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Animal testing has plagued a majority of the world’s industries in the world and the beauty industry had been a major contributor to it. However, brands are now more conscious about the harm testing on animals does to them and have moved away from doing so. I have reviewed the 11 best cruelty free body lotions on the market! If you love and want to protect animals all around the world, then using these products is a great signal to the industry to stop cruel tests on animals.
1. Best Overall – Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: All; best for dry skin or sensitive skin
- Item Form and Package: Emollient lotion; Bottle with pump
- Material Type Free: Paraben, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance-free
- Liquid Volume: 32 oz. (907g)
- Scent: Flowery smell
Description
Moisturize and nourish dry to sensitive skin with the Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion that both hydrates and softens skin with the help of natural botanical emollient ingredients.
Features
Organic ingredients: made with natural ingredients that are hypoallergenic that soothe the skin
Non-greasy emollient lotion: leaves your skin feeling hydrated and soft without feeling heavy
Cruelty-free: not tested on animals
How to use
As this is an oil-based or emollient lotion, you will have to have slightly damp skin that you get after drying from a shower. When you have that, squeeze a pump of the product and apply it all over your skin, rubbing in broad strokes and massaging it until the skin absorbs it. Leave it to dry for a few minutes after and wash your hands properly with soap to get rid of the product from your hand.
Expert Verdict
When you get an Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion, you know you are getting one of the best products on the market. It is very emollient and gets rid of dry skin almost instantly! The skin feels nice and hydrated afterward too, with the lotion being very quickly absorbed into the skin. Another thing I have noticed is how the product itself was soothing, probably due to the aloe, chamomile, and cucumber in the ingredients. I did not irritate my skin at all and left it feeling nicely moisturized. The only downside to this product is the not-so-pleasant smell. It might not be scented, but the array of botanical smells was not really that nice to smell. Otherwise, it does everything that you would want from a lotion and more, except the smell part (at least for me!).
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Moisturizing; gets rid of dry skin | Not a pleasant smell |
| Soothing ingredients; doesn’t irritate skin | |
| Quick absorbing even though it is oil-based |
2. Best of Musk Daily Moisturizing Cream – HEMPZ Body Lotion Age Defying
Specification
- Skin Type: Normal skin
- Item Form and Package: Emollient lotion; Bottle with pump
- Material Type Free: Paraben and gluten-free
- Liquid Volume: 17 fl oz. (500 ml)
- Scent: Vanilla
Description
Get that daily vanilla musk that you desire with the HEMPZ Body Lotion Age Defying that will leave you smelling good for longer!
Features
Natural hemp seed oil: quick absorbing, rich in vitamin E, and non-greasy
Vanilla musk: get a musk of vanilla on your body
Herbal extract: best of ginseng, caffeine, aloe, shea, and algae extracts for soothing and hydrating
How to use
Another emollient type of lotion so you will need to have slightly damp skin on your body for the best application of the product. Rub generously all over your body, taking one squeeze at a time and massaging your body in broad strokes and then in small circular motions. Massage until it is absorbed onto your skin and wait for it to dry within a few minutes.
Expert Verdict
The HEMPZ Body Lotion Age Defying is that moisturizing musk that you will need to smell good all day long! It has shea butter and hemp seed oil, both of which provides the skin with the needed hydration it needs on a daily basis. The herbal extracts from the product which include aloe and ginseng are really good at soothing the skin and reducing any inflammation that you might have on your skin. I was also skeptical of its anti-aging benefits but to my surprise, I was quite happy with how the product helped reduce my fine lines. However, the smell is synthetic so there is a possibility of it being an irritant on your skin so not really recommended for sensitive skin.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Moisturizing and protects the skin barrier | Contains synthetic fragrance |
| Soothing ingredients | Not recommended for sensitive skin |
| Nice vanilla smell | |
| Subtle but noticeable fine line reduction |
3. Best for Silicone-free Body Lotion – Love Beauty and Planet Soothe & Serene Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: All
- Item Form and Package: Lotion; Bottle with dispenser pump
- Material Type Free: Paraben, silicone, phthalate, dyes-free
- Liquid Volume: 13.5 fl oz. (400 ml)
- Scent: Lavender and argan
Description
Get the best out of a cruelty-free and silicone-free body lotion from the Love Beauty and Planet Soothe & Serene Body Lotion!
