Body lotion survey questions for trying a moisturizer out before launch
A body lotion survey asks people who have used the lotion how it spreads, how fast it sinks in, how skin feels hours later, how it smells and if they would pay for it. The tester core of 12 comes first; sets for the first application, a blind two-bottle test and buying habits sit below it.
- 37questions
- 12in the tester core
- 4 minto answer the core
- 6optional sets
By Michael Hodge, BSc Psychology Updated September 2026
From first dab to buying habits: 37 tester questions
We ticked the tester core already. Bolt on the first-application, two-bottle or buying set, or pick lone questions from any set. Every question lists the answers a tester can pick, plus what each answer says about your formula.
The tester core12 questions
Twelve questions for someone who has used the lotion for about a week: how it goes on, how skin feels afterwards and hours later, the scent, the thickness, any reaction, and the buying verdict.
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How often did you use this lotion in the past week?
Twice a day or moreOnce a dayEvery other dayOnce or twiceNot at allRead every other answer through this one. A tester who tried it twice is reporting a first impression, not a week of use.
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It spreads easily over my skin.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeSpread is the first thing a tester feels. A low score points to a formula that drags or needs too much rubbing.
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It sinks in quickly.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeAbsorption speed decides when people will reach for it. Read it next to the sink-in time from the first application.
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I can get dressed straight after putting it on.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeA practical check for a greasy or tacky film, answered from something the tester actually did.
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My skin feels smooth once the lotion has soaked in.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeThe after-feel. It gets its own statement because a lotion can go on one way and dry down another.2
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My skin still feels moisturized hours after I put it on.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeLasting moisture is the job of a body lotion, and only a tester who used it for days can judge it.
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My skin looks less dry than it did before the test.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeThe visible result after a week, asked as a change the tester can see in the mirror, never as a cure.
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I like how it smells.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeScent is personal, so look at the spread of answers as well as the share who agree. Pair it with scent strength.
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The thickness of this lotion is:
Much too thinA little thinJust rightA little thickMuch too thickA just-right question says which way to move the formula. Count each side separately; an average lands on Just right and hides both camps.
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Did your skin react to the lotion?
No reactionA mild tingle that fadedSome redness or itchingA rash or bumpsI stopped because of a reactionAsk it in every round. Any answer past the first two means that tester stops, and the batch gets a second look before anyone else tries it.
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If you saw this lotion in a store, would you buy it?
Definitely wouldProbably wouldNot sureProbably notDefinitely notThe verdict after a week. Count "Definitely would" on its own when you size a first batch.
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What is the one thing you would change about this lotion?
Open answerOne change per tester. Sort the answers into piles such as thickness, scent, finish and bottle; the biggest pile is the next batch.
First application (answer within ten minutes)5 questions
Hand these out with the bottle for the day a tester opens it. The rub-in and the feel five minutes later get separate questions because a lotion changes as its water evaporates.
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Which words describe it while you rub it in?
Easy to spreadHard to spreadSmoothStickyGreasyOilyWaxyLeaves a white filmCool and freshTick all that applyThe words come from sensory research on creams, so testers pick from a fixed list instead of hunting for their own.2
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Five minutes later, which words fit how your skin feels?
SoftSmoothMoisturizedNothing on itTightStickyGreasyStill wetTick all that applyA lotion can go on greasy and dry to a soft finish, or the reverse. This catches the finish people live with all day.2
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How long did it take to sink in?
Under a minute1 to 2 minutes3 to 5 minutesMore than 5 minutesIt never fully sank inA time testers can report, which makes the sink-in statement in the core easier to read.
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The scent strength is:
Much too faintA little faintJust rightA little strongMuch too strongLiking a scent and wanting less of it are different answers. Skip this one for an unscented batch.
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Compared with the lotion you usually use, how much did you need?
Much lessA little lessAbout the sameA little moreMuch moreI do not usually use lotionTells you how far a bottle goes, which feeds straight into the price per bottle.
