Bath and Body Works Bodylotion - Verwen jezelf met Luxe en Verzorging

Where are Bath and Body Works Products Made?

Bath & Body Works goes on to say that “We work with vendors throughout the global world market to source and manufacture our products.” This means that even though the products made by formulated and packaged in the USA, the ingredients may come from just about anywhere.

Even though pretty much all of Bath and Body Works’ products contain unhealthy and potentially harmful ingredients, the good news is that there are lots of brands that smell great, are good for your skin, and are safer for both people and planet.

And we’ve already done a lot of the research for you. For example, if you’re looking for non-toxic candle alternatives, check out this guide. If you want a better body wash, click here or here. If you want to replace your plug-in Wallflower, this article is for you. Here are some clean body fragrance and perfume brands. And for better lotions and moisturizers, check out this article.

Is Bath and Body Works Cruelty-Free?

“Bath & Body Works does not test any of our products, formulations or ingredients on animals. Period. All of our personal care products are produced in North America, Europe and South Korea.”

However, this statement is controversial because of the fact that Bath and Body Works sells products in China. Chinese law requires that any products manufactured outside of the country be tested on animals before they’re sold to its citizens. An older version of the company’s statement (pictured below) explains that any products sold in China will be produced there too, thus eliminating the need for animal testing.

So, what happened with the products being sold in China, and why did Bath and Body Works remove this information from their animal testing statement?

Best Budget

Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Body Lotion

• Spreads nicely over the skin
• Absorbs well
• Light scent that isn’t overwhelming

• Minimal improvement in the overall appearance of skin

Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter | Skin Type: Dry skin, Dull skin | Size: 10, 20.3, 32 fl oz | SPF: None | Cruelty-Free: No

A tried and true brand, Vaseline’s Intensive Care Cocoa Radiant Lotion is a fantastic drugstore moisturizer for anyone—but especially a shopper looking to get a lot of bang for their buck. It’s available in three large sizes and we found that a little goes a long way, even with daily use, the smallest container will last a while. We also love that it’s packaged in a no-mess pump bottle. Plus, the formula’s light cocoa butter scent will take you back to the tropics.

We were very impressed with the lotion’s consistency—spreads nicely over the skin and absorbs quickly without leaving anything behind. Most importantly, it leaves dry skin feeling healthy, nourished, and well-hydrated. That said, we didn’t notice a significant improvement in skin appearance after daily use.

What to Look For

With so many body lotions on the market, which list countless ingredients with unpronounceable names, it's difficult to determine which components to look for—and which to stay away from.

Dr. Aya Ahram adds, "Look for a mixture of ingredients to help target moisture retention and water loss across the skin barrier: humectant ingredients—which draw in water from the air into the skin—such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, as well as occlusives, which seal water in the skin, like petrolatum and dimethicone." She also recommends "emollients, which provide moisture to the skin, like shea butter and ceramides."

Then comes the fun stuff. Your formula might come with antioxidants. “Vitamin E, C, and green tea extract for example have a dual purpose in preventing free radical damage and may also brighten and moisturize skin,” says Dr. Kikam. Your body lotion might have retinol in it as well, which is ideal for anti-aging. Or, maybe there’s an acid in the mix. “These are wonderful for those with acne prone skin, body hyperpigmentation, KP, and even psoriasis.”

Meanwhile, if you're combatting body acne, Dr. Ahram advises using "a face moisturizer that is non-comedogenic or oil-free so that the moisturizer does not make acne worse."

What to Avoid

In terms of what to avoid, Dr. Ahram says, "In general, I don't love fragrance because it can cause irritation in people with sensitive skin or atopic dermatitis, as they already have a fragile skin barrier and I prefer to avoid ingredients that can cause irritation. Some can tolerate it without any negative side effects, but in general I do not recommend products that are heavily fragranced."

Double board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist Dr. Amy Wechsler also recommends "avoiding ingredients such as lactic acid and glycolic acid" if you're looking for something highly moisturizing that won't irritate your skin.

Finally, Dr. Greenfield says, “I like to see that there are no drying ingredients like alcohol or any strong fragrances that may cause reactions in the skin."