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14 of the Best Body Oils for Super Soft, Supple Skin

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We love a good body lotion as much as the next person, but there's something so luxurious about reaching for body oil instead. This moisturizing alternative is made with hydrating, non-comedogenic oils that give you dewy, supple skin almost instantly. They are incredibly effective in hydrating super dry skin, and can also help with other skin struggles like minimizing the appearance of stretch marks, evening out skin tone, and boosting radiance. While the idea of slathering oil all over your body might sound a little uncomfortable, many formulas are actually non-greasy and fast-absorbing. The best body oils absorb so quickly that they're actually considered "dry oils" because your skin magically feels well-nourished, yet not slick after you rub them in.

When looking for the best body oil, take a look at the ingredient list and look for natural oils that have been extracted from plants. They’ll often have the name of the roots, fruits, flowers, or leaf right in the name (like sunflower seed oil or rosehip oil). Ready to find the perfect formula for you? Below are 14 of the best body oils for every skin type.

1. Best Body Oil Overall:

ORIBE Gold Lust All Over Oil

ORIBE Gold Lust All Over Oil
Courtesy of ORIBE

This luxe body oil includes a blend of 17(!) nourishing oils to truly boost hydration while offering all kinds of additional skin benefits. The multipurpose formula is so versatile it can be used as a body oil, hair oil, or face oil. The fast-absorbing oil creates a noticeably radiant glow and works flawlessly as a deep conditioning treatment for hair. If you're looking for one well-rounded oil that can work seamlessly for all your beauty needs, this is it.

2. Best Body Oil with SPF:

SOL DE JANEIRO Bum Bum Sol Oil

SOL DE JANEIRO Bum Bum Sol Oil
Courtesy of SOL DE JANEIRO

This Brazilian body oil is about to become your new beach buddy. It illuminates, smoothes, and nourishes dry skin while providing ample sun protection thanks to SPF 30. It’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Bonus: It features SOL DE JANEIRO's signature fragrance, a sweet scent with notes of salted caramel and pistachio, so it smells way better than your everyday SPF skincare.

3. Best Body Oil for Breakout Prone Skin:

ORIGINS Ginger Gloss™ Smoothing Body Oil

ORIGINS Ginger Gloss™ Smoothing Body Oil
Courtesy of ORIGINS

This non-greasy formula comes in a convenient spray bottle. Moisturizing jojoba oil is the primary base oil here, with ginger root oil following closely behind. Ginger is an ideal sidekick as it helps to fight inflammation, boost healing, and keep blemishes at bay. It's a great daily go-to if you tend to be prone to body breakouts.

4. Best Shimmery Body Oil:

BIOSSANCE Squalane + Vitamin E Shimmering Body Oil

BIOSSANCE Squalane + Vitamin E Shimmering Body Oil
Courtesy of BIOSSANCE

Think of this as the grown-up version of body glitter. Here, BIOSSANCE's clean, plant-derived squalane gets a glam upgrade with the inclusion of ethically sourced mica (the secret to its subtle shimmer) and green coffee seed oil which firms and smooths skin's texture. In addition to making your skin look totally goddess-like, squalane provides weightless, fast-absorbing hydration.

5. Best Anti-Aging Body Oil:

TATA HARPER Revitalizing Body Oil 

TATA HARPER Revitalizing Body Oil
Courtesy of TATA HARPER

As you age, your skin naturally becomes more prone to dryness, and dry skin can enhance signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, and elasticity loss. Body oil is a super effective (and super easy) way for mature skin types to nourish and revive their skin. This clean formula from TATA HARPER uses a potent blend of oils, antioxidants, and vitamins to give you noticeably younger-looking skin. Two key ingredients include evening primrose oil (for moisture and skin-smoothing benefits) and camellia oil (which helps promote cell regeneration).

6. Best Self-Tanning Body Oil:

JOSIE MARAN Argan Liquid Gold Self Tanning Body Oil 

JOSIE MARAN Argan Liquid Gold Self Tanning Body Oil
Courtesy of JOSIE MARAN

Here's a healthy, hydrating way to get a sun-kissed glow without any of the harmful UV damage. This self-tanning oil is made with 100% pure argan oil and natural DHA which reacts with your skin to create a bronzing effect. After applying the oil with a mitt (which is included) and then wait 4 hours for the tan to fully develop before deciding if you want to apply another coat for a deeper, richer tan.

7. Best Dry Body Oil:

MOROCCANOIL Dry Body Oil

MOROCCANOIL Dry Body Oil
Courtesy of MOROCCANOIL

If you're trying to throw on a pair of jeans immediately after applying body oil—or you simply prefer a dryer feel to your oils, this formula absorbs almost instantly with no greasy feel or residue. The oil blends argan oil, avocado oil, and olive oil together for a treatment that's still deeply hydrating but takes half the time to absorb. It's perfect for those days when you're running late but don't want to skip this essential skincare step.

8. Best Oil for Body and Hair:

SHEAMOISTURE 100% Pure Shea Oil Head to Toe Moisturization

SHEAMOISTURE 100% Pure Shea Oil Head to Toe Moisturization
Courtesy of SHEAMOISTURE

There's just one ingredient in this multitasking oil: 100% pure shea oil. The versatile oil is rich in essential fatty acids, phytosterols, and vitamins E, A, and F that can give you significantly softer, healthier skin and hair. If applying it as a hair oil, remember a little goes a long way here. Just a drop is enough to noticeably boost moisture anywhere on the body.

9. Best Post-Workout Body Oil:

ELEMIS Musclease Active Body Oil

ELEMIS Musclease Active Body Oil
Courtesