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Buying guide · Updated November 2026

The Best Body Care

Body lotions, washes, scrubs and deodorants ranked on results, formula, feel, value and community verdicts.

  1. Best overallAmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid
  2. Runner-upCeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin
  3. Best valueTree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub
  4. #4Native Deodorant Stick

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1Best overallAmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid

AmLactin

Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid

8.4Great

The dermatologist-favorite 12% lactic acid body lotion that smooths rough, dry skin cheaply, though it can sting.

  • Bumps & KP
  • Smoothing
  • Resurfacing
  • Dryness relief
  • Flaking relief
  • 12% lactic acid exfoliates and moisturizes in one step
  • Fragrance-, dye-, paraben- and phthalate-free
  • Large bottle for under $20
  • Can sting on sensitive, broken or freshly shaved skin
  • Increases sun sensitivity, so sunscreen is required

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2Runner-upCeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin

CeraVe

SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin

8.3Great

A fragrance-free salicylic and lactic acid cream with ceramides that reliably softens rough, bumpy skin for a drugstore price.

  • Bumps & KP
  • Smoothing
  • Resurfacing
  • Dryness relief
  • Barrier repair
  • Combines salicylic and lactic acid exfoliation with ceramide moisture
  • Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic
  • Long-term users credit it with smoother rough, bumpy skin
  • Smooths bumps rather than eliminating them, and results stop if use stops
  • Contains an AHA that raises sun sensitivity

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3Best valueTree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub

Tree Hut

Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub

8.2Great

A cheap, generous sugar scrub with shea butter, plant oils and a rose scent, popular for softening dry body skin.

  • Smoothing
  • Resurfacing
  • Dryness relief
  • Hydrating
  • Very affordable for a large 18 oz tub
  • Sugar exfoliates while shea and oils leave skin soft
  • Widely available at Ulta, Walmart and Amazon
  • Strong fragrance and dyes make it a poor fit for sensitive skin
  • Not suitable for the face or freshly shaved or broken skin

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4Native Deodorant Stick

Native

Deodorant Stick

7.8Good

The best-known aluminum-free drugstore deodorant: pleasant scents and a gentler new formula, but it controls odor, not sweat.

  • Odor control
  • Fresh & clean
  • Irritation-free
  • Aluminum-, paraben-, phthalate- and baking soda-free
  • Wide range of scents, plus an unscented option
  • Smooth glide on clean, dry skin
  • Does not reduce sweating, only odor
  • Fragranced versions may not suit sensitive underarms

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5Nécessaire The Body Wash

Nécessaire

The Body Wash

7.6Good

A gentle, niacinamide-and-oil gel wash that cleans without stripping, with spa-like scents and a premium price per ounce.

  • Hydrating
  • Barrier repair
  • Dryness relief
  • Irritation-free
  • Sulfate-free, pH 5.5 to 6.5 formula that cleans without stripping
  • Niacinamide, glycerin and plant oils for a softer after-feel
  • Rich foam and a spa-like Eucalyptus, fir, lavender and ginger scent
  • Expensive for a rinse-off product
  • Scented versions contain essential oils that may bother sensitive skin

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6Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Sol de Janeiro

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

7.5Good

The cult pistachio-caramel body cream: fast-absorbing and irresistibly scented, but firming results are modest for the price.

  • Firming
  • Smoothing
  • Hydrating
  • Long-lasting moisture
  • Addictive pistachio, salted caramel and vanilla scent that lingers on skin
  • Fast-absorbing texture, according to the brand
  • Rich in butters and oils including cupuaçu, açaí and squalane
  • Firming and cellulite claims rest on the brand's own 34-person study
  • Heavily fragranced, so not for scent-sensitive skin

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At a glance

How they compare.

ProductScoreResultsFormulaTextureValueCommunity
AmLactin Daily Nourish Lotion with 12% Lactic Acid8.48.68.27.09.08.6
CeraVe SA Cream for Rough & Bumpy Skin8.38.38.67.68.68.4
Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Shea Sugar Scrub8.28.07.08.29.38.5
Native Deodorant Stick7.87.28.08.28.27.6
Nécessaire The Body Wash7.67.68.28.66.27.8
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream7.57.27.09.06.68.6

Community

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