by Annie Vischer
If you’re a little bored of the usual variations on body lotion, shea butters and creams lined along the shelves this season, then take a look at our favourite five lotion alternatives.
Champneys Energising Lime Hydrating Gel (£8.00) is made up of a blend of lime oil, peppermint oil and sea kelp which moisturise skin without leaving any greasy or creamy residue. This is perfect for a straight-out-of-the-gym-shower moisturising session. The gel won’t leave your legs sticky, so you won’t have that awful struggle of pulling your jeans on after applying it, and the scent is wildly reviving to boot. It looks very pretty on a bathroom shelf too.
I know it sounds frivolous, and that we really ought to be prioritising the hydrating properties of a body moisturiser, but a little shimmer really does glam up a product, and if you like to have one that you keep just for best, then this should be it. The Clarins Splendours Shimmer Body Oil (£38.00) it has to be said, doesn’t scrimp on luxurious ingredients. It contains fragrant essential oils of mandarin, grapefruit, ylang ylang and tonka bean as well as hazelnut oil and vitamin E. All very virtuous right? It also contains fine golden pearls that give skin a barely there sheen, enhancing a summer glow to perfection.
The brand new The Body Shop Body Sorbets (£7.00) are a delight to use. They come in five different scents (Strawberry, Mango, Peach, Satsuma and Moringa) and contain soya oil (which, incidentally, is Community Fair Trade soya oil from Gebana Brazil) as well as aloe vera (again, Community Fair Trade from Guatemala). Skin is soothed, calmed and hydrated when this soft gel like formula is applied. All smell delicious and would make brilliant after-suns.
The Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil (£7.49) has been a firm favourite since it launched last year, and it’s still going strong. Skin feels beautifully smooth and nourished after use, but the main appeal seems to be the smell. You can use it on hair, on cuticles to soften them and…as I myself found out…on door hinges to stop them squeaking! Talk about versatile. This is a great all-year-round product to have on your dressing table, and its price means it won’t stand out as a heart-stopper on your shopping list.
The Superdrug Vitamin E Shower Moisturiser (£2.99) is the ultimate time saver. Mid way through the morning rush? Hop in the shower with this little wonder, lather up, shower off and you’re done. Straight into your work outfit for the day, no need to reach for the body lotion, you’re skins been nourished in the exact time it would have taken you to rinse off your shower gel of choice. What’s not to like?! That’s an extra few minutes you can use to change up your look for the day with a statement lip maybe, or a fishtail plait? Or grab a cheeky little Starbucks if that’s more your thing of course.