Is Sol de Janeiro’s Body Badalada Lotion Worth the Hype? Here's My Honest Review
Sol de Janeiro’s viral Body Badalada lotion is everywhere, but is it sensitive skin–friendly? I tried it to find out.
Chances are you’ve spotted Sol de Janeiro’s viral Brazilian Bum Bum Cream in a celeb's TikTok showing off their skincare routine (yes, even Selena Gomez is a fan), but have you heard of their latest launch? The cult-favourite skincare and fragrance brand recently released it's first-ever ultra-hydrating pump lotion, Body Badalada Lotion, and I put it to the test to see if it lives up to the hype.
To be honest, as someone with a minimal skincare routine consisting of just three products, I was skeptical about whether this lotion would actually help my sensitive skin even after seeing a ton of positive reviews on my feed, but I was quickly proven wrong.
Ever since returning home from my months-long stay in Australia, I've noticed the long term effects of having lived in a climate with drier air and colder weather, even after I adjusted back to our humid and hot weather here in Singapore. After months of exposure to the high UV levels in Sydney, my skin is now more sensitive and prone to dryness than it used to be, so I've been on the lookout for something hydrating yet lightweight to protect my skin barrier. That's when I decided to give the Body Badalada Lotion a shot.
So, how does the Body Badalada Lotion hold up for those with sensitive skin? Here's my honest review.
What The Body Badalada Vitamin-Infused Lotion Does
I always pay extra attention to the labels of the skincare products I'm using, which is why I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Body Badalada Lotion is packed with feel-good ingredients that keep your skin bouncy and hydrated all day long.
The lotion features a cocktail of skin-nourishing ingredients for that natural glow from within.
Brazilian sugarcane might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a good summer lotion, but it's a natural source of glycolic acid perfect for locking in moisture. Adding to that tropical vibe is another key ingredient, Brazil nut oil, which infuses the lotion with vitamin E, omega-3 and omega-6 to keep you looking dewy and feeling fresh. Best of all, the Body Badalala Lotion has seven different hyaluronic acid blends —a must-have ingredient for someone with eczema-prone skin like me— to drive moisture deep into the skin's layers, so you can glow from the inside out.
Dermatologist tested and backed by clinical results, the lotion claims to offer 24-hour weightless hydration, leaving 95% of testers with skin that feels silky-smooth, so let's see whether it delivers on its promise.
First Impressions
Soft, sweet and oh so smooth, here's how the Body Badalada Lotion surprised me when I first tested it out.
When I first pumped out a dollop of the lotion onto my skin, what stood out to me almost immediately was the refreshing, sweet scent of vanilla. The lotion is scented with Sol de Janeiro's iconic Cheirosa 62 fragrance (Cheirosa aptly means "to smell delicious" in Portuguese), featuring notes of pistachio and almond, with a slight touch of jasmine. The texture was buttery smooth and almost gel-like, living up to its promise of being light-weight and non-sticky. It also had a gentle cooling feel upon application, offering a small but satisfying relief on hot days.
As I gave the lotion some time to dry down, I noticed that the scent shifted, sweetening and warming up as the notes of sandalwood and salted caramel started to come through. Besides leaving a lingering trace of fragrance, the product also gave my skin a dewy sheen, with a slight brightening effect. I can imagine myself using this when I want a subtle glow on beach days or when I'm headed to a party with friends. The scent is also not too overpowering, making it perfect to layering with my own perfumes in my everyday routine for an extra note of sweetness.
How The Body Badalada Vitamin-Infused Lotion Performs
Following the instructions, I applied the lotion generously whenever my skin was in need of some extra hydration, usually after my showers, and it helped soothed my skin whenever I experienced flare-ups after running the hot water for too long. While I've heard that scented skincare products can sometimes trigger those with sensitive skin, I had no issues with this lotion and enjoyed the burst of freshness every time I put it on.
Naturally, the scent faded after a few hours spent out and about in the afternoon sun, but because of the lotion's light-weight consistency, I could re-apply the product without it feeling greasy or heavy. A little goes a long way with this lotion, so I never had to pump out too much at a time, a step up from my experiences with other body lotions in the past which always seemed to have little effect no matter how much product I slathered on my skin.
The eye-catching citrus orange packaging also impressed me from the get-go.
For a hefty 400ml bottle that should last you a few weeks, the price is reasonable enough. Bonus points for the heavy-duty bottle and embossed Sol de Janeiro logo, which gave the product a more luxurious feel, nothing like your typical drugstore packaging.
What Could Be Better
While the bottle feels luxurious and definitely stands out from other lotions I've seen on the shelves, it's quite heavy and not ideal for when you're on the go. Here's to hoping Sol de Janeiro releases a smaller, more travel-friendly version soon?
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