12 Luxe Body Lotions That Also Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Once the weather starts getting warmer and we start wearing less clothing, we should all be slathering any exposed skin with sunscreen before leaving the house—full stop. Not only am I very fair and very prone to sunburns, but I also have extremely dry skin. If I don’t moisturize my body religiously, my skin feels tight and starts to flake, even in warm months.

This presents a challenge for me when it comes to my body lotion–and-sunscreen situation. I’m happy to put on both body lotion and sunscreen, but it’s also kind of annoying, especially if I’m in a hurry. This is where body lotions with SPF come into play. "Using a body lotion with SPF is beneficial because you can hydrate and protect your skin all in one step, which can be helpful, especially for those who either want to simplify their regimen or save time," says Janiene Luke, MD, a dermatologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

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(Image credit: @nitsanraiter)

What should someone look for in a body lotion with SPF?

Make sure your sunscreen has at least SPF 30 since this number typically filters out 97% of UVB rays, according to Luke. Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Amir Karam recommends going a step further and looking for SPF 40 or higher. For a hydrating sunscreen, Luke says to search for ingredients like glycerin, triglycerides, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, or shea butter.

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(Image credit: @kat.shearer)

How often should you reapply body lotion with SPF?

Read the label to make sure the specific sunscreen you’re using doesn’t have any limits to its effectiveness. As a general rule, though, Luke and Karam both say you should aim to reapply body sunscreen around every two hours, paying particular attention to parts of your body that get the most sun exposure, like your chest, neck, and arms. 

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(Image credit: @itsheymorgan)

The Best Body Lotions With SPF

Other Body Sunscreens We Love

Next: I'm Lazy—These 10 Sunscreen Serums Save Me Time and Money (and Sun Damage)

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.

Associate Beauty Editor

Katie Berohn is the associate beauty editor at Who What Wear. Previously, she worked as the beauty assistant for Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her master's degree at NYU's graduate program for magazine journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan; a digital editorial internship at New York magazine's The Cut; a social good fellowship at Mashable; and a freelance role at HelloGiggles. When she's not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her journey to smell every perfume on the planet, Katie can be found taking a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York's newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.