We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Treat your skin post-workout with one of these hydrating body creams

It might seem like an extra faff you don’t need, but we guarantee adding a body moisturiser as the final step of your grooming routine will make a world of difference.

Cracked hands from too much heavy weight lifting? Gone. Dry patches from going the extra mile during your cold morning run? Sorted.

Banish unwanted flaky, dry skin, and hydrate with one of these tried and tested formulas, guaranteed to leave skin soft and nourished:

It ultimately depends on your skin type, but there are a few key ingredients to look out for to find the best match for you:

Emollients, such as shea butter or ceramides, help to create a smooth surface that improves your skin’s appearance.

Occlusive agents, such as petroleum jelly or jojoba oil, sit on the skin’s surface and create a physical barrier against moisture loss to maintain hydration.

Humectants, such as glycerine and hyaluronic acid, absorb water from the atmosphere, underlying skin cells and any other products you’ve applied to the skin’s surface, helping it to retain moisture.

Just like your face cream, you can get body moisturisers designed to tackle a particular skin concern, whether that be eczema, or ‘bacne’ (back-acne).

Water-based formulas are the standard go-to for hydration, but if you suffer from really dry skin, you can opt for thicker, more oil-based creams to give that extra bit of help.

On the other hand, if your skin is on the oiler side – or you’re particularly sweaty after a workout – and suffer from breakouts, you’ll need something less smothering, like oil-free formulas and lotions. Look for ‘non-comedogenic’ options too, as these are designed to keep pores unclogged.

Sensitive skin – like those prone to rashes and irritation – can keep you up at night. But the right body moisturiser can change all that. Look for more gentle ingredients, such as aloe vera and ceramides, to help rebuild your skin’s natural barrier. Steer clear from exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) as they can irritate delicate skin. However, if you want a smoother finish to skin, these can be a good option.

Chuck in your gym bag and apply straight after your post-workout-shower for the best results. Plus, it will make it easier to remember too.

Moisturisers tend to work best once the skin is damp, as this can help retain precious water , so post-soak is the optimum application time.

We recruited over 400 panelists to trial 29 brands of body moisturiser, to see which ones delivered on hydration.

They assessed each product on how quickly it absorbed and how soft and nourished their skin felt after use. They also noted how long it took to see results, and if they experienced any firming or soothing effects.

Using the Multi Skin Test Center device in the Men’s Health Lab, our expert testing team measured the hydration level of skin before and immediately after using each body moisturiser, and again six hours later, to check for fast and long-lasting results.

Our winner was a great all-rounder, with our testers noting it made skin feel instantly soft, nourished and hydrated. Quick to absorb, lightweight and with a luxurious mousse-y texture, it also works well as a hydrating overnight treatment.  

Key Specifications  Size: 220ml Paraben free: Yes

If scratching that itch is becoming too much of a habit, slather this stuff on to help ease the urge. It uses a combo of niacinamide, shea butter and glycerin to help calm inflammation and restore moisture. 

All of our panel noticed an instant improvement to skin, which was left hydrated, while over two-thirds of testers found it successfully soothed any redness too.

Key Specifications  Size: 400ml Paraben free: Yes

Designed with sensitive skin sufferers in mind, this unscented formula aims to preserve your skin’s natural microbiome, to restore it to its former glory. 

The creamy texture nourished the majority of testers' skin, while absorbing in a flash. It delivered hydration for 85%, with one tester saying it left a “velvety” texture to their skin.

Key Specifications  Size: 300ml Paraben free: Yes

Don’t want to wait around in the changing rooms? Us neither. This speedily-absorbed lotion allowed us to immediately start getting dressed, while still leaving skin with a refreshed feel that left 92% with more moisturised, softer limbs.

Key Specifications  Size: 300ml Paraben free: Yes

Packed with enriching ceramides and hyaluronic acid, this is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic (so won’t clog pores), and proved to be a saviour for our testers with dry skin. All found it softened any rough patches, leaving 93% with more nourished-looking skin. 

Key Specifications  Size: 454g Paraben free: Yes

Worked up a sweat and want to give skin an ice bath? Well, this cooling body lotion will provide you with the same sensation – sans all the mess. It delivered a cooling sensation, refreshing and soothing overheated skin, to 73% of our testers. 

It also left everyone with more hydrated-feeling skin and was so good 92% of our panel said they’d keep it in their skin care arsenal.

Key Specifications  Size: 473ml Paraben free: Yes

As spreadable as butter on warm toast, this cult classic left 77% with added softness and hydration, thanks to its rich and creamy, 100% plant-based squalane formula. 

It did take some time to absorb, with our testers commenting that a little goes a long way, but 82% agreed it made a great overnight treatment.

Key Specifications  Size: 259ml Paraben free: Yes

This quenched everyone’s dry skin and left all wanting to continue using it after the trial was over – you can’t get a better endorsement than that. And all for under £5. 

Although its lab test results for long-lasting hydration let it down, everyone loved the scent it left behind, while all found it soaked in quickly too.

Key Specifications  Size: 250ml Paraben free: Yes

So you’ve switched up your morning drive to work with a healthy cycle, but there are other ways to make your life more eco-friendly, starting with your grooming regime. 

Made from plastic retrieved from the ocean and a metal-free (aka fully recyclable) pump, this is a great option for those looking for more sustainable products.

The cream itself is pretty heavy texture-wise but still absorbed quickly for 93%, while leaving everyone with softer, more hydrated skin.

Key Specifications  Size: 200ml Paraben free: Yes

Small (at 100ml) and packaged in a lightweight aluminium tube, this top-performing moisturiser makes an easy option to travel with.

Blending citrus, vanilla and sandalwood, it will leave you smelling fresh throughout the day. It left all of our testers with more nourished, hydrated skin, too.

Key Specifications  Size: 100ml Paraben free: Yes