How to choose your body cream or lotion based on how dry your skin is

The texture is chosen based on how dry your skin is. If it is normal, a light milk that absorbs quickly is sufficient. If it is dry to extra dry, a nourishing milk, and if it also feels tight, a body butter. Oil is a finish: it does not replace cream.

Why a richer texture offers more protection

A body cream combines three types of ingredients. Humectants draw water into the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin. Emollients fill the spaces between its cells and leave it soft to the touch. Occlusives form a film that slows down the evaporation of water you already have.

A milk contains more water and less fat: it absorbs quickly and works when the barrier is in good condition. A butter, with a much higher fat phase, provides more emolliency and more occlusion, which is what skin that loses water easily needs. That is why the question is not which is better, but how hard it is for your skin to retain its water.

Measure how dry your skin is

See how it feels an hour after showering, without applying anything.

• Normal: comfortable and soft to the touch.
• Dry: feels a bit tight, especially on legs and arms, and looks dull.
• Very dry or extra dry: feels very tight, rough, and may look whitish on legs and elbows.

The answer changes with the time of year and the city. The cold of Bogotá, very hot water, and air conditioning dry out the skin, so at certain times you may need a richer texture.

Normal skin: a light milk

The Olive Body Milk is indicated for all skin types and is neither sticky nor leaves a greasy finish. We conducted a 21-day clinical study on 118 cases (mean scores): 96% stated that their skin was immediately hydrated and 87% that they could get dressed easily after applying it. These are user responses, not instrument measurements.

There are other scents, such as Wild Algae and Sea Fennel or Mango, which soothe, soften, and hydrate the skin throughout the day, without a greasy finish. The Algae one can be applied in the shower, on damp skin, for a fresher feeling.

Dry to extra dry skin: a nourishing milk

When skin already feels tight, you need more lipids. The Nourishing Body Milk, with organic Shea Butter and Calendula, is formulated for dry to extra dry skin.

It claims up to 24 hours of hydration, measured in a clinical study on 12 volunteers. In a satisfaction study with 62 people, 95% stated that their skin felt intensely nourished. The milk texture penetrates quickly. Apply with a gentle massage over the entire body after showering.

Very dry and tight skin: a body butter

If the milk is not enough for you, step up to the Repairing Body Butter, also made with organic Shea and Calendula and indicated for dry to extra dry skin. Its texture is whipped, melting, and extremely rich.

In a satisfaction study with 59 people, 86% immediately stated that it relieves the feeling of tightness, and at 28 days, 88% said their skin was protected from dryness day after day. It has 98% ingredients of natural origin and a vegan formula.

You don't have to choose one for your whole body. Use the butter where your skin gets driest (legs, elbows, knees) and the milk on the rest.

Where oils come in

An oil is almost entirely a fat phase and contains no water: it softens and adds shine, but does not provide humectants. The Monoi Moisturizing Dry Oil has a light texture, a non-greasy finish, and 99% ingredients of natural origin. The Monoi Moisturizing Golden Oil also leaves a fine shimmer on the skin. Both also soften hair.

With dry to extra dry skin, use them alongside the milk or butter, not in place of them.

How to get the most out of your cream

1. Cleanse without drying out. The Solid Shower Gel is formulated without soap and sulfates, with a skin-neutral pH. The Shower Oil calms the tightness you feel after bathing.
2. Exfoliate occasionally. The Nourishing Body Scrub, with shea shells, removes impurities and dead skin. Do not apply to the face or on irritated skin.
3. Apply right after showering, when skin is barely dry, and massage until absorbed. The skin still has water on its surface, and the cream helps to retain it.

The entire range is in Body Care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is better for very dry skin, milk or body butter?

The butter, because it has a higher fat phase and better slows down water loss. The Repairing Shea and Calendula Body Butter is indicated for dry to extra-dry skin. If your skin is dry but not as tight, the Nourishing Body Milk is lighter and is formulated for dry to extra dry skin.

What does "up to 24 hours of hydration" mean?

That in a clinical study, skin hydration was measured up to 24 hours after applying the product. For the Nourishing Body Milk, that study was conducted with 12 volunteers. It is a study result, not a guarantee for every individual's skin.

When is it best to apply body cream?

Right after the shower, on clean skin, with light massages all over the body; this is how we recommend applying the Nourishing Body Milk. With skin that is barely damp, it retains water better.

Does body oil replace cream?

For dry skin, no. The Monoi Moisturizing Dry Oil hydrates with a light texture and a non-greasy finish, but for dry to extra dry skin, it works better when used alongside a milk or butter.

Are the body milks vegan?

Several are: the Nourishing Body Milk, the Olive, Algae, and Mango milks, and the Repairing Body Butter all claim a "vegan formula." Check each product's specification sheet before purchasing.