Body Care: Jason Hand And Body Lotions - Smoothing Coconut, Hydrating Hemp, Revitalizing Wheat Germ Vitamin E, Glowing Apricot

Jason Hand and Body Lotions: Apricot, Hemp, Wheat Germ Vitamin E, Coconut

This overview features four body lotions from one of my favourite brand of body care products - Jason. After trying numerous "natural/organic" and also regular drugstore body lotions, I've found that Andalou and Jason brands offer one of the best body moisturizers in my opinion. However, not all body lotions are the same, even from the same brand, some are better than others.

How I rate any body moisturizer:

• Ingredients. Are there enough beneficial ingredients present (antioxidants, plant oils)? Not just one or two, but I am actually expecting a good mix of them. Are there any irritants present? If so, how many and are they at the bottom of the list or the top?
• Texture/absorption. I do not like body lotions which require a lot of effort to massage them in. I am expecting a moisturizing formula, that feels nice on the skin, keeps skin well hydrated for a few days, but doesn't feel sticky and too greasy.
• Scent. Though I am against fragrance in my face skin care, I am more tolerant when it comes to body care products. However, the scent shouldn't be too strong (stronger means more irritating for the skin) and overpower the fragrance I am wearing. Of course, personal preference is very important as well. What I consider pleasant may not be enjoyable for someone else.
• Pricing/Packaging. The products should be reasonably priced for what you get. Packaging should be appealing and not in a form of a jar.

Packaging/Pricing:

These body lotions come in opaque squeeze tubes. 227g (8oz) for ~6-10$ at most health food stores or online (Jason.com, IHERB).

How to read list of ingredients:

Excellent (very beneficial ingredients, proven research)

Good (mostly beneficial ingredients, not extensive research available or just not quite outstanding properties)

OK (mostly thickeners, emulsifiers, mild preservatives, pH adjusters, all that is necessary formulation wise, but not a skincare per se) 
Bad (anything that shouldn't be in skincare, irritants and fragrance)

Glowing Apricot

Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance.

Formulation: 4 out of 5. Nice range of skin-identical/water-binding ingredients (sunflower, apricot, almond, avocado oils, glycerin, allantoin, aloe vera juice and panthenol) and some antioxidants (green tea and chamomile extracts, vitamin E). However there are 7 fragrance components at the bottom of the list, which can be irritating.

Texture: 4 out of 5. Absorbs rather easily, but not perfectly. Pleasant, but not excellent.

Scent: 3 out of 5. Artificial apricot scent. Pleasant at first, then turns a little bit sour on my skin. Didn't bother me too much, but not my favourite one.

Verdict: 3,5-4 out of 5. Not a repurchase. Not perfect at all three categories. Not bad (especially in comparison with many others on the market), but just an OK one for me. 

Hydrating Hemp

Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbic Acid (Vit C), Citric Acid, Glycolic Acid, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Superoxide Dismutase, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance.

Formulation: 4,5 out of 5. Great range of water-binding/skin-identical ingredients (kukui, hemp, sunflower, avocado oils, glycerin, hyluronic acid, aloe vera juice, lecithin and squalane) and antioxidants (vitamins C and E, superoxide dismutase). This formulation also features several exfoliating acids (lactic, salicilic, glycolic). I doubt that pH is appropriate for them to work very efficiently, but still a nice touch. Unfortunately there are still 5 fragrance components in here, all at the bottom of the list though.  

Texture: 5 out of 5. Nice hydrating lotion. Absorbs very quickly into the skin. Perfect morning moisturizer.

Scent: 5 out of 5. Fresh grassy scent. Very light, doesn't linger on the skin. Great for hot weather. 

Verdict: 5 out of 5. Repurchase. One of my favourite body lotions. The only minor complain, is presence of slight amount of fragrance.                   

Revitalizing Wheat Germ Vitamin E

Ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Zinc Ricinoleate, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Carrageenan, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Allantoin, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vit C), Ceteareth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate (Vit A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Glycereth-2 Cocoate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate.

Formulation: 5 out of 5. Water-binding/skin-identical ingredients (sunflower, avocado, wheat germ oils, panthenol, glycerin and aloe vera juice) and antioxidants (green tea and chamomile extracts, vitamins C, E and A). Not all antioxidant are present in high concentration, but this is the best formulation out of these 4. It doesn't have any fragrance or other irritants. It is perfect for sensitive skin.

Texture: 4 out of 5. This lotion has a bit unusual texture. The lotion is very "stringy" (like melted cheese), but it is not very sticky. Takes a little bit more time to massage into the skin, but not too much.

Scent: 5 out of 5. Sort of "natural", barely there scent. Technically this one doesn't have any added fragrance. It's light scent doesn't linger on the skin.

Verdict: 5 out of 5. Repurchase. Another one of my favourites. Probably the best out of these 4 quality wise. The only minor complain, is texture. But since I use only at night time, it actually doesn't bother me.

Smoothing Coconut

Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Xanthan Gum, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Punica Granatum Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit E), Allyl Caproate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Citric Acid, Ethyl Butyrate, Isoamyl Butyrate, Vanillin, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, D-Limonene.

Formulation: 2,5 out of 5. The worst out of these 4. There are some skin-identical ingredients (coconut, castor, grape oils, shea butter and glycerin) and antioxidants (vitamin E and pomegranate extract). There are 5 fragrance components. However, in this case, irritating orange essential oil is too high on the list of ingredients to overlook it.

Texture: 2 out of 5. Very very difficult to massage it into the skin.

Scent: 4 out of 5. I did enjoy this tropical fruity coconut scent, but it is not the one I can use all the time. 

Verdict: 3 out of 5. Not a repurchase. This is the worst out of the 4. 

Overview of 6 Jason hand and body lotions I've used so far in the order from most favourite to least favourite:

1. Revitalizing Wheat Germ Vitamin E
2. Hydrating Hemp
3. Rejuvenating Essential Fatty Acids
4. Softening Cocoa Butter
5. Glowing Apricot
6. Smoothing Coconut 

(numbers 3, 4 and 5 are interchangeable)