Body lotions & creams – INCI ingredient analysis

Body lotions and creams are the everyday leave-on care for the skin of the body, usually applied after a shower or bath. Lighter milks and gel-creams spread easily over large areas, while creams are thicker and often used on drier skin. Many are sold in pumps or bottles and come in scented and fragrance-free versions.

Most are oil-in-water emulsions. AQUA comes first, followed by humectants such as GLYCERIN or PROPYLENE GLYCOL, emollients like PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM, ISOPROPYL PALMITATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE or plant oils, fatty alcohols like CETEARYL ALCOHOL, and emulsifiers such as GLYCERYL STEARATE or CETEARETH-20. CARBOMER or XANTHAN GUM adjust the texture, and DIMETHICONE contributes slip.

Because lotions contain water, they need preservatives from Annex V, for example PHENOXYETHANOL, SODIUM BENZOATE or a combination with ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN. Ingredients such as UREA, NIACINAMIDE or LACTIC ACID may appear at different positions depending on the formula. Fragrance is listed as PARFUM followed by named allergens, which in leave-on products must appear above 0.001%.