Healthy skin all year around!

Summer is here (in New Zealand) and that means the beach, the sun and the sand! I've started hitting the waters early this month and got me a mean as tan :) I am a bit naughty though because I haven't been putting on SPF on my skin (which is a BIG NO-NO!). So today, I vowed that every time I go out under the sun I will now start using SPF lotions. But this isn't only about SPF lotions, it's about taking care of your skin in general.

I am one of those girls who cannot live without body lotions. I have tried a variety of lotions and I know which one is right for me. But before I break it all down to you, let me review these body lotions I have tried in the past. Oh, and may I add, when I buy body lotions, I buy BIG ones (750 ml) because I use it everyday all over my body after showering, or after sun bathing (to prevent my skin from peeling) and it does wonders to my skin.

I like my body lotion to smell nice or yummy and also something that absorbs into my skin quickly which means less time spent slathering the lotion all over my body (it can be quite tiring you know).

Here is my top 5:

5. Freeman Body Lotion in Shea Butter and Lemongrass

Okay, so this product didn't really impress me much except that it smells really nice like a tropical fruit or something like that. The texture of the lotion was too thin and when I applied it on my skin, it felt like water. It didn't absorb much as the lotion was still visible after several slatherifications and so I gave up and just left it there to dry by itself. The color is pure white with an almost runny texture - not good for a moisturizer. This is good for normal skin but I do not recommend this if your skin is dry to very dry as this will not do the trick.

All in all, it gave my skin a fresh pleasant smell all day long but without the moisturization it needed.

4. Skin Milk Body Lotion

I discovered this at the start of the year when I was on the hunt for a new lotion and voila! It was on sale for only $8 so I bought two big momma ones which made me happy of course and both of them lasted me for 2 months :) What I like about this product is that it smells like a baby powder. It smells nice and subtle, not too overpowering. The texture was in the mid-range, it wasn't runny or too thick. But when I apply it on my skin, it doesn't absorb well (and like I said before, I want a lotion that absorbs pretty quick without having to keep massaging it on my skin). Also, the moisture doesn't last the whole day so instead of only applying it in the morning, you have to do it at night too because of its lack of staying power. I did enjoy it eventhough it wasn't the perfect one for me. The packaging was what caught my attention, as shown in the picture, it is shaped like an old milk bottle.. how cute! 

All in all, it was average. Nothing too great -  just a normal lotion.

3. St Ives Body Lotion in Vanilla

I bought this solely because of its softening properties, oh and of course, the smell! It smells so yummy that every time I use it it relaxes me........ hmmmmmmmm I can still remember the feeling hahaha! Anyway back to the topic, this is nearly perfect except that when I apply it all over my body after showering and then I get dressed, the lotion kinda sticks to my clothes and that's not very nice. It doesn't stain the clothes but it kinda dampens it a bit and the smell sticks as well. I didn't like that. But on the bright side, it did leave my skin feeling nice and smooth all day. I didn't feel the need to apply it twice a day as its staying power is lasting.
All in all, I would definitely buy this again and I 'll have to wait for the lotion to absorb before I get dressed to avoid the lotion from dampening my clothes.

2. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula

I am obsessed with this lotion! It smells sooooo yummy just like the scent of chocolate ohmygosh it's heavenly. Okay, before I get a bit carried away, first things first! Let's talk about the actual lotion itself, it comes in a creamy yellow color and the texture is soft and just pretty much right, i.e. not too liquidy or too creamy. It is amazing! When I apply it, the smell just stays on for hours and hours and everyone will definitely notice that chocolatey scent :) And oh la la! The lotion quickly absorbs into the skin making it so easy to apply and frees you a lot of time to do something else. What I don't like about this product is that it is a bit too expensive for its size. I bought mine for $8.50 and that's only in a 250mL bottle. So if you're the type of person who don't mind spending that amount of money for a small bottle then this is for you!

1. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Body Lotion

I have finally found the perfect one for me!!! Vaseline has yet again won my heart with this amazing body lotion that's affordable, quick absorbing, moisturizing, smells nice and is available in this gigantic bottle 750mL! The scent is not too overpowering and the color is also yellowy cream just like the Palmer's one. It absorbs quickly and lasts the whole day - which means you don't need to apply it again at night. Perfect! I always bring this along with me wherever I go to keep my skin feeling nice and soft :) Try it for yourself, I highly recommend it.