We all know that blustery winds and frosty temperatures can wreak havoc on our skin, sapping it of moisture and making it itch. The only safeguard is finding a fabulous body moisturiser. So, to celebrate the coming of winter, iVillage staff gathered and slathered on ten of the most popular brands of body lotion. Here's what we found.

1. Boots The Spa Hydrating and Conditioning Body Moisturiser; £2.99/200ml. This lotion was quite thick and greasy and took a while to rub in. The scent wasn't overpowering, but not particularly remarkable either. This product was a good all-purpose moisturiser, but I've used nicer ones. I didn't like the design of the bottle, as its upside-down shape meant you had to close the lid when you put it down, even if you were only midway through moisturising. Overall, it didn't have any stand-out properties, but it could be quite good as a back-up body moisturiser for your gym bag.

2. Elizabeth Arden Radiant Body Foam with Green Tea; £19/150ml. This mousse had a pleasant scent, but it wasn't too overpowering and didn't smell like tea, despite its name. It moisturised quite well, but had an initial rather greasy feel to it. I also needed to wash my hands after I'd applied it, as the mousse felt filmy. It lasted all day, but the texture put me off and I don't think I'd buy it.

3. Origins Precipitation; £18/250ml. This lotion didn't have much of a smell and was quite thick - a bit difficult to get out of the bottle. It definitely moisturised my skin and seemed to last all day. I liked it because once I applied it, the lotion completely absorbed into my skin and there was no residue. I'd recommend this product to anyone who has really dry skin.

4. Superdrug Be Calm Body Silk, Lavender & Camomile; £3.99/200ml. This product was lightly scented and smelled quite nice.

However, it had the odd consistency of curdled cream, which was very strange. I moisturised in the morning, and my legs were still soft and smooth at the end of the day. However, I probably wouldn't buy this product because I didn't like the consistency - it was too gloopy and congealed.

5. Tommy Hilfiger Tommy 'Juiced Up' Body Lotion; £12/150ml. I smelled a bit like an orange opal fruit after applying this lotion. It had 'orange citrus' in, but the scent was very fake and not fresh enough. The product itself was quite thick and creamy, though - a nice consistency for dry skin. It was smooth and absorbed easily - even my rhino skin elbows and knees felt quite soft afterwards. I didn't have an allergic reaction to this product, but with its powerful scent I could imagine some people might do. I'd buy this cream for someone as a present because it's a bit unusual, but I'll probably stick to my own normal brand, which is cheaper.

6. Estee Lauder Body Power Smooth Down Body Lotion; £19/200ml. I liked the smell of this product, and I loved the fantastic aqua blue pump bottle packaging. I prefer a thick creamy lotion, however, and this one was too thin for me. Also, the pump was broken so it was hard for me to use. This would be a great lotion to use after the gym, as it is very refreshing. The cream is also a pale blue colour, which makes a nice change. It felt very soothing on my skin, and the 'marine' scent - with Brittany sea water, lavender, tangerine and sandalwood - was very uplifting.

7. Clinique Deep Comfort Body Moisture; £13.50/200ml. This product was in a nifty flip-cap tube and had a fresh, earthy scent to it. The lotion was the perfect consistency - very easy to put on and get adequate coverage, but not so thick that you felt like you were slathering on glue. I have particularly dry skin, so I was surprised that I didn't need to reapply during the day. Although I really liked this product and would recommend it, I probably wouldn't buy it - I tend to go through lotion very quickly and at this price it could get quite expensive.

8. E45 Moisturising Body Lotion; £3.59/200ml. This lotion was unscented, which I like, because I prefer non-gimmicky, more 'serious' skincare products. It was quite creamy, but light at the same time - I liked the consistency as it was easily absorbed and made my skin soft without feeling greasy. It felt like a very 'pure' product that would be good for sensitive skin. I use E45 on my face and was pleased that it felt lovely on my body too. I love this product because it does its job and is good value for money.

9. Dove Body Silk; £5.99/300ml. This lotion was thick and silky and absorbed quickly and easily. It was slightly scented and kept my skin moisturised all day. This product is great for people with dry skin and eczema (like me) - I can't leave home without it. The lotion makes my skin feel incredible and so many people have commented on how soft it is - especially the boys.

10. Revlon Dry Skin Relief Firming Body Moisturiser; £4.49/200ml. This moisturiser had a very light, fresh, slightly baby smell to it - very pleasant. The consistency was just right for dry skin - not too light, not too heavy. It gave good coverage and was easy to apply without feeling too greasy. I didn't need to reapply during the day, although I would have if I'd wanted to pamper myself that extra little bit. I'd definitely buy this product next time I shop for a body moisturiser. Overall, I was very impressed with this lotion - it came in a handy tube/tub packaging, had a great silky finish and a pleasant but unobtrusive odour.