Body oils seem to inspire two camps: those who hate them and those who love them. If you aren’t into them, no judgment—I get it. Some can err on the greasy side and don’t provide many benefits that a lotion can’t, but you should also know that I’m someone who will fully go to bat for them. That being said, know that this article may have been written with a bit of a bias. Thankfully, I’m not the only one who is into them. The rest of the Who What Wear beauty team can also vouch for a few killer formulas out there.
If you haven’t found a body oil that you love yet, just know that not all body oils are created equally. Some smell a lot better than others, some have formulas that sink into the skin more effectively than others, and some have far superior ingredients than others. With a little trial and error, you just may find your body-oil soulmate. Below, I’m giving you the lay of the body-oil land and sharing 12 formulas beauty editors can’t recommend enough. Keep scrolling!
Just like selecting skincare for your face, you’ll want to select a body oil based on your skin type. If your skin is dry, opt for extra-hydrating ingredients like glycerin, rosehip oil, and coconut oil. If your skin is acne prone, you’ll want to look for oils that are hydrating but noncomedogenic like jojoba, grapeseed, neem, sweet almond, castor, and sunflower.
What’s great about body oils is that they often contain organic plant extracts that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that hydrate and protect the skin from environmental stress and aging. No matter your skin type, we’ve got options for you below. Keep on reading!
Pros: Pregnancy-safe; packed with antioxidants, nutrients, and fatty acids; ultra-hydrating. Cons: Expensive. Okay, this body oil (combined with the brand’s Body Butter) gave me the softest skin of my life. Not to mention, it smells amazing. The entire WWW beauty team only has good things to say about Mutha products. The body oil, in particular, is a great option for those who are pregnant because the formula is comprised of a 100% botanical blend laced with nutrients, antioxidants, and fatty acids. The magic lies in the combination of rosehip, grape, and apricot oils, which instantly awaken the skin and make it soft, supple, and ultra-hydrated.
Pros: Budget-friendly, fragrance-free, great for dry skin. Cons: May not be suitable for acne-prone skin. This no-nonsense body oil from Neutrogena is budget-friendly and gets the job done. It’s great for dry skin, as it contains pure sesame oil to deeply hydrate the skin without leaving it greasy. Customer Review: “I towel-dry the majority of the water off my body just leaving a little to mix with the oil. Then I let the rest air-dry. I live in Arizona so super dry and this helps so much. Highly recommend.”
Pros: Has a matte finish, contains super hydrator squalane, and absorbs quickly. Cons: Expensive and contains a light fragrance. For anyone who can’t stand a greasy finish, you’ll fall completely in love with Monastery’s divine matte-finish body oil. It features Italian squalane, which is incredibly hydrating despite the fact that it sinks into your skin in record time. It also has a light, natural fragrance composed of ginger, grapefruit, and peppercorn. Customer Review: “I love the texture of the oil and it absorbs so quickly. The smell is lovely and I hope they introduce more scents like their sage cleansing oil.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, extremely hydrating, and safe for pregnant people. Cons: Slightly scented. This Burt’s Bees oil was also formulated with pregnant people in mind, as it helps to recondition and revitalize the skin with ingredients like sweet almond oil, lemon oil, and vitamin E. Even though it’s made for those who are pregnant, you don’t have to be pregnant to use it, as it’s still incredibly hydrating and nourishing for the skin. The $11 price tag doesn’t hurt either. Customer Review: “Great skin oil for after showering. It has a pleasant smell and works wonders for me so far.”
Pros: Infused with nourishing seaweed, provides antioxidant protection to the skin, and helps reduce the appearance of sagging skin and stretch marks. Cons: Feels a bit sticky upon application and is expensive. Victoria Beckham is a fan of this all-natural body oil, and Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns completely concurs with her positive testimony. This formula provides long-term hydration and is great for mature skin types since it helps improve the appearance of sagging skin and stretch marks. Customer Review: “Love this product! Feels like a little bit of a spa day has happened in my own bathroom. I also like that I can repurpose the empty containers for other things.”
Pros: Can be used on the face, hair, or body; contains plant oils and glycerin to reinforce the skin barrier, and protects against environmental stress. Cons: Contains fragrance. Avène’s multipurpose oil can be used on the body, face, and hair. An oleo-soothing complex in the formula combines Avène’s legendary thermal spring water with a trio of plant oils to help reinforce the skin’s natural barrier. Shea oil, camelina oil, safflower, and glycerin also help protect the skin against environmental stress and provide deep hydration. Customer Review: “I purchased this body oil on a whim and I am pleasantly surprised by how soft my skin felt. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy. It has a mild sweet scent that is not overpowering.”
Pros: Leaves skin, healthy, radiant, and hydrated with organic plant extracts and oils. Cons: Expensive. Miranda Kerr’s line of organic beauty products, Kora, has lots of highlights, but this featherlight body oil is one beauty editors love. It has the brand’s signature hero ingredient, antioxidant-packed noni extract, along with other luscious additions like rosehip and sunflower-seed oil. Customer Review: “On my second bottle and bought a third one when I run out! I love the glow it gives my skin and the smell is amazing! Summertime glow on the collar bone and just skin, in general, makes it pop with this lightweight oil even more!”
Pros: Has a lightweight texture, leaves a dewy finish, and has skin-nourishing ingredients like macadamia nut, kukui nut, and coconut oil. Cons: Contains coconut oil and may not be suitable for acne-prone skin. Truly, this body oil from Kayo has so many incredible perks. It’s basically a body serum/oil that parched skin will love. It’s lightweight, gives you a dewy finish, and has a power-packed roster of skin-enhancing benefactors like macadamia nut, kukui nut, açaí, avocado, and coconut oils, plus other antioxidants in the form of CoQ10 and vitamin E. Customer Review: “Love this product. It makes my skin soft and moisturized, and not greasy.”
Pros: Organic hinoki oil blend locks in moisture and Forest Awakening essential oil blend eases stress and enhances your mood. Cons: Expensive. Tatcha’s Hinoki Body Oil locks in moisture and even helps calm stress with an essential oil blend. It’s a favorite of Who What Wear beauty editor Katie Berohn. Customer Review: “This oil is great and blends wonderfully with my body lotions. It has a very light scent and absorbs into the skin effortlessly.”
Pros: Fast-absorbing and rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and omega-6,7, and 9. Cons: Best used with lotion and may not be hydrating enough for use alone. Berohn and I both believe that Nécessaire can do no wrong. Needless to say, that means we’re a little biased toward this oil. Nourishing antioxidants, vitamins, and omega fatty acids in this oil leave your skin extra nourished. My only complaint is that the oil is almost too lightweight—meaning it works best when mixed with a body cream or lotion as a booster.
Pros: Contains an adaptogenic herbal blend to nourish skin and boost radiance and organic oils packed with antioxidants and essential vitamins. Cons: Contains a light fragrance. This organic body oil from RMS has been a favorite of mine for years. It has this gorgeous, light vanilla scent to it and leaves my skin feeling so soft. Jojoba oil, coconut oil, rosehip, and buriti oil (just to name a few) work together to balance, hydrate, and protect the skin. Customer Review: “My absolute favorite body oil, I keep repurchasing. The smell transports me to so many different memories. It’s not greasy and absorbs quickly into the skin. The sea buckthorn leaves a hint of that natural shimmer. It’s just perfect.”
