Johnson’s Baby Oil
The age-old triathlete’s favourite. On the plus side, Baby Oil is widely available, cheap and leaves your skin lovely and smooth.
Unfortunately, though, its watery consistency means it inevitably goes everywhere when you’re trying to apply it. It also absorbs too well into your skin and, as a result, offers less protection than the specifically formulated products here.
It tends to work well on the outside of the legs of the suit to help with fast removal in transition, but thicker products are definitely better for protecting your skin.
Image-wise, the Baby Oil marketing/pink packaging is perhaps not aimed so specifically at the tri market, either, and in such an image conscious sport it’s your call whether this matters!
Contact : Your local supermarket or chemist
Matt Baird
Editor of Cycling Plus magazine 
