Tested by While in the past the focus in the skincare world was on the face, the body has been getting extra love as of late. A slew of products are launching to not only solve pesky body issues issues but also pamper the skin below your chin with face-skincare-quality ingredients and indulgent textures and scents. It’s time to swap out your basic soaps and lotions for the next generation of award-worthy bodycare.
Part of Olly’s first foray into body care, this gentle cleanser was created to comfort both the senses and the skin with its cozy, sweet aroma and cushiony formula.
TEST RESULTS: The best of 10 body washes tested, it earned points for its easy pump packaging, rinsing off well, not irritating, and leaving skin clean and smooth. One tester appreciated its “creamy lather” and “moisturizing feel.” Another user said, “My skin felt soft and hydrated—I would definitely buy this.”
Skip the messy scrubs and the rinsing: This Grown Alchemist body lotion smooths rough skin with a trio of acids (lactic, salicylic, mandelic) traditionally found in face skincare as it hydrates.
TEST RESULTS: Testers gave it top marks for being a breeze to apply, soaking in fast, not feeling greasy, and leaving skin looking moisturized. It also made body skin appear visibly smoother and less crepey. “I loved absolutely everything about this, especially the way my skin felt afterward and how long it felt moisturized,” a tester raved.
If you like body lotion with perfume-quality scents, look no further than this “lightweight” shea butter formula from Soap & Glory. It comes in five floral, sweet, and fruity options (Radiant Rose, shown; Vanilla-Licious; Tropical Sunrise; Watermelon Spritz; and Orchid Bliss).
TEST RESULTS: The lotion received perfect scores for spreading easily and making skin look hydrated. A tester said, “I have dry skin and was impressed with how long my skin stayed soft and moisturized.” Another noted, “My husband said I smelled wonderful after using it.”
This fragrance-free CeraVe formula packs three types of ceramides to tackle seriously dehydrated skin. (Bonus: It also works on the face.)
TEST RESULTS: The cream got perfect scores for spreading easily and making skin feel soft and look moisturized. “I loved everything about it—my skin was smooth for 24 hours,” a tester raved. Another user enthused, “My skin looked and felt so soft and glowing as soon as I put it on.”
This sheer gel-oil from Vaseline not only silkens skin instantly with sunflower oil and cocoa butter but also leaves behind a flattering sheen.
TEST RESULTS: Testers found that it left skin supple, moisturized, and less crepey, and several noted the “glow” it gave. The oil spread onto skin easily and soaked in quickly, and users loved its “heavenly, beachy” scent. “It blended with my skin tone so naturally,” one remarked.
It’s not every day that there’s buzz about a hand wash, but splurge-worthy Evolvetogether is shaking up the game with its decadent, high-end scented formula (there are three variants), encased in a sleek refillable glass bottle.
TEST RESULTS: This proved to be a perfect hand wash in many respects, having a “silky” texture that lathered well, rinsing off easily, and leaving hands feeling clean but not dehydrated. “It’s more than just a cleansing experience,” a tester said. “The sophisticated scents are like an extension of a fragrance wardrobe.”
The classic L’Occitane hand cream topped Beauty Lab tests, thanks to its potent blend of plant oils and butters in a decadently creamy formula.
TEST RESULTS: It raised skin hydration 32% in six hours, per lab Corneometer measurements. A full 100% of testers agreed that it improved the look of rough, chapped hands. A nurse who washed her hands constantly called it “fantastic” for “making hands feel soft.”
This “quick-absorbing” Babo Botanicals sunscreen, with 20% zinc oxide, solves many mineral-SPF gripes—and it’s enriched with nourishing oils (sunflower, coconut, and safflower).
TEST RESULTS: The lotion excelled in Beauty Lab testing at being easy to apply and rinse off, not transferring, and not making skin feel oily or dry. “It felt great on my skin” and “I forgot I had it on,” two testers reported.
Get a foolproof faux bronze with Coola’s self-tanning lotion, a top performer in GH Beauty Lab tests that also silkens skin via ingredients like aloe and shea butter.
TEST RESULTS: The formula got the highest scores for not being messy, gliding on effortlessly, being absorbed quickly, and giving long-lasting color that faded evenly. “As easy as applying regular lotion,” a tester said. Another reported receiving compliments on her “tan.”