Features
Moisture locking: keep the moisturization on your skin for a long time
Argan oil infusion: protects the skin while also moisturizing and keeping dry skin away
Plant-based: keep your skin smooth and keep the environment clean and no harm to animals
How to use
Take a bit of the product in the middle of your palm and warm it up by rubbing it together. Then apply a thin layer on your skin and massage it in. Use small circular motions to apply all over your skin and let it dry. Wash your hands after you are satisfied with the application.
Expert Verdict
With the help of lavender and argan oil, you get a silicone-free body lotion from Love Beauty and Planet Soothe & Serene Body Lotion that serves to give you an all-day moisturization! I can also confidently say that this product is really good for sensitive skin too, being especially good on dry skin conditions like eczema. The plant-based ingredients mean that the stuff inside is hypoallergenic and keeps the skin nice and protected. The only thing that I found lacking with the product is how it left a sticky feeling on the skin once it dried. It dried quickly but left a tacky feeling on the skin that stayed for a bit.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| All-day moisturization | Sticky feeling after it has dried |
| Good for fighting skin conditions | |
| Non-irritating plant-based ingredients |
4. Best for Dry Skin and Long-Lasting – Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter
Specification
- Skin Type: Dry skin
- Item Form and Package: Body butter-type lotion; Bottle with pump dispenser
- Material Type Free: Paraben and phthalates-free
- Liquid Volume: 32 fl oz. (946 ml)
- Scent: Citrus smell from lemon and sage
Description
Get long-lasting bliss from dry skin with the Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter that provides deep moisturization that was made without harming animals.
Features
Long-lasting moisturizing: keep your skin hydrated for a lot longer
Dry skin combat: fight against patches of dry skin on your body instantly
Non-greasy and quick-absorbing: leaves no tacky or heavy feeling on the skin
How to use
For a body butter-type lotion, you will have to first warm it up by rubbing it between your hands. Then apply generously all over your body, making sure to keep the lotion spread nice and evenly across the skin. Wait for it to dry and wash your hands after you are done.
Expert Verdict
The Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter gives your skin a deep moisturization that lasts for a while! The shea butter and other emollient ingredients in the list help not only moisturize but also keep your skin hydrated by forming a protective barrier too. Dry patches of skin are quickly diminished and the nice smooth feeling doesn’t feel tacky at all. However, the thickness of the lotion can be a bit difficult to get out from the pump, which was the only issue I faced.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Smooth skin; no dry patches | Thick lotion makes it hard to get out of the pump |
| Deep moisturization | |
| Light citrus smell that was not overpowering |
5. Best for Soothed Skin – Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Soothing Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: Normal to dry skin
- Item Form and Package: Lotion; Squeeze tube
- Material Type Free: Paraben, sulfate, silicone, phthalate, dyes-free
- Liquid Volume: 8 fl oz. (236 ml)
- Scent: Rose
Description
A wonderful combination of rosehip and argan oil in the Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Soothing Body Lotion leaves the skin feeling soft and soothed.
Features
Soothed skin: quick absorbing and leaves the skin feeling soft and soothed with the help of aloe and mint
Berry complex: uses a bunch of berries to hydrate and renew skin with natural berry extracts
How to use
Squeeze the tube to get enough of the product to cover the middle of your palm. Then warm it up and apply it all over your body in big motions. Leave it to dry and wash your hands afterward.
Expert Verdict
Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Soothing Body Lotion hits that sweet spot of leaving a satiny finish on your skin while also soothing it! It is quick to absorb in the skin and leaves it nicely moisturized afterward. It will also help with getting rid of dead skin on your body with the help of allantoin, giving your skin that smoothness. The only thing I was sad about was the greasy feeling it left on the skin afterward. It dries and is absorbed in the skin really fast but it felt like the skin was greasy.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Soothing on the skin | Does leave a greasy feeling on the skin |
| Gets rid of dead cells from the body | |
| Nice hydration |
6. Best for Baby Skins – The Honest Company Hydrating Face + Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: For babies
- Item Form and Package: Lotion; Squeeze tube
- Material Type Free: Paraben, phthalates, dyes, and synthetic fragrance-free
- Liquid Volume: 8.5 fl oz. (200 ml)
- Scent: Lavender
Description
Get a lavender-scented lotion that is safe to use on babies with The Honest Company Hydrating Face + Body Lotion!
