5% vs 10% Urea Lotion: Which One Should You Use?

If you've shopped for a lotion for dry, rough skin, you've probably seen urea on the label, often with a percentage next to it. We get asked about this a lot, usually some version of "Which one do I need, 5% or 10%?" So here's the plain answer, and how we use both ourselves.

What urea does in a lotion

Urea is a moisturizing ingredient that has been used in skin care for a long time. In a lotion, urea helps smooth rough areas and supports hydration. That's why you see it in formulas made for dry, rough skin, especially on the parts of the body that get thick and tough, like heels, elbows, and knees.

You don't need a chemistry degree to pick one. The number on the label is mostly a guide to how concentrated the formula is and where it fits in your routine.

The short answer

• 5% urea is for everyday moisture. It's the lotion you put on all over, every day, after a shower or whenever your skin feels dry.
• About 10% urea is for very rough spots. It's more concentrated, you use a small amount, and you put it only where you need it.

Most people don't have to choose. They use both, in different places.

When 5% makes sense

A 5% urea lotion is the one you reach for every day. It works on large areas like your arms, legs, and torso, and on feet that are dry but not especially rough.

Our Daily Non-Greasy Body Lotion has 5% urea along with rosehip seed oil, shea butter, and glycerin. It comes in an 8 oz bottle because it's meant to be used generously and often. It leaves a soft, non-greasy finish, so you can get dressed right after without feeling sticky.

Use a 5% lotion if:

• You want one lotion for everyday, all-over use.
• Your skin feels dry or tight after showering, but it isn't thick or rough.
• You're keeping skin comfortable once the rough spots feel better.

When about 10% makes sense

A lotion with about 10% urea is more concentrated, and it's made for the rough spots that everyday lotion doesn't quite keep up with: thick heels, rough elbows and knees, knuckles, and the edges of fingertips.

Our Healing Lotion has about 10% urea with rosehip seed oil and cocoa butter. A little goes a long way. Rub a small amount into the rough area until it disappears. It's made for those spots, not for all-over daily use.

Use an about-10% lotion if:

• You have specific spots that stay rough, thick, or cracked even when you moisturize.
• You want something richer on your heels or hands at bedtime.
• You're willing to use it in small amounts, just where it's needed.

Why not just use 10% everywhere?

It's a fair question. If more is better on rough spots, why not use it everywhere?

The answer is that it's simply not what it's made for. A concentrated formula is meant for small, rough areas. For the big areas of your body that just need daily moisture, a lighter everyday lotion is easier to use, spreads further, and feels better under clothes. Healing Lotion is not for daily full-body use. We'd rather you use the right product in the right place than one product everywhere.

How we use both

Here's a simple routine that works for most people:

1. Shower short and warm, not long and hot, and pat dry.
2. While your skin is still a little damp, put a small amount of Healing Lotion on the rough spots: heels, elbows, knuckles, or wherever you need it.
3. Use Daily Body Lotion everywhere else. Damp skin helps lock in moisture.
4. A few times a week, use a gentle scrub first on the thick, rough areas. Our Hydrating Sugar Scrub is made for hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Follow it with Daily on normal skin or Healing Lotion on very rough spots.
5. At night, put lotion on your heels and pull on cotton socks, so the lotion stays on your feet instead of the sheets.

If your heels are the main problem, we walk through this in more detail in our guide to caring for dry, cracked heels. If it's your hands, see how to care for dry, cracked hands.

A few practical tips

• Be consistent. A little lotion every day does more than a lot of lotion once a week.
• Start small with the concentrated one. You can always add a bit more to a rough spot.
• Skip any spot that feels sore, raw, or irritated, and don't pick or peel loose skin.
• Moisturize on damp skin. It's the easiest habit that makes the biggest difference.

When to check in with a professional

This is about everyday dryness and roughness. If your skin is painful or just isn't getting better with regular care, check in with your doctor or a dermatologist.

The short version

Use 5% urea every day, all over. Use about 10% urea in small amounts on the very rough spots. Most people end up using both: Daily everywhere, and Healing Lotion where the skin is rough.