Olay’s $6 Retinol Body Conditioner Keeps My Skin Soft Even When I Skip Lotion
Body lotion is meant to be a 365-days-a-year type of product, but when you have to slide into jeans in the morning, truly... who can be bothered? On mornings when you're running out the door (or nights when you just can't), the critical post-shower step of moisturizing often gets skipped... if it's happening at all. The fix for keeping your skin soft, sans lotion? Olay Nighttime Rinse-off Body Conditioner with Retinol ($6).
Similar to your standard hair conditioner, this full-body product is meant to be applied in the shower and rinsed off before you step out—which will add exactly 5 seconds to your usual suds-up routine. It combines retinol and niacinamide, a pairing that works to keep your skin hydrated without having to layer a lotion on top of it.
- David Petrillo, Nevada-based cosmetic chemist and founder of Perfect Image
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital
Retinol is known for being a skin-care staple, but dermatologists agree that there's no reason its benefits should be limited to your face. Retinoids work by binding to retinoic acid receptors in your skin, which stimulates cell turnover to boost collagen production and replace the dead cells on the surface of your skin with plump, healthy, new ones. As a result, the ingredient can help do away with wrinkles, discoloration, and textural issues. “The skin around the body can benefit from an ingredient that helps reduce fine lines, address hyperpigmentation, and smooth the texture,” David Petrillo, a cosmetic chemist and founder of Perfect Image, a beauty and skin-care company, previously told Well+Good.
Niacinamide, on the other hand, is celebrated in the facial-care world for its moisturizing, brightening, and skin-barrier-strengthening properties. “It helps brighten the complexion and lighten dark spots. It also helps calm inflammation and supports healthy collagen production," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. It can help treat acne, fine lines, blotchiness, and discoloration, and also offers hydrating effects and antioxidant protection.
This powerhouse duo works together to tackle nearly every issue you might be dealing with from the neck down. Though retinol has a reputation for being irritating, the fact that it's paired with niaciniamide—a calming anti-inflammatory—means that in this case, it's safe to use on all skin types. And at only $6 a bottle, you can rest assured that you'll be living that, "No lotion? No problem." life in no time.
Check out the video below to find out what a dermatologist keeps in *her* shower for the sake of full-body skin health.
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