Features
Baby safe: be worry-free about using it on your baby
Face safe: formulated to be used on the face too; tear-safe as well
Hydrating: keeps the skin feeling hydrated for a while
How to use
If you are using this on your baby, make sure that you take it a little at a time and apply it as gently as possible on your baby’s slightly damp skin. Rub the product in and make sure to be careful around the eyes. In the instance it does get in the eye, rinse in cold water to get the product out.
Expert Verdict
For your little bundle of joy, The Honest Company Hydrating Face + Body Lotion is a perfectly baby-formulated lotion that is also cruelty-free! It keeps the skin nice and moisturized, leaving it feeling soft in the process. The lavend3er in the scent in the lotion is not too overpowering for the baby so you are perfectly safe to use this on your baby. However, if you or your baby has sensitive skin, then I would advise against using it as it causes breakouts. Try a patch test first on your skin to see if you have breakouts or not.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Baby safe | Not good for sensitive skin |
| Moisturizing | |
| Slight lavender smell; not overpowering |
7. Best for Sensitive Skin – Tree to Tub Lavender Shea Butter Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: All; especially for sensitive skin
- Item Form and Package: Body butter lotion; Bottle with dispenser pump
- Material Type Free: Gluten, paraben, triclosan, and synthetic fragrance-free
- Liquid Volume: 8.5 fl oz. (250 ml) each
- Scent: Lavender and cocoa butter
Description
Get the best out of all-natural plant-based vegan ingredients in the Tree to Tub Lavender Shea Butter Body Lotion!
Features
Colloidal oats: for rehydrating dry patches of skin and leaving it nice and soothed as well
Skin-friendly pH: matches your skin pH and does not unbalance the levels
Gentle for all: can be used by anyone as long as they are not allergic to the ingredients list
How to use
After coming out of the shower, pat dry your skin to leave a bit of dampness on it. Take a bit of the body butter on your hand, and warm it up by rubbing it. Start spreading it over your body in broad strokes and massage diligently on your skin until the butter is fully absorbed into your skin. Wash your hands afterward.
Expert Verdict
When you need an all-natural product for sensitive skin, look no further than the Tree to Tub Lavender Shea Butter Body Lotion! It is gentle and can be used even for sensitive skin without causing breakouts from occurring. The pH levels of your skin are maintained so you won’t have to worry about your skin randomly becoming dry. You can also tell that the lavender fragrance is from natural lavender and the smell is not overpowering either. The only problem with the product is the inefficient pump. The dip tube only goes about 80% of the way and I can see other people struggling to bring out the lotion.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Vegan ingredients safe for sensitive skin | Inefficient pump |
| Nice smell | |
| pH levels balanced |
8. Best Naturally Luxe Body Lotion – Cake Beauty Vegan Body Cream Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: All
- Item Form and Package: Body butter balm-type lotion; Squeeze tube
- Material Type Free: Parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and talc-free
- Liquid Volume: 7 fl oz. (200 ml)
- Scent: Buttery cream and vanilla scent with a hint of coconut
Description
When you need a luxury body lotion that is all-natural, then the Cake Beauty Vegan Body Cream Body Lotion is the product you need!
Features
Vegan luxe product: a luxury product that uses all vegan ingredient
Thick and moisturizing: leaves on thick which is perfect for winter skincare
How to use
As this is a thick moisturizer, get a bit out of the tube and rub your hands between the product. Then apply it on your skin in an even layer as thin as possible.
