Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion, $14
Although I primarily use physical exfoliation for my body, I’ve dabbled in chemical. One such experiment was buying and trying Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion. I’ve had good luck with AHAs in my facial routine, so I figured I’d give it a shot for my skin. I purchased the Daily Moisturizing variety.
Cost
Ranging from $12-14 for a sensibly-sized bottle, Amlactin is one of the more expensive body lotions available at the drugstore. Target, for instance, carries a 7.9oz bottle for $12.99 – which makes it $1.64 per ounce.
Smell / Fragrance
I tend to prefer fragrance-free lotions for myself in general. Add in a fragrance-sensitive husband and I try to avoid perfumey products. which is theoretically a win for those who are scent-sensitive. When I picked it up, I was excited that Amlactin is fragrance-free.
My excitement set me up for disappointment, though, because it has a pungent, ammonia-like fragrance. Objectively, it does not linger for a long time (10-15 minutes perhaps) – but subjectively, any amount of time is a long time to smell like ammonia.
0/10, do not want.
Feel
The viscosity of Amlactin is deceiving. Initially it appears to be a thin lotion. Once you apply and start to work into your skin, though, you quickly realize that you nearly always get more than you need for the area in question. The lotion spreads quickly and easily.
Once applied, though, a greasy and sticky feeling remains. Even after waiting an hour my legs felt unpleasantly greasy. If the trade-off to get moisturized skin is to feel greasy, hard pass. I’m impatient enough when it comes to lotion taking 5-10 minutes to dry, let alone an hour. Ain’t nobody got time f’dat!
Overall, I can tell the difference during use. My skin is definitely smoother, but I don’t think it is necessarily softer. It does not seem to cause irritation unless I use it immediately after shaving (then it stings). It does not seem to be significantly impactful in a pedicure application, either. The surface of the skin on my feet is definitely smoother, but it doesn’t have a major effect on overall softness.
The Bottom Line
Simply put yes – it does deliver deliver fairly gentle exfoliation and helps to alleviate dryness. The results aren’t dramatic, though. For the cost, the smell, and the gross, sticky feel, it is a hard pass for me. Even if we only looked at smell and feel inidividually I would not repurchase Amlactin and, ultimately, do not recommend.
I’ll keep dry brushing and using my Tree Hut scrub to exfoliate.