If there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that thick, rich, and (dare I say?) slightly greasy body creams are the best. I know that last descriptor might make people turn away in disgust, but I’ve found the thickest body creams create the most occlusion on the skin. In other words, they lock in moisture better than other, more lightweight lotions. And that, in my experience, is the key to smooth, soft, and plump skin. In fact, during a conversation with the other Who What Wear beauty editors, I admitted that I basically hoard these body creams, and I use them all year round. In the winter, I use them to smooth my skin and prevent the dreaded tightness and flakiness resulting from freezing temperatures. In the summer, I use them to soothe razor burn and give my skin a healthy-looking glow. So, without further ado, keep scrolling to see my 10 favorite rich body creams; these are the ones I’ve personally vetted (and recommend).
Let’s start with my all-time favorite (and the product that first made me obsessed with thick, rich body creams in the first place). Yes, it’s expensive, but I promise it’s worth it after you see how it can moisturize, smooth, and plump the skin. It’s all thanks to ingredients like organic shea butter, avocado oil, anti-inflammatory mango butter, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E. This is my go-to body cream to treat and prevent razor burn (which I’m prone to, especially in the summer). Also, after using this for a couple of days, I can tell my skin looks smoother, plumper, and generally just healthier. I’m obsessed.
For a budget-friendly option, look no further than this rich body cream from Flamingo. It contains squalane to hydrate, white willow bark to exfoliate, and shea butter to moisturize. I’ve used this for a few weeks, concentrating it on my knees, ankles, and elbows (where I get dry, rough skin), and it’s made a huge difference.
This is a new launch from Nécessaire, which just so happens to be one of my favorite body care brands. It’s the ultimate skin barrier-boosting product with colloidal oatmeal, five essential ceramides, and 5% niacinamide. It’s a fix for persistent dryness, sensitivity, and crepeyness.
The ingredients in this ultra-rich body butter sound like something from a home garden in the English countryside. There’s shea butter, whey powder, beeswax, flower pollen and honey. All of these ingredients work together to deeply moisturize and nourish the skin, while a subtly sweet scent lingers behind.
The ingredients in this body cream are, well, super. They include the likes of B-glucan, niacinamide, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and argan and avocado oils. Even though it’s a luxurious body cream (at a luxurious price) it absorbs fairly quickly, leaving the skin soft, smooth, and moisturized.
The price might make you wince, but it’s an Augustinus Bader product after all—the brand that’s known for super luxurious skincare—and this body cream fits the bill. The rich texture and proprietary ingredients promise to intensely moisturize, firm, and anti-age the skin.
What would this list of the best thick body creams be without this iconic and sweetly scented one? Yes, the fragrance is addictive—it’s a warm and spicy scent with notes of vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio—but so is the formula itself. With cupuaçu butter, açai oil, and coconut oil, it locks in moisture and plumps up the skin.
This body butter is an icon for a reason. It’s enriched with soy milk and honey, and the whipped texture makes it easy to apply and absorb. The best part is that it promises up to 24 hours of hydration.
My love for OUAI products was recently reignited thanks to a foray into the brand’s fragrances (read my full review), and that love extends to this body cream. It’s thick and luxurious, moisturizes my skin deeply, and leaves it scented with the brand’s Melrose fragrance, which is a fresh, floral scent. What’s not to love?
This is one of my favorite drugstore finds. It’s super thick, yet once it’s applied to the skin, it seems to melt in, making application easy. It also keeps my skin incredibly smooth (this is yet another body cream I use to keep razor burn at bay).
This body oil pairs so incredibly well with the brand’s Body Butter. Use them together after getting out of the shower, and I swear you’ll have the most moisturized skin of your life. I know, I’m obsessed.
I like to apply this lightweight serum, then apply a thick body cream on top to lock in all the hydration.
Niacinamide for your body? Yes, please.
I love when body care products contain vitamin C.
Don’t forget about sunscreen, people! This spray sunscreen makes application easy.