Expert Verdict
A thick and deep moisturization is what you get with the Cake Beauty Vegan Body Cream Body Lotion! A naturally luxe body lotion that uses vegan products and does not harm animals either. It lays on thick and moisturizes deep into your skin as long as it is on your hand. Afterward, you can feel your skin has become smooth and velvety. The almost cake-like smell is wonderful as well to have on your skin but make sure to not eat it though! Sadly, the thick consistency may bring moisturization, but it also means it is doubly tough to get out of the tube. It takes a bit of a struggle to get it out and I had to work really hard to even get a bit of the product out of the tube.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Deep moisturization | Really difficult to get out of the tube due to its thick consistency |
| Vegan ingredients | |
| Wonderful smell |
9. Best for Non-Greasy Lightweight – Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Soothing Butter Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: All
- Item Form and Package: Liquid lotion; Gallon bottle
- Material Type Free: Paraben, fragrance, and sulfate-free
- Liquid Volume: 128 fl oz. (3.78l or 3780 ml)
- Scent: Unscented
Description
Get the massive 1 gallon of the Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Soothing Butter Lotion that is non-greasy and quick-absorbing!
Features
Giant size: will sure to last for years
Lightweight: dries quickly and does not leave the skin feeling heavy
Shiny finish: gives your skin a glowing finish
How to use
Carefully pour just a bit of the product on the bottle cap and take it from there when you are applying, which makes life just a bit easier. Then, apply the lotion generously on your skin, applying it on as thick as possible and then covering the whole parts of the body. Afterward, wash your hand and replace the cap of the bottle.
Expert Verdict
When you are in need of something massive, then you can be sure Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Soothing Butter Lotion will be up for the job! While the bottle is massive, the actual liquid lotion is lightweight and it feels light on the skin too. It doesn’t leave your skin feeling heavy at all and quickly absorbs into the skin. What is also cool about this product is it leaves a nice shine on your body if that is what you prefer. However, the big size is a problem for when you want to pour some of the product into your hand. I would suggest buying the pump (sold separately) as well to make it easier on yourself.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| 1-gallon bottle; lasts a long time | Too big to pour the lotion; best to pair it with the pump from Ginger Lily Farms |
| Lightweight and doesn’t leave skin feeling greasy | |
| Shine on your skin |
10. Best for Deep Intensive Care – MARLOWE. 002 Extra Moisturizing Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: All; both men and women
- Item Form and Package: Lotion; Bottle with pump dispenser
- Material Type Free: Paraben and phthalates-free
- Liquid Volume: 15 fl oz. (443.6 ml)
- Scent: Fresh smell from aloe and citrus
Description
Get the deep intensive care that your skin needs with MARLOWE. 002 Extra Moisturizing Body Lotion! Extra moisturization that works for both men and women!
Features
Non-oily formula: doesn’t leave a greasy feeling
Natural antioxidants: green tea, willow bark, and algae extracts to protect your skin from environmental damages
Skin protection: leaves the skin feeling protected by moisturizing and skin barrier rejuvenation
How to use
Take a pump of the product and then spread it across your skin, massaging it into the skin. Keep doing that until you are satisfied with the coverage of the lotion, which should a nice thin and even layer. If you have put too much, you can take a towel and pat some of it off. Wash your hands after you are done using the lotion.
Expert Verdict
The MARLOWE. 002 Extra Moisturizing Body Lotion is a pretty unique product. It is targeted at men but the scent is just a light fresh lotion smell that is not overpowering or masculine at all. It also works wonders on your skin, with the antioxidants working on your skin to keep it protected from environmental damage. It has a non-oil and non-greasy formula that absorbs the skin easily and does not leave a tacky feeling to it. However, I noticed when opening the pump that the dip tube is a bit too short, making it hard to reach the last bit of the product. When you are in the last few ounces, expect to struggle to get the last bits of lotion out.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Non-greasy and non-oily | Dip tube is too small to reach the bottom of the tube |
| Light fresh scent | |
| Protects the skin from environmental damage |
11. Best for Strengthen and Restore – DERMA-E Jasmine and Vanilla Ultra Moisturizing Shea Body Lotion
Specification
- Skin Type: Dry skin
- Item Form and Package: Lotion; Squeeze tube
- Material Type Free: Parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and petrolatum-free
- Liquid Volume: 8 oz. (227g)
- Scent: Jasmine and vanilla scent
Description
Get a body lotion with the properties to restore the skin’s hydration and strengthen it in the process with the DERMA-E Jasmine and Vanilla Ultra Moisturizing Shea Body Lotion!
