Buzz
When I was in college, my roommate and I had totally different skincare habits. She’d take any leftover body lotion from moisturizing her arms and legs and apply it to her face directly from the pump bottle. I, on the other hand, always used specific facial moisturizers. I assumed her routine was damaging, but it wasn’t as harmful as I once thought.
It’s easy to understand my confusion. Walk down any beauty aisle, and you’ll see moisturizers with labels specifying where they should be used: some are meant for the body, others for the face, hands, or even feet. But isn’t skin just skin? Actually, no. The skin on your hands is much different from the skin on your face.
The skin on your face is not the same as the skin on your body
The skin on various parts of your body differs significantly. Your face, for instance, has thinner skin, more oil glands, and more hair follicles than areas like your feet, where the skin is much thicker. Even within your face, certain areas, like the skin around your eyes, are more delicate. This means facial skin can be more sensitive, potentially looking shinier and more prone to breakouts for some people.
Many brands suggest that body lotion should
[Lotion] is totally fine. The real issue is marketing, as long as it’s a simple, non-irritating moisturizer. If it contains harsh ingredients, though, it could be too strong for facial skin, which has a thinner protective barrier than the skin on your body.
The key takeaway is that it’s the ingredients that matter most, not whether the lotion is specifically for your face or body.
Body lotion is perfectly fine, as long as it doesn’t cause irritation to your face
Many body lotions contain strong fragrances and various irritating ingredients such as isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, cocoa butter, pigments, and dyes. These substances can trigger issues for those with acne-prone skin. A more neutral moisturizer, such as CeraVe, Cetaphil, or Vanicream, typically lacks added perfumes and reduces the presence of irritants. If you often experience breakouts, body lotions might be too harsh, and a gentler alternative may work better.
The viscosity of your moisturizer plays a significant role. Moisturizers come in different forms like creams, lotions, gels, and oils, each offering a distinct feel when applied. Your choice depends on factors like your skin type, dryness level, and the season. Creams are the thickest, containing more oil, making them ideal for dry skin, particularly in winter or dry climates. However, for oily or acne-prone skin, it's advisable to use a light, oil-free moisturizer. Lotions and gels are lighter and better suited for warmer months, with gels providing a refreshing feel without the greasy residue.
People with normal skin (neither too oily nor too dry) can generally use body lotions for both their body and face, as long as the lotion doesn’t irritate the face and locks in moisture effectively. Ultimately, it all boils down to your skin type. For more information, check out our full guide on which moisturizers are best for which skin types.
Turns out, my roommate had a point. She used body lotion because it worked for her, and that’s what really matters. If body lotion works for your face too, there’s no harm—just ensure that your skin looks and feels great.