Scent and packaging4 questions
Ask these before you order fragrance and bottles for a bigger batch. The scent question also runs well as a quick vote at a market stall or on social media.
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Which scent would you pick for this lotion?
UnscentedFloralCitrusVanilla or sweetFresh and cleanFive choices fit a live poll. Keep Unscented in the list: for some buyers it is the only acceptable answer.
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Which container do you prefer for body lotion?
Pump bottleSqueeze tubeFlip-cap bottleJarNo preferenceA jar means fingers in the lotion, which the FDA names as one way a product gets contaminated. Know the demand before you choose.5
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The bottle gives me the right amount without mess.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeA pump that spits or a tube that traps the last third of the lotion shows up here.
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The label tells me clearly what is in the lotion.
Strongly disagree12345Strongly agree1 = Strongly disagree, 5 = Strongly agreeA low score is a label job, not a formula job, and one of the cheapest fixes on the list.
After a week of use4 questions
Pair these with the core when testers take a bottle home. They show how the lotion fits a real routine and whether the batch itself held up.
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Where did you put it on?
HandsArmsLegsFeetElbows and kneesFaceTick all that applyIf testers use a body lotion on their face as well, the label and the scent strength deserve a second look.
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When did you usually use it?
Right after a shower or bathIn the morningBefore bedWhenever my skin felt dryTick all that applyMorning users care most about sink-in time; bedtime users forgive a richer finish. Split the feel answers by this.
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Compared with the lotion you used before the test, this one is:
Much betterA little betterAbout the sameA little worseMuch worsePeople judge a new lotion against the one on their shelf, so this is the comparison that decides a switch.4
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Did you notice any change in the lotion itself during the week?
No changeIt separatedThe smell changedThe color changedIt got thicker or runnierTick all that applyVital for a homemade or small batch: separation or a new smell is a stability problem to solve before you sell it.
Two coded lotions side by side4 questions
For a new formula against the current one, or your lotion against a best seller. Decant both into identical bottles marked only with a code, and ask these once a tester has used each one.
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Which lotion did you prefer overall?
Lotion 318Lotion 752No preferenceThe head-to-head answer. A preference only counts when the other lotion arrives in the same plain bottle.4
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Which one sank in faster?
Lotion 318Lotion 752No differenceSeparates the faster formula from the preferred one; they are not always the same bottle.
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After which one did your skin feel softer?
Lotion 318Lotion 752No differenceThe after-feel comparison, asked once both lotions have had a few days each.
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What made your favorite better?
Open answerThe reason behind the vote, which the choice alone never gives you.
How you buy body lotion5 questions
Market questions for the same lotion users, for a launch plan or a class project on personal care products. They work without a test bottle.
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How often do you use body lotion?
Every dayA few times a weekAbout once a weekOnly in dry or cold weatherRarely or neverSplits daily users, the people a body lotion has to please, from occasional ones.
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What matters most when you choose a body lotion? Pick up to three.
Moisture that lastsSinks in fastScentPriceIngredients I recognizeGentle on sensitive skinA brand I trustTick all that applyA limit of three forces a ranking of sorts. The top pick is the promise for the front of the bottle.
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Where do you usually buy body lotion?
SupermarketDrugstore or pharmacyBeauty storeOnlineFrom a small maker or marketShows a small brand where its buyers already shop.
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How much do you usually pay for a regular bottle?
Under $5$5 to $9.99$10 to $19.99$20 to $39.99$40 or moreSets the price band you compete in. Change the bands to your currency and bottle size.
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When a body lotion says "natural" on the label, what do you expect?
Mostly plant ingredientsNo synthetic fragranceNo preservativesOrganic ingredientsNothing in particularThe FDA has not defined "natural" for cosmetics, so what buyers read into the word is what your label promises them.5
About your skin (optional)3 questions
Use these to choose testers before a trial or to split the results. A lotion for very dry skin should be judged by people with very dry skin.
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How would you describe the skin on your body?
Very dryDry in placesNormalOilySplit the feel answers by skin type before you call a formula too rich or too light.
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How often do new skin products bother your skin?
OftenSometimesRarelyNeverTesters who answer Often should try a small patch first, and their reaction answers deserve a close read.
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How old are you?
Under 2525 to 3940 to 5455 or olderPrefer not to sayA lotion aimed at one age group should be tested by that age group.4
When to ask each set
A lotion feels different on the first rub, ten minutes later and after a week of use. Asking at the right moment keeps first impressions and lasting results apart.
| Moment | Ask | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Before anyone takes a bottle home | About your skin (3) | Matches testers to the skin the lotion is made for.4 |
| First use, within ten minutes | First application (5) | Rub-in and finish change as the lotion dries, so testers need them fresh.2 |
| After about seven days of daily use | The tester core (12) and After a week of use (4) | Lasting moisture and drier-looking skin take repeated use to judge. |
| Once each coded lotion has had its turn | Two coded lotions side by side (4) | A preference needs both lotions tried the same way.4 |
| Before a launch or a bigger batch order | Scent and packaging (4) and How you buy body lotion (5) | No test bottle needed. Ask past buyers or your mailing list. |
ASTM's guide for describing skin creams and lotions builds trained panels around the same idea: a product is assessed before, during and after use.1 Home testers get three short check-ins instead of one long form at the end, when day one is already a blur.
Keeping a home lotion test fair
Most lotion tests are settled by the bottle, the timing and the testers before anyone answers a question. Get these four right and the answers describe the formula.
Plain bottles, a code, no brand name
Put every lotion in the same plain bottle with a short code on the label and nothing else. Consumer use tests in cosmetics usually run this way, with no branding or claims, because a name or a promise on the label shifts what testers feel.4 One person keeps the key to the codes, and the code is the first thing a tester writes on the form.
Ask during the rub-in, then again later
Trained panels describe a lotion before, during and after it goes on.1 The reason shows up in the lab: in a study of six cosmetic creams, the sensations assessors ticked, from sticky and greasy to smooth and white residue, changed during application as water evaporated and the cream absorbed into the skin.2 So the first-application set asks about the rub-in and the feel five minutes later as two questions, and the core waits for a week of use.
Recruit testers with the skin you make it for
A rich lotion made for very dry skin, tested on oily skin, gives you answers about the wrong buyer. Screen with the About your skin set before bottles go out. Claim guidance makes the same point: an anti-ageing cream should be tested by people of the age it targets.4
Hand out a batch you would sell
Fill pump bottles from one finished batch, the way a buyer would get the lotion. Whoever sells a cosmetic is responsible for its safety, and the FDA lists fingers dipped into a jar as one route to contamination.5 European guidance expects anything in a consumer test to have been assessed as safe first.3 Keep the reaction question in every round, and ask testers who react easily to try a small patch on the inner arm before the first full use.
Picking a scent for the next batch? Put the scent question to your followers or a market crowd as a live scent poll and watch votes arrive from their phones. New to polls? Setting up a poll explains each step from question to shareable link.
Find the part of the lotion that lets it down
Enter the tester counts for each of the seven lotion statements. The chart ranks spread, sink-in, getting dressed, after-feel, lasting moisture, drier-looking skin and scent, and the printout is ready for whoever mixes the next batch.
- 1Fill in one report per lotion code, counting only testers who used it at least every other day.
- 2For each statement the report shows the share of testers who agree. Note the two lowest before you change anything.
- 3Read a low statement next to the thickness answers. A low sink-in score with many "A little thick" answers points to one clear fix.
- 4Add three or four quotes from the one-change answers to the printout, beside the bars they explain.
Lotion results
One minute at a craft fair table
At a craft fair or a pop-up, people try a dab on the back of one hand and move on within a minute. Spread, sink-in time, scent strength, the buying verdict and one change fit in that minute.
- 01It spreads easily over my skin.
- 02How long did it take to sink in?
- 03The scent strength is:
- 04If you saw this lotion in a store, would you buy it?
- 05What is the one thing you would change about this lotion?
From tester answers to a claim on the bottle
When a test goes well, you will want to say so on the label or the product page. European best practice for consumer tests sets out several conditions, and four of them change how you write the survey.
- Ask the claim word for word. "Sinks in quickly" on the bottle needs a statement about sinking in quickly, with no reading between the lines.3
- Balance the answer scale. Offer as many negative answers as positive ones. The agree scale in the core has two of each around a neutral middle.3
- Test the plain bottle on the people it is for. No brand and no claims on the test bottle, and testers who match the buyer, such as older skin for an anti-ageing lotion.4
- Report the whole base. Say how many testers answered, not only how many liked it.3
Worked example: 40 testers
| Answer to "It sinks in quickly." | Testers |
|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 12 |
| Agree | 15 |
| Neutral | 8 |
| Disagree | 4 |
| Strongly disagree | 1 |
That is 27 of 40 testers agreeing, so an honest line reads "Sinks in quickly, say 27 of 40 testers after a week of daily use." It names the statement, the base and the conditions. In the US the rule for every cosmetic label points the same way: it must be truthful and not misleading.5
A form to pack with each test bottle
A printed form travels in the bag with the test bottle, and it suits a market table where nobody wants to open a link. Letter or A4, either paper size works.
Testing only the first application? and tuck the sheet in with the bottle.
Lotion tester questionnaire
The tester core on page one, with a space for the lotion code. The first-application, packaging, week, comparison, buying and skin sets follow.
Download PDF
Lotion results worksheet
Tally the seven statements, convert every tally to a share of testers agreeing, count the buying verdicts and circle the change for the next batch.
Download PDFTester questions that blur the answer, and clearer ones
A lotion question can sound friendly and still be useless. Here are four common ones with a fix; the guide to survey questions repairs other products the same way.
Did you like the lotion?
It spreads easily over my skin.
It sinks in quickly.
I like how it smells.
Liking mixes feel, scent and price into one answer. Separate statements show which one to change.
Was it greasy or sticky?
I can get dressed straight after putting it on.
Two faults in one question, both suggested in advance. The rewrite asks about something the tester did.
How much did you love our new hydrating formula?
My skin still feels moisturized hours after I put it on.
It assumes the answer and sells the product at the same time. The rewrite asks about a result the tester can check.
Did this lotion cure your eczema?
My skin looks less dry than it did before the test.
In the US, a product meant to treat a condition counts as a drug, not a cosmetic. Ask how skin looks and feels.
Body lotion surveys: what makers ask
Short answers for small brands, homemade lotion makers and marketing students.
What questions should a body lotion survey ask?
Ask how often the tester used it, how easily it spread and sank in, how skin felt right after and hours later, how it smelled, whether their skin reacted and if they would buy a bottle. End on one open question: the change they would make. The 12 core questions on this page do exactly that.
How long should people use a lotion before they answer?
Ask about the rub-in and the finish on the first day, while the feel is fresh. Ask about lasting moisture and how dry skin looks after about a week of daily use, because those only show with repeated use.
How do I test a homemade lotion before selling it?
Fill plain pump bottles from one finished batch, label them with a code and give them to people with the skin type you make it for. Use the first-application set on day one and the core after a week, and read the reaction and batch-change answers closely. Whoever sells a cosmetic is responsible for its safety and its label.5
Can I call my lotion natural?
The FDA has not defined "natural" for cosmetics, and every label has to be truthful and not misleading.5 Before the word goes on your bottle, ask buyers what they expect it to mean with the "natural" question in the buying set.
How many testers do I need?
A handful of testers will catch a lotion that pills, stings or smells wrong. A claim on the label needs more: testers who represent your buyers, in a number large enough for the statistics behind the claim.3
Send your lotion out with the right questions
Load the tester core, add whichever set your test needs, and send the link with each bottle or print a form for the bag.