Features
Vanilla extract and jasmine extract: leave your skin feeling soothed
Hyaluronic acid and soothing oats: help to restore hydration in the skin and strengthen it
How to use
Squeeze out a little amount of lotion on your hand and then spread it across your skin, massaging it gently. Stop massaging your skin once the lotion is absorbed into the skin. Wash your hand afterward. For spots of dry patches, take a pea-sized amount and massage it into the skin.
Expert Verdict
When you need a product that will not only hydrate but also strengthen your skin, look no further than the DERMA-E Jasmine and Vanilla Ultra Moisturizing Shea Body Lotion! The soothing ingredients in vanilla and jasmine extract provide nice soothed skin. On the other side, hyaluronic acid and colloidal oats help to restore the strength of the skin giving back the elasticity it has lost. The shea butter also helps to lock in the moisture that was lost by the skin and gives a moisturization effect that lasts! However, be prepared for the overwhelming jasmine smell that comes from the product. A little vanilla but a lot of jasmine smell which I personally did not like.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Soothing ingredients to leave the skin soft | Overwhelming jasmine smell; might be too much for some |
| Hyaluronic acid and oats to leave restore the skin’s elasticity | |
| Shea butter locks in the moisturizing effect of the lotion |
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What Lotions Are Cruelty Free?
Cruelty-free lotions are those products that have not done any testing on animals when making the product. The beauty industry has been plagued by tests being done on animals such as mice and rabbits because of their skin’s closeness to ours. But the way that these tests are cruel and often have adverse effects on the animal!
There are many indicators to identifying a lotion or any product that is cruelty-free. All you have to do is watch out for certain labels that indicate that the product is certifiable and that no animals were harmed in the process of making the product.
The most popular and the only international cruelty-free label is the Leaping Bunny certification. It is an international brand that gives you the ultimate deciding factor of whether or not a product is actually cruelty-free. Other animal protection advocacy groups like PETA have their own program called Beauty Without Bunnies which serves to certify if a company or a specific product is free from any new animal testing.
How to Choose the Best Cruelty Free Body Lotion for Your Skin Type?
It will really depend on what your skin type is. If you have extremely dry skin, thick lotions like body butter are really good to keep your skin hydrated due to their consistency. Obviously, for these products, you will have to look out for the specific Leaping Bunny or other animal cruelty-free labels that the product has to determine if it really is cruelty-free or not.
The other thing that will help you choose the best cruelty-free body lotion is to choose a product that is paraben, sulfate, and phthalates-free. These are irritating for the body and cause breakouts among other side effects on the skin so be sure to watch out to see if the lotion is free of these ingredients.
What you do want in your body lotions are moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and other types of natural emollients so that they spread easily on your skin. Ultimately, a body lotion suitable for your skin type has to be something that you need to try for yourself. That is the best indicator of which one is the best for you.
FAQs
Testing on animals results in over 1000 animal deaths every year due to adverse effects on the animals. To help protect them, it is important to use and promote cruelty-free body lotions.
Jergens Ultra Healing Hand and Body Lotion and Curel Ultra Healing Hand and Body Lotion are good hand lotions that are cruelty-free.
It will depend on the certification and verification of the lotion but all natural body lotions might not be cruelty-free as these ingredients can still be tested on animals.
Some drugstore or supermarket does contain cruelty-free body lotions like Covergirl and Milani. It will depend if they have the certification or not.
There are no added benefits to using cruelty-free body lotion as the effectiveness will depend on the product. However, it will show manufacturers that more people are looking for cruelty-free lotions and they will be more encouraged to stop testing on animals.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! 11 of the best cruelty free body lotion on the market that I have reviewed and categorized accordingly. Body lotions are something I frequently use so it was nice to try out products that no animals were harmed during the testing and production phase. I really liked the Ginger Lily Farms’ massive gallon bottle lotion that I bought the pump for! Hopefully, the body lotion you are looking for is on this list and this review helped you with your decision for it. As always, stay classy!
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