Of all the nourishing products that work wonders for moisturizing your skin, don’t sleep on the power of body oil. Although body oils are great on their own, they aren’t meant to play the starring role in your body routine. Think of body oil as the supporting character to the other nourishing lotions, body washes, and thiccc butters in your regimen, all working towards one goal: providing moisture. With just a few drops, body oils provide “deep moisture to parched, dehydrated skin,” Dr. Audrey Kinin tells ELLE.com, and give you a healthy, kissed-from -the-sun glow. And like the LCO method for natural hair—where you use liquid and creams before sealing the deal with an oil—body oils act the same way by serving as a blanket product that keeps moisture locked in throughout the day.
Sure, baby oil qualifies in this category, but how about some more grown-up options? Ahead, the 20 best body oils to cure dryness year-round. In the wise words of RHOA’s Porsha Williams—bye, ashy!
1
Best Overall
NOW Solutions
Organic Jojoba Oil
2
For Almond-Scented Lovers
L’Occitane
L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil
3
Best for Sun Protection
CAY SKIN
Isle Body Oil with SPF 30 and Squalane
4
Best Multipurpose Oil
Maison 276
No. 8 Botaniques Dry Oil
5
Best For the Spa Lover
Tatcha
Hinoki Hydrating Body Oil
6
Best For the Beach Bum
OSEA
OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil at Nordstrom, Size 5 Oz
7
Best for Alleviating Stress
Klur
Elements of Comfort Body Oil
8
Best For the Beauty Hypebeast
Glossier
Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist
9
Best For Beginners
Nécessaire
The Body Oil – 100% Organic. 100% Cold-Pressed.
10
Best For the Frequent Traveler
Tom Ford
Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil in Gold
11
Best For the Fragrance Fanatic
NEST New York
Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil
12
Best For the Florist
Herbivore Botanicals
Jasmine Glowing Hydration Body Oil
13
Best For the Big Spender
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
6.8 oz. Baccarat Rouge 540 Sparkling Body Oil
14
Best For Stretch Marks
Bio-Oil
Skincare Body Oil for Scars and Stretchmarks
15
Best Drugstore Option
Neutrogena
Lightweight Body Oil
16
Best Holy Grail
Avon
Skin So Soft Bath Oil
17
Best Skincare Ingredients
Dermalogica
Phyto Replenish Body Oil
18
Best For the Scent Collector
Ellis Brooklyn
MYTH Spectacular Scented Body Oil
19
Best Luxury Beauty Option
Tata Harper Skincare
Skincare Revitalizing Body Oil
20
Best For Nourishment
Kiehl’s Since 1851
Nourshing Dry Body Oil
twenty one
Best Value
Palmer’s
Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Body Oil with Vitamin E
twenty two
What are the best types of body oils to look for?
Dry oils are the best ones to buy because they absorb into the skin quickly without leaving behind a sticky, greasy residue. It’s important to look for lightweight oils or “dry oil formulations containing ingredients such as marula and maracuin Aoils,” Krey Dr. says. Both oils are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, so your skin will be well-fed.
twenty three
Are body oils moisturizing on their own?
“Absolutely,” Dr. Kunin adds. For maximum moisture, you can mix your oil with a body butter or a lotion but Dr. Kunin says a dry oil is enough to give your skin the moisture it needs. “A dry oil is able to penetrate the skin more deeply and offer more rapid moisture,” she says.
Board-certified dermatologist, author, and founder of Dermadoctor Skincare, Dr. Audrey Kunin
25
Why trust ELLE beauty?
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.
Nerisha Penrose
Beauty Commerce Editor
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music).
