When it comes to skincare, I have a bad habit of focusing all of my time and attention on my face—not my body. Even though I religiously run through my facial skincare routine every night, using cleanser, toner, serum, and moisturizer, I rarely treat my body with the same TLC. Sure, every so often I’ll run a random lotion over my limbs when I feel like they’re getting dry, but that’s usually the full extent of it. I know this is, well, less than ideal. After all, skincare means caring for your skin everywhere. (Did you know 97% of your skin is below your chin?) So I’m consciously trying to change my lackluster bodycare routine, committing to devoting more time and attention to regularly exfoliating and moisturizing from the neck down. Not only that, but I want to treat the skin on my body to the same active ingredients that I treat the skin on my face to.
That’s where a new $18 body lotion comes in. Not only does it moisturize my skin, but it can smooth and firm it, too. It’s all thanks to ingredients like squalane, vitamin E, and retinol. Yes, retinol. Keep scrolling to see which body lotion it is and why I’m so excited about it.
The body lotion in question is this one by Versed, which is Who What Wear’s sister brand and an in-office favorite for effective yet affordable skincare. (By the way, this isn’t the first time I’ve waxed poetic about a Versed product. Check out the dermaplaning tool I use every couple of weeks like clockwork and the glow drops that I can’t get enough of for a dewy complexion.)
Versed isn’t new to the retinol game. The brand previously launched this gentle retinol serum for the face. It’s a best seller thanks to a mix of encapsulated retinol, bakuchiol, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients, which makes it safe for sensitive skin.
Think of the new body lotion as an extension of the serum. It’s just formulated to treat your skin from the neck down. Let’s take a look at each of its individual star ingredients, shall we?
First up, there’s retinol. Just like in the aforementioned serum, this retinol is encapsulated, which means it’s able to bypass the skin’s surface and go into the skin’s lower layers to work effectively with less irritation. For the sake of background, retinol, which is a vitamin A ingredient, increases collagen production and cell turnover, which subsequently offers all kinds of skin benefits including but not limited to the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, breakouts, and uneven skin tone. It’s truly a multipurpose skincare ingredient, and up until now, it’s been almost entirely relegated to face products.
Next up, we have squalane. This is a grade-A occlusive, meaning it helps the skin retain moisture. Since our skin’s hydration levels naturally decrease with age, using a product that contains squalane can keep our skin happy, healthy, and hydrated (and isn’t that exactly what we want from a body lotion?).
After squalane, we need to talk about vitamin E. This is a powerful antioxidant, which means it keeps damaging free radicals at bay. It’s also a skin-smoothing ingredient—it makes skin feel soft to the touch.
The fourth and final star ingredient is cocoa butter, which is a rich emollient that moisturizes and nourishes super-dry skin. (Seriously, it can totally transform even the driest, most chapped skin.) It’s full of fatty acids and antioxidants.
One more thing—because it contains retinol, I was slightly concerned about it irritating the sensitive razor burn–prone skin on my legs. However, even when I applied it to freshly shaved skin, there was no stinging, burning, or redness, just soft and moisturized skin.
If you’re like me, you’re picky when it comes to body lotion. While I love thick and greasy body oils, thick and greasy body lotions, not so much. There’s just something about a thick, chalky cream that I can’t stand. This lotion is not that. It’s easy to massage over the skin, and it absorbs within minutes. Even when I apply it on damp skin, it doesn’t leave a residue or feel like a film on my skin.
Here’s the dermaplaning tool I mentioned earlier.
And the glow drops, too. I use these alone and under makeup for a lit-from-within look.
Speaking of a lit-from-within look, this glow-inducing face oil is a must.
Daily sunscreen is so important, people! This one is a mineral formula with SPF 35.
Who doesn’t need a rich moisturizer for the winter months?
Anyone who struggles with dark spots will appreciate this fading gel.
Use this like a daily toner to soften and hydrate dry skin.
