For sore muscles | For physical therapy | For relaxation | For foot massage | For stretch marks | For face | For Pregnancy | For sensitive skin
Massage, whether for pain relief or for therapeutic purposes, is always better when you use high quality lotion, oil or cream fit to your objective.
We’re going to explore the options and get a deeper understanding of the differences between lotions, creams and even oils so you make the right choice for your needs.
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Massage Lotion vs Massage Cream vs Massage Oil
Many topical massage products come in the form of lotions or creams. If you are just starting with massage, it’s a good idea to try lotion as it’s a lighter consistency than cream, so it spreads better. The key difference to both is the texture; lotion is lighter, more slippery and finer whereas cream is heavier, thicker and good for very dry skins that need intense hydration. Choose massage lotion for deep tissue or Shiatsu type massage because they glide well and still have nourishing properties, plus they aren’t absorbed too quickly.
Lotions aren’t generally sticky either, which means there’s less mess afterwards. If you’re giving a massage to someone with a delicate or sensitive skin then lotion might be too drying, especially if it’s water-based. Creams are definitely better for dry or sensitive skins and avoid scented varieties (especially artificial fragrance) so there’s no chance of skin irritation. One disadvantage to creams and lotions is that they feel cool to skin and massage should feel warming. It’s hard to heat up lotions and creams as the consistency changes, although there are some options available on the market that can be heated up gently using the right equipment. Check before you buy.
What about Massage Oils?
Immensely popular, massage oils are used regularly because of their hydrating, healing and moisturising properties. The best oils (also act as carrier oils) are sweet almond, avocado, coconut, jojoba and olive oil, all of these are entirely natural and can be used alone or combined with a few drops of essential oil for therapeutic and aromatherapy benefits. Oil is excellent for nourishing the skin, especially dry skin, but if you’re massaging an oily skin, take care to choose oil that won’t block up the sebaceous glands. Easily absorbed, oil gives the skin with what it needs to stay soft and hydrated for longer. It also delivers excellent glide because it travels over skin slowly, allowing the masseuse to concentrate on each area without worrying about the oil dripping all over the massage bed.
Another advantage of massage oil is that it can be warmed so feels comfortable on the skin. As with anything, there’s always a disadvantage! The major disadvantage to oil is that it can leave residue on the skin, so it feels sticky post-massage and some can stain towels or sheets.
Be careful not to spill oil onto the floor as it can also cause a slippage hazard. If you choose to use oils over lotions or creams, check your tub/pot/bottle regularly because the quality can deteriorate rather quickly.
Can You Heat Massage Lotion?
Be careful heating up massage lotion or oil. Using a microwave can greatly damage the product and make it far too hot; you don’t want to burn the skin. The best way to heat up massage oil or massage lotion is especially gently! You can buy a lotion/oil heater such as this one from Royal Massage Oil Bottle Warmer, sold by Vandue and retailing at approximately $45 (depending on where you purchase it from). Yes, it’s expensive, but it does warm up oils and lotions exceptionally gently so they don’t deteriorate and they’re safe to use. This product has an auto-temperature so it is easy to control, no risk of setting it too high. It’s also compact, so very easy to store away as well as being highly portable and the auto-shut off means that it won’t overheat. Easy to keep clean, the temperature heater takes it up to 140 Deg F (60 Deg C) so it’s warm, rather than too hot. Temperature is carefully regulated by the heater and will keep your oil/lotion/cream warm for the duration of massage. This heater comfortably fits up to 8 ounces.
Best massage lotions and creams
If you prefer to use a massage lotion over massage oil, it’s good to know which one to buy; here is our pick of the best massage lotions and what they’re best used for:
Bon Vital Deep Tissue Massage Lotion
Retailing at just under $9 is the Bon Vital Deep Tissue Massage Lotion, perfect for sports massage and relieving sore muscles. The lotion is non-greasy and penetrates deep into the skin to repair it and hydrate it. You get a very generous 8 ounce pump bottle which goes a long way for the inexpensive price. It glides on beautifully and doesn’t feel sticky so it’s easy to use. Comprising of quality ingredients including grapeseed, sesame, jojoba and avocado it’s a richly nourishing lotion packed with linoleic acids, minerals and vital vitamins A, B5, C and E. Paraben free and unscented, it’s ideal for even sensitive skins.
Relax Therapeutic Massage Lotion by Brookethorne
Retailing at around $17 (depending on where you buy it from) is Brookethorne Relax Therapeutic Massage Lotion (8 ounce bottle) which is enriched with lavender (soothing, calming and relaxing) and peppermint (refreshing, rejuvenating and cleansing). Perfect for an all-over-body massage, the lotion gently glides without excessively spreading and goes a long way to hydrate and moisturise skin so it feels soft and muscles feel relieved. Added marjoram oil and a natural analgesic this one is ideal for reducing muscular soreness, reducing cramping and improving joint movement and flexibility. Hypoallergenic, paraben free and cruelty free it’s an excellent choice.
Biotone Dual Purpose Massage Lotion
This exceedingly generous tub of massage lotion retails at $65 (depending on where you purchase it from) but it contains over 128 ounces of lotion so it really does last for a very long while. Supposedly one of the favourite massage lotions as used by masseuse professionals, it’s non-sticky, with great glide and a delightful, natural scent that isn’t too overpowering. A blend of essential oils with lotion, it’s suitable for use all over the body, even on the face. It contains almond oil, coconut oil, Arnica (excellent for promoting healing), Aloe Vera (soothing and calming, especially for inflammation) and an abundance of vitamins, including Vitamin E, a well-known antioxidant to promote cell renewal. It absorbs into skin well, without leaving skin feeling dry and dehydrated. The body feels refreshed and well moisturised.
Queen Helene Professional Massage Cream
This penetrating massage cream comes in a 15 ounce tub and retails at around the $20 (prices may vary). The almond product is infused with sweet almond essential oil, for a luxuriously hydrating and soothing massage experience and full of vitamins including E which is an excellent antioxidant and A, vital for skin reparation. Ideal to use all over the body, including face and neck, it is intensely moisturising, replenishing the skin with what it needs to look and feel healthy. Cruelty free and with high quality ingredients, the company has been manufacturing natural healing products for over 80 years and is a brand you can trust.
Rolyan Deep Prep Complete Deep Tissue Massage Cream
This particular massage cream is more expensive than most of those mentioned in this piece (not all) but it is probably the most well-used massage cream among professionals. It is a deep tissue treatment that is totally hypoallergenic. Non-greasy, it delivers pain relief to sore, overused muscles and uncomfortable joints. For $45 (depending on the retailer) you get a generous 15 ounce jar which should last a while. Made with coconut oil, the cream glides on, smoothing the skin and helping to reduce scar tissue post-surgery or sport’s injury. Ideal for use on all areas of the body, the cream is used to help in rehabilitation and assist in recovery time.
