Do you experience itchy, flaky or dry skin on your legs? This is your skin’s way of telling you it is thirsty. It’s most likely to happen during cold weather, but if you are prone to dry skin then you’ll know that dry legs can be a summer problem, too!
The good news is that dry legs are easily soothed, and with a little TLC, your legs will soon feel beautifully soft again.
Here we guide you through choosing the best body cream, lotion or oil for extremely dry skin on legs. All of the body moisturisers we recommend are made with natural and organic ingredients, are kind to sensitive skin, and are vegan and cruelty-free.
Why do I get dry legs?
It’s perfectly normal for the skin on your legs to feel dry from time to time, thanks to varying temperatures and the drying effect of central heating or the sun.
It is also all too easy to forget to moisturise your legs when hidden under tights and trousers.
Here are a few more reasons why you might experience dry legs:
- Dry legs after shaving
- Dry legs during pregnancy
- Dry legs during menopause
- Dry legs after swimming
- Dry legs due to eczema or psoriasis
- Dry legs after exposure to drying cosmetics
- Dry legs due to sunburn peeling
But you needn’t worry. With our moisturising skin care switches, your legs will soon feel softer.
How to prevent dry skin on legs
There are a few quick things that you can do to prevent your legs getting so dry.
1. Choose a gentle shower gel
Often used in synthetic beauty products, including body wash and body lotion, ingredients such as SLS and ethyl alcohol (ethanol) can strip your skin barrier of its protective oils, leaving your legs more vulnerable to dehydration. Make sure you are showering with alcohol-free, SLS-free body wash.
2. Exfoliate regularly
Using a gentle body scrub or exfoliating body mitt once or twice a week releases dull skin and makes it much easier for your skin to absorb all the goodness in your body care routine. It also supports skin circulation, giving skin a gorgeously healthy, natural glow.
3. Moisturise
Dry, itchy legs cry out for moisture, and you’ll be amazed at the difference that applying body lotion or body oil makes. By knowing the best way to use dry skin body care products, you can maximise hydration and ensure that your chosen product sinks in with ease.
Best body oil for dry legs
Looking for the best body oil for dry legs? A treat to use, body oil is a concentrated blend of plant oils that locks in moisture and nourishes and repairs dry skin.
Our favourite body oil for dry legs is Time to Soothe Scent Free Body Oil. Gentle on delicate skin, it glides into dry skin, replenishing dry patches with no less than 8 nourishing plant oils, including reparative Rosehip, moisturising Hemp Seed Oil, and Vitamin E-rich Sunflower.
Naturally scent-free, we’ve enhanced it with a Patchouli-derived active called CB2-Skin™ Biofunctional. Instantly calming, this clinically proven active boosts your skin barrier while gently soothing away feelings of itchiness and irritation.
Alexandra Kay Time to Soothe Scent Free Body Oil 100ml
Soothe and nourish with this scent-free body and massage oil
€33,95
“The oil is beautifully smooth and seems to be absorbed comfortably. It has a very clean feeling to it. the dry itching was relieved ... thank you so much.” Cynthia R
HOW TO APPLY A BODY OIL TO DRY LEGS:
Liquid nourishment for the skin, apply body oil to your legs daily straight after showering or bathing.
Massage a generous amount of oil into the skin whilst it is still damp to lock in intense hydration and leave dry skin feeling soft.
Best body lotion for dry legs
Prefer the texture of a moisturising body lotion? Our best moisturiser for dry skin on legs is our Pure Luxe Body Lotion.
This non-greasy, pampering lotion contains Aloe Vera, Jojoba and Shea Butter, three of our favourite moisturising ingredients for extremely dry legs!
- Aloe Vera contains mucopolysaccharides, which naturally combine with water to deliver intense skin hydration
- Jojoba is rich in antioxidant Vitamin E and delivers moisture to the skin whilst helping to restore damaged cells
- Shea Butter is rich in Vitamin A and E and essential fatty acids and is deeply nourishing and an excellent moisturiser for dry legs
This deluxe Pink Grapefruit luxury body lotion revitalises dry legs and awakens your senses with elegant Citrus, Cardamom and May Chang notes.
HOW TO APPLY A BODY LOTION TO DRY LEGS:
For best results, apply a small amount of body lotion to clean, dry legs and massage it into the skin using light circular movements.
Best body cream for sensitive, dry legs
That’s where our Scent-Free Hand and Body Lotion comes in. Designed to deliver daily, gentle hydration to sensitive and easily irritated skin, this body cream is rich in calming Chamomile and moisture-retaining Jojoba and entirely free of fragrance, drying alcohol and essential oils.
Did we mention that it's dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be kind to sensitive skin? This makes it the perfect body lotion for sensitive, dry skin on legs.
Scent Free Body Lotion 150ml
Discover deep skin hydration with our soothing, fragrance-free body lotion
€32,95
“This is a beautiful body lotion. It smooths onto the skin nicely and is almost instantly absorbed, so there are no greasy marks on clothes. I have dry arms and legs, and since using this lotion, my skin has felt smooth and hydrated all day. It's also a lovely, non-greasy hand cream. I don't know how I managed before I found this!” Janet M
How to apply body cream to dry legs
Despite being a little thicker than body lotion, body cream should be applied to the skin in a similar way. Once the skin is clean and dry, apply a small amount of lotion to the legs and massage it into the skin using light circular movements.
Best body wash for dry skin
Keeping legs soft starts in the shower. Lower the temperature a bit to prevent hot water from drying your legs out, and switch in a moisturising shower gel that’s free from ethanol alcohol and skin-drying SLS.
Made with moisture-retaining Marshmallow Root, Moisturising Shower Gel is our go-to body wash for dry legs. Suitable for all skin types, it gently cleanses with skin-kind bubbles that release a heavenly Neroli natural aroma.
There’s no alcohol or SLS to worry about, either. We use the calming, soothing properties of the Yucca plant to create a light and gentle lather that leaves your legs soft and clean, not stripped.
Moisturising Shower Gel 200ml
Supercharge your shower routine with our certified organic moisture-boost body wash
€20,95
“This shower gel does not leave your skin dry like most highstreet brands. My skin feels clean and hydrated after use and the best part is no nasties!” Jody M.
Once your skin is clean and dry, lock in hydration by applying body lotion, cream or oil.
Do you need help choosing natural body lotion for dry legs? Our friendly customer care team is happy to help and can be contacted at 01403 740350.
Reviewed by:
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 and 2024 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "Dry legs exposed: how to stop dry, itchy skin on legs". Please do not use an affiliate link.
