover the mixture with paper or a lid and then place in the fridge for around 40 minutes.
Enjoy! Give this recipe a try and let us know what essential oil you used.