Are body lotion and moisturizer the same?
There are tons of beauty products out there, and it is easy to get lost in the huge offer. Some products are confusing because they appear to do the same, such as body lotion and moisturizer?
Are those products different, or are the two designating the same thing?
Calypso Cavallo tells you everything you need to know.
Are body lotion and moisturizer the same?
Have you ever been in this situation? You are shopping at a skincare store, and you find two products that confuse you: a body lotion and a moisturizer. What is the difference? Are those two products doing the same? Which one should you buy?
Here is everything you need to know about the difference between a body lotion and a moisturizer!
What's a body lotion? Best to know!
Are body lotion and moisturizer the same? Let’s start by defining what’s a body lotion.
“A body lotion” is a generic term and may have several purposes depending on its formula. A lotion is a mix of oil and water that is lightweight compared to creams, so easier to absorb into the skin. At the same time, most body lotions are formulated to be moisturizing, while others are meant to help the skin tan.
As its name says, a body lotion is meant to be used on the body, not the face. Beauty products designed to be used on the face and the ones for the body have different formulas, as some ingredients are great to use on your legs or arms but would clog your pores if applied to the delicate skin of your face.
There are both medicinal and cosmetic body lotions. Depending on their formula, they can be “over-the-counter” or prescription only.
In most beauty products stores, body lotions are light moisturizers with various smells. Their primary purpose is to feel good on the skin and to perfumem it. A body lotion
What's a moisturizer?
So, are body lotion and moisturizer the same?
The sole purpose of a moisturizer is to moisturize the skin and prevent dryness. A moisturizer has to seal moisture into the skin. Most moisturizers have anti-aging properties as dryness tends to fasten skin aging.
There are several types of moisturizers. Some are meant to be used on the face, such as day or night moisturizers. A day moisturizer often contains an SPF to protect the skin from harmful UV light, while a Night moisturizer tends to be thicker and richer.
Body moisturizers have different formulas, and using them on the face is not recommended as they may clog pores. Most of the time, they are labeled as “body moisturizers to avoid any confusion. They are also sold in larger containers as we must use them in larger quantities to cover the whole body.
What to pick?
Now we know the difference between moisturizer and body lotion, what should you buy? The answers depend on what you are looking for. If you want a pleasant smell and a light-weight, you should go for a body lotion. If your main goal is moisturizing, you should use a moisturizer as it is richer and specially formulated to keep your skin moisturized and healthy.
As a matter of price, moisturizer tends to be more expensive than body lotion as they are richer and more concentrated in active ingredients.
Whether you go for a body lotion or a moisturizer, you should ensure it is a high quality ptoduct and does not contain any nasty ingredients, as some skincare ingredients are believed to be linked with skin problems or cancer.