If you’ve ever gone down a rabbit hole of dermasil lotion reviews, you’ve probably seen the same thing over and over: people either swearing by it as their dry-skin savior or writing it off as just another dollar tree store gimmick. So, naturally, I had to find out for myself. I grabbed the Dermasil Dry Skin Treatment Body Lotion, slathered it on for a few weeks, and now I’ve got thoughts: lots of them. Let’s get into it.
Key Ingredients in the Dermasil Dry Skin Treatment Body Lotion: What Makes It Work?
DIMETHICONE
If you’ve ever put something on your skin and thought, “Whoa, why does my arm suddenly feel like a baby’s cheek?” – it was probably dimethicone doing its thing. This ingredient is basically your skin’s temporary smooth-talking best friend. It doesn’t fix the dryness underneath, but it gives you that velvety, soft, almost filtered feeling instantly.
What it really does is act like a shield. A very breathable, very lightweight shield that keeps water from evaporating while protecting your skin from the junk outside (wind, cold, pollution, whatever). It’s not sticky. It’s not greasy. It just gives your skin that healthy, moisturized finish without any drama. And if your skin is feeling rough or tight, this stuff makes it feel “normal” again – like you didn’t just lose a battle with the central heating.
Related: Do Silicones Really Suffocate Skin? (The Answer May Surprise You)
PETROLEUM JELLY
Let’s be real: petroleum jelly isn’t glamorous. It’s not light, it’s not trendy, and it definitely doesn’t make you feel like you’re in a chic Parisian pharmacy. But when your skin is cracked, raw, or so dry it physically hurts to move? This stuff becomes your best friend. It’s like slapping a security guard on your skin. No water’s getting out, no irritation’s getting in, and everything underneath finally gets a chance to chill out and repair itself. It doesn’t just hydrate. It locks in whatever hydration you gave it with a serious “don’t even think about leaving” energy.
In this lotion, it gives the whole formula some backbone. You’ll feel it. That instant, buttery layer that doesn’t vanish in two seconds? That’s the petrolatum doing what it does best: sealing everything in and giving your skin a chance to actually heal. It’s thick, but not sticky. Protective, but not suffocating. If your sensitive skin is screaming? This is the ingredient that shows up with snacks, a blanket, and tells your skin to lie down and rest.
MINERAL OIL
Look, mineral oil isn’t sexy. You’re not going to see influencers raving about it on TikTok with dewy filters and a cute voiceover. But if you’ve got dry, cracked, irritated skin and you actually want something that works instead of just smelling nice and vanishing in 10 seconds? This is the stuff. It’s basic, yeah. But basic like bread and water when you’ve been starving.
It doesn’t pretend to do ten things at once. It just seals everything in, softens your skin, and keeps the good stuff (like glycerin and oils) from evaporating the second you step outside. In this lotion, mineral oil is the glue that holds it all together. It makes the whole thing feel richer, smoother, more comforting. You’re not gonna get glow or glam, but you will get skin that doesn’t feel like it’s about to flake off in sheets. And sometimes that’s all you need.
Related: 7 Ingredients With An Undeserved Bad Reputation
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Glycerin: A moisture magnet. Pulls water into your skin so you don’t dry out five minutes after applying.
- Sunflower Seed Oil: Lightweight, soothing, and packed with fatty acids that help repair your skin barrier.
- Geranium Oil: Mainly here for the scent. It can irritate sensitive skin.
- Borago Officinalis Seed Oil: Great for really dry, sensitive skin. Helps reduce redness and smooth rough patches.
- Cholesterol: Sounds weird, but your skin actually needs this. Helps keep your barrier strong and resilient.
- Lecithin: A skin-softening ingredient that helps hold moisture in and makes everything feel more luxe.
- Sweet Almond Oil: Gentle, nourishing, and great for softening dry or flaky spots.
- Sandalwood Oil: Smells nice, but can cause irritations in sensitive skin.
- Rose Water: Lightly hydrating with a soft floral scent. Makes things feel a bit more pampering.
- Vanilla Fruit Extract: All about the scent. Sweet, soft, and gives the lotion a cozy finish.
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
Texture
Thick, but not greasy. It comes out creamy and dense, but spreads easily and sinks in within a minute or two. You won’t be slipping off your chair or feeling sticky for hours. For winter skin or those dry AF elbows? Chef’s kiss. But if you’re oily or live in a hot climate, it might feel a bit too rich.
Fragrance
Technically it’s “fragrance-free” but… that’s kind of BS. There’s no “parfum” listed, sure, but it’s loaded with essential oils like geranium and sandalwood, which are scented and can be irritating. So if you’re expecting a truly scentless, sensitive-skin-safe lotion, this ain’t it. The smell itself isn’t strong-, t’s more like a faint whiff of “plant stuff and vanilla that sat in a drawer too long.” Not gross, just… there. It fades fast, but if your skin hates essential oils? You’ll probably feel it before you smell it.
How To Use It
There’s no 12-step routine here. You just slap it on when your skin feels dry – preferably right after a shower when your body’s still a little damp and confused about what season it’s in.