Spritz on Degree’s new fresh-scented antiperspirant for clinical-level moisture and odor protection in an “easy” spray that’s no sweat to apply.
TEST RESULTS: It earned an extensive list of top scores: for being absorbed quickly, feeling comfortable on skin, not transferring onto clothing, preventing perspiration, and stopping odor all day. “I did not sweat while wearing this and it didn’t leave a residue on my skin,” a tester remarked.
This Athena Club kit (with a handle, seven five-blade heads, and a magnetic hook) was a winner in the GH Beauty Lab’s razor test, removing hair from even tricky spots in a single pass.
TEST RESULTS: The razor rated best at shaving hair in one stroke and providing lasting smoothness. A full 100% of testers agreed that it maneuvered easily around difficult areas such as the knees and the ankles. “It left my skin incredibly smooth with not a hair left,” a tester marveled. Another said it gave a close shave that was “significantly better” than that from the razor they had been using.
Nair’s self-hardening microwaveable hot wax makes speedy work of whisking away unwanted face and body hair of various lengths—with no messy wax strips.
TEST RESULTS: The wax was simple to take off in one swipe and removed both short and long body hair well, “leaving skin soft and smooth,” GH’s beauty lab director said. Redness was minimal and dissipated in about a minute, she noted. It also effectively removed short facial hair, including on the eyebrows.
No need for pricey pro laser hair-removal visits: This at-home device from Philips uses IPL (intense pulsed light) technology to reduce hair regrowth over time. It includes with four attachments to target areas on the body, face, bikini area, and underarms as well as a sensor that recommends the safest intensity level for your skin tone.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s beauty lab director found the device lightweight and easy to hold, and though it produced a warm sensation, it worked relatively painlessly. She was “impressed” that it needed be used only every two weeks for the first four treatments to see results (with most others, more frequent use is necessary) and that the device could be slid over large areas, a “huge time saver.” After four treatments, “I could no longer see hair growth,” she reported.
A serious standout in the competitive fragrance category this year (and not just for its gorgeous flower-printed bottle): Gucci Beauty’s head-turning scent, which melds creamy gardenia with warm sandalwood.
TEST RESULTS: This perfume earned praise for having timeless appeal along with offering an exciting rich twist on traditionally soft florals. GH’s beauty director described it as “bold yet sophisticated” and ”something that people remember.”
This distinctive Phlur fragrance elevates the trendy cherry note by blending it with the opulent, almost subversive aromas of orange brandy, woods, and leather.
TEST RESULTS: This was a star in a sea of perfume submissions. “Fruity fragrances can skew juvenile, but this turns that on its head with an unexpected deep, rich twist that’s most definitely adult and totally irresistible,” GH’s beauty editor noted.
Get a luxe fragrance experience for less with Josie Maran’s chic sprays, which are made with 100% naturally-derived perfume oils in a milky formula laced with her signature skin-softening argan oil.
TEST RESULTS: Our pros loved the “light, gentle mist” and found that the four fragrance options offered something for everyone, with a choice of sweet, warm, fruity (like the above), or musky scents. The Topless Tangerine variant is a GH beauty expert favorite for its “addictive bright, citrusy” aroma.
Body mists have gotten a makeover: This next-generation one from EOS has a cozy-sweet vanilla scent with notes of cream, musk, and woods as well as hyaluronic acid and aloe for skincare benefits—all at a bargain price.
TEST RESULTS: GH experts appreciated that this body spray layers multiple notes for a more complex fragrance experience rather than centering on a single one. “I liked that I could spray this on larger areas of skin without it being drying,” GH’s beauty editor said.
Refresh your strands between washes (or just wear fragrance more subtly) by spritzing on Kitsch’s hair perfume, which comes in eight options ranging from fun fruity and sweet fragrances to sophisticated floral and amber scents.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s beauty editor loved that the packaging was a portable size and the fragrances offered just enough aroma without being overpowering. “The warm Oak and Amber scent is reminiscent of fragrances multiple times the price,” she commented.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 15 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and performance testing. The number one skincare rule she lives by: never go to bed with makeup on.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.
