Poko Skincare / Unsplash
Most body lotions make the same promises, and most of them underdeliver. The right formula absorbs quickly, holds moisture through the day, and smells good enough to actually use it consistently. Those three things turn out to be harder to find together than they should be.
Consumer Reports partnered with nonprofit safety organization MadeSafe to test 12 environmentally friendly body lotions, evaluating each on hydration, ease of use, and fragrance. Here are the six picks worth buying.
1 / 6
Credit: Sidia
Sidia's body cream is $49 for 11 ounces, or $4.45 per ounce, and Consumer Reports testers found its performance justified the price. The formula has a lockable pump, making it travel-friendly without the risk of leakage. CR reviewers described the scent as woodsy, slightly smoky, and rich, with something green softening the intensity, a fragrance that lands more distinctively than most. The moisturizing effect lasted through the night, with one tester reporting skin that still felt smooth and silky by morning, a result no other lotion in the test produced.
2 / 6
Credit: Amazon
Weleda makes three body lotion varieties, but Consumer Reports only recommends one, the Unscented, at $9.59 for 6.8 ounces, or $1.91 per ounce.. CR tested all three and found the performance gap extreme, with the Unscented earning the strongest review and the Refreshing Citrus drawing near-unanimous rejection for its cleaning-product smell. The Unscented version left one tester's skin feeling nourished for hours, with the effect still detectable well after application. Both scented versions are worth skipping.
3 / 6
Credit: Native Lotion
At $9.30 for 16.5 ounces, or 85 cents per ounce, Native Moisturizing Body Lotion is the most affordable option Consumer Reports tested. CR testers who tried the Coconut & Vanilla and Eucalyptus & Mint varieties both praised the texture, with one calling it "perfect" and another saying it felt like a genuinely nourishing moisturizer. The formula absorbs cleanly and leaves skin smooth without a greasy finish. Nine regular scents and a rotating lineup of limited editions give it a range few body lotions match at this price.
4 / 6
Credit: Ursa Major
Consumer Reports singled out the Ursa Major Botanic Buzz Body Lotion as the top pick for gift-giving at $28 for 7.4 ounces, or $3.80 per ounce, citing its pleasant scent, easy application, and metal bottle with presentation box. Testers found it lighter and less intensely moisturizing than the Sidia, but noted it spreads easily and smells like a mild citrusy-sweet blend, pleasant enough that one tester immediately wanted to apply it to their whole body. The scent dissipates within two hours, which works in its favor for those who prefer a lighter daily option. CR notes that people with very dry or eczema-prone skin should choose a fragrance-free formula instead.
5 / 6
Credit: All Good
Consumer Reports recommends the All Good Body + Hand Cream for people with normal to oily skin, priced at $17 for 6 ounces, or $2.83 per ounce. CR testers found the thick paste texture absorbed almost instantly, blending into skin with no residue, a quality that surprised one tester who expected the dense consistency to sit on the surface. The scent registers more as cocoa butter than coconut, mild and unoffensive. Those with dry skin will find it underwhelming, since testers reported softness but not deep hydration, with dryness returning within a few hours.
6 / 6
Credit: Amazon
At $38 for 6.8 ounces, or $5.59 per ounce, the FitGlow Beauty Cloud Ceramide Body Cream is the priciest option Consumer Reports tested, and the one with the most distinctive texture. CR testers described it as creamy and airy, closer to homemade whipped cream than a standard lotion formula. The slow absorption rate worked in its favor, with one reviewer noting skin stayed supple for longer than with the faster-absorbing picks. The product is marketed as fragrance-free but does carry a scent that testers described as pleasantly sweet, though possibly too cloying for daily wear.
