A lotion is an emulsion of water and oils, held together by an emulsifier. It spreads further and absorbs faster than a butter, which is why most people reach for lotion daily and butter for very dry patches.
Lotions contain water, so they need a preservative system. The CertClean standard reviews it along with every other ingredient.
Reading the label
- Emulsifiers
- Ingredients such as cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate or polyglyceryl esters are what keep a lotion from separating.
- Hand and body
- Hand-and-body lotions are formulated for both. Dedicated hand creams usually lean heavier, and are listed under hand and foot care.