It goes on thick, spreads easy, and a little actually does go a long way. Start small or you’ll end up feeling like you fell into a tub of margarine. Elbows, knees, legs, hands… go wild. You can even use it on your face if you’re dry and not acne-prone, though fair warning: this stuff is not lightweight. It’s one of those lotions that works best when you don’t overthink it. Chuck it in your gym bag, your nightstand, your car door… whatever. It’s a slap-and-go kinda product.
Packaging
It looks… fine. Like, if packaging awards existed, this wouldn’t be nominated. But honestly? It does exactly what it needs to. The squeeze bottle is sturdy, the flip cap isn’t annoying, and you can use it half-asleep without spilling it everywhere. No pumps that stop working halfway through. No heavy glass jars you’re afraid to drop. No double-sealed nightmare situation that makes you want to give up before you even open it. Just straightforward, basic, toss-it-in-your-bag-and-go kind of packaging. Not cute enough for shelfies, but who cares. It’s $3 and it works.
Performance & Personal Opinion
Honestly? This lotion does exactly what it says it’ll do: keep your skin from falling apart when it’s dry, pissed off, or just plain over it. It’s not trying to be fancy, it’s not giving you glow or firming or brightening or any of that marketing fluff. It just slaps a protective, hydrating layer on your skin and tells it to chill. I used it on my legs after shaving, on my hands after washing dishes, on my arms when they started flaking in winter – and every time, my skin felt instantly better. Not softer in a luxury way. Softer in a “okay, I’m not itchy anymore” way. That’s the vibe. Like, it fixes the problem so you can stop scratching and move on with your life.
The texture is rich but not suffocating. It takes maybe a minute or two to sink in, but once it does, you’re not sticky or slimy. Just… moisturized. Comfortable. Normal. And if you’ve ever dealt with eczema, windburn, or the kind of dryness that makes your jeans feel like sandpaper – you know how underrated “normal” can feel.
That said, don’t expect miracles. It’s not going to give you dewy model skin. It’s not going to transform your texture or tone. And it definitely doesn’t layer well with actives or anything fancy. This is a basic, no-BS, dry skin fixer, not a glow serum in disguise. But for the price? It holds its own. If you stripped the label off and told me this came from a fancy French pharmacy, I’d probably believe you. Until I saw the $3 price tag – and then I’d buy two.
What I Like About Dermasil Dry Skin Treatment Body Lotion
- It’s stupid cheap. Like, cheaper than your coffee. And somehow still does more for your skin than half the expensive stuff.
- Actually helps when your skin feels dry, tight, or straight-up angry.
- Thick enough to feel like it’s doing something, but not so greasy that you’re stuck doing the T-Rex arms for an hour waiting for it to dry.
- Doesn’t sting, doesn’t burn, doesn’t trigger weird breakouts. Sensitive-skin friendly-ish (unless you hate essential oils-then skip it).
- Makes dry patches chill out fast. Like, one use and the flakiness is gone kind of fast.
- It’s the kind of product you can throw in your car, your gym bag, your nightstand and it always comes through.
What I Don’t Like About Dermasil Dry Skin Treatment Body Lotion
- Let’s not pretend it’s fancy. There’s no glow. No bells, no whistles. Just hydration. If you want skincare with vibes, this ain’t it.
- That whole “fragrance-free” label? Kinda shady. It’s got enough essential oils to annoy sensitive skin.
- Not face-friendly for everyone. If you’re oily or acne-prone, this might feel like too much.
- You’ll feel it sitting on your skin for a minute. It doesn’t just disappear. You’ll know you put something on.
- It’s all barrier repair and no “extras.” No antioxidants, no actives, no long-term skin upgrade.
Who Should Use This?
- If your skin is dry enough to crack, flake, or feel like it belongs to someone else-this is for you.
- If you’ve got eczema, rough hands, post-shave sting, winter skin sadness-again, for you.
- If you’re broke, tired, and just want something that works without paying £20 for it, grab this.
- If you’ve overcomplicated your routine and just want something basic that won’t betray you.
Does Dermasil Dry Skin Treatment Body Lotion Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Specially formulated with one percent dimethicone which helps to create a barrier on the skin to lock in moisture and protect against irritation. | True. |
Price & Availability
$9.99 (pack) at Target and Walmart
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If your skin’s dry and you’re not trying to drop £20 on something that smells like coconut and does nothing, yes, grab it. It’s not cute, it’s not trendy, but it works. Slap it on, move on with your life. For the price, honestly, it’s kind of a no-brainer. Unless you have sensitive skin that reacts bad to fragrance, obvs.
Dimethicone, Glycerin, Petroleum Jelly, Mineral Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Geranium Oil, Borage Oil, Cholesterol, Lecithin, Almond Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Rose Water, Vanilla Fruit Extract
Dermasil Original Lotion Ingredients (for comparison):
Active Ingredients: Dimethicone. Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Stearic Acid, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-40 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetyl Acetate, Sodium Hydroxide,Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil,Disodium Edta, Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Methylisothiazolinone, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Lecithin, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Cholesterol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Ethylene Brassylate, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
