Does Hempz Original Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion Actually Work?
My take on the Hempz original daily moisturizing body lotion in Floral Banana after using it for quite some time, not just one test.
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Hempz sent this over and didn’t know I’d already bought it twice, which is the only credential that matters for a lotion review. This isn’t a first impression; it’s me finally putting words to a bottle that’s been a fixture on my bathroom counter for over a year. You can check the current price on Amazon here.
Quick Verdict
The brand sent this one over to try, and they didn’t know I’d already been using it for quite some time. Floral Banana is my favorite scent of theirs: light, fresh, not overly scented. Grape seed oil and shea butter in a 17 oz bottle that doesn’t feel like a cream.
Buy if you:
- have dry skin and want something that still feels lightweight
- moisturize right out of the shower on damp skin
- need a gift lotion that almost anyone will use
- hate lotions that sit on top of your arms feeling greasy
Skip if you:
- want a thick body butter or cream texture, because this is nowhere near that
- need a fragrance-free lotion, it is lightly scented
- only want a small purse size, the 17 oz bottle stays on the counter
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| Size | 17 fl oz |
|---|---|
| Scent | Floral Banana |
| Key ingredients | 100% pure grape seed oil, shea butter |
| Moisture claim | 48 hours |
| Formula | Vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free |
If You Know, You Know
Floral Banana is the one I keep coming back to. They do have different scents, and for me this is the one. Very light, just a fresh scent. Nothing that follows you into a room.
What 17 Ounces Actually Buys You
At 17 oz, this bottle lasts through full-body use without rationing or monthly replacements. I use it on hands, arms, legs, the entire body, and it still lasts.
The ingredient list is the part I’d point at if someone asked me why not just grab the drugstore bottle. 100% pure grape seed oil and shea butter. That’s what I think gives you the moisture you’re looking for if you have dry skin, and it’s why this doesn’t behave like a watered-down lotion.
One thing worth knowing before you buy: the price on this one moves around a lot. Right now it’s sitting a little under where it’s been for the past three months, but it’s been considerably cheaper at points. So check the live price instead of assuming. It’s also ranked #572 in Beauty and Personal Care with more than 3,000 bought in the past month, which tells you this isn’t some obscure bottle nobody’s heard of.
Damp Skin Straight Out of the Shower
Apply it to damp skin straight out of the shower, that’s when the moisture locks in best. I really will tell you that’s when I enjoy it most. Towel off just enough that you’re not dripping, then put the lotion on while there’s still moisture there, and it locks that in.
I showed the texture coming out of the bottle in the video because that’s the part a listing can’t tell you. It isn’t a super thin lotion. It’s also not a super thick one. It is not a cream. It’s very lightweight feeling, and it goes on without that heavy film sitting across your forearms.
Within about two minutes of applying it, the Floral Banana scent drops from noticeable to background, close to the skin, not trailing behind you. There’s no tackiness left on your hands after, which matters when you’re putting lotion on and then immediately doing something else. For daily use, that quick-settling formula is what keeps me reaching for this one over anything heavier.
The bottle claims 48 hours of moisturizer. I’m not going to hand you a number I didn’t measure. What I can tell you is that I apply it after showering and I’m not reaching for it again the same day, which for dry skin is the whole point.
Why the Bottle Keeps Getting Replaced
I’ve bought this more than once, and that’s the -to-goodness test for any lotion. The scent doesn’t go off or turn sharp toward the bottom of the bottle. The texture stays the same from the first pump to the last.
The one real annoyance: at 17 oz this is a counter bottle, not a travel bottle. It’s not going in a purse and it’s not fitting in a carry-on liquids bag. They do make other sizes, so if you want one for the gym bag you’re buying a second bottle.
The Lotion When Someone Says “No, Hand Me the Lotion”
I always say there’s regular lotion and then there’s the lotion. This is the lotion. To me it’s a classic, and it’s the one I hand people when they ask what I use.
It also makes an easy gift. The scent is light enough that you’re not gambling on someone else’s taste, and the formula is vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free and cruelty-free, so you’re not walking into someone’s list of things they avoid.
I’ve replaced this bottle more than once, and I’ve never switched to anything else in between, that’s the verdict. If you have dry skin and hate choosing between greasy creams and useless thin lotions, this is the answer. Current pricing is on the product page.
Pros
- Lightweight feel, not a cream and not watery
- Grape seed oil and shea butter carry real moisture for dry skin
- Floral Banana is light and fresh, not overly scented
- Works on hands, arms and full body from one bottle
- Vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free
Cons
- The 17 oz bottle is too large for travel or a bag
- Lightly scented, so not an option if you need fragrance-free
- Price swings a lot, so you can overpay if you don’t check first
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Floral Banana scent clash with perfume?
No, it’s light enough that it doesn’t fight anything. The scent settles in shortly after you apply it and stays close to the skin rather than filling the room.
Should I patch test this first?
If you’re sensitive to fragrance, yes, test a small spot on your inner arm first. It is a scented lotion, and that’s the ingredient most likely to bother reactive skin, not the grape seed oil or shea butter.
Do the other Hempz scents use the same formula?
They do have different scents in this original line, and the bottle also comes in different sizes. Floral Banana is the one I use and the one I can speak to.
Get it now
Hempz Original Body Lotion, Floral Banana
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