Aveeno moisturizing body oil: how to use it

What does a body moisturizer do?

An emollient is another word for a moisturizer. Emollients trap moisture in the skin and form a protective oily layer that helps the skin repair. Moisturizers form a protective layer that reduces water loss, which is less glamorous than the bottle and more useful. Leave on moisturizers stay on the skin rather than being washed off. Their purpose is to relieve dryness and itching, not to clean the skin.23

How should you apply a body moisturizer?

Use these general steps alongside your product's directions.

1. 1Keep your shower or bath to five to ten minutes and use warm water. Wash with a gentle cleanser, using only enough to remove dirt and oil rather than building a thick lather.
2. 2Gently pat your skin with a clean towel instead of rubbing it dry. Apply moisturizer promptly while the skin is still damp.
3. 3Wash your hands before applying the moisturizer. If a moisturizer comes in a tub, remove it with a clean spoon rather than your fingers.
4. 4Smooth the moisturizer over the skin in the direction of hair growth. For general emollient care, leave a thin layer to soak in rather than rubbing vigorously.

How often should you moisturize?

General emollient care can mean applying two to four times a day, or more often when skin feels dry. That is not an Aveeno body oil dosing instruction. Apply after washing or bathing, and adjust your moisturizing routine to the dryness you are treating. Cold weather can increase the need for moisturizer. If a clinician has advised continued emollient use, keep using it even after the skin condition clears.2

When is a cream or ointment a better choice?

Choose the texture according to how dry the skin is, the area involved and what feels comfortable to use. Ointments are thick, greasy and last longer on the skin, making them useful for very dry skin. A cream can be more practical when skin is less dry or you are going to work. Different moisturizers can serve different needs, so matching logos are not a treatment plan.23

For dry, sensitive skin, look for fragrance free products. "Unscented" is not the same thing: a product can contain chemicals that hide ingredient odors and irritate sensitive skin. Ointments and creams add more moisture than lotions. If dryness is severe, prioritize that practical difference over the product format you initially planned to buy.1

Can you use moisturizer with prescription creams?

If your treatment includes a topical corticosteroid, a steroid medicine applied to the skin, keep it separate from your emollient application. Allow at least 30 minutes between them, in either order. Applying them together can dilute the steroid treatment. If you are having ultraviolet light treatment or radiotherapy, ask your treatment team for specific moisturizer instructions before treatment starts.23

What should make you stop?

Stop using an emollient that makes your skin itchy or sore. Tell a dermatologist if moisturizer causes burning, stinging or irritation. If dryness continues despite changing your bathing and moisturizing habits, arrange a dermatology assessment rather than repeatedly switching bottles. Persistent dryness can have an underlying medical cause.12

Emollients can make baths and showers slippery, so take care around those surfaces. Do not treat a moisturizer as sunscreen. For exposed skin, use a separate broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. If your moisturizer contains paraffin, avoid smoking and naked flames while it is on your skin, clothing or dressings.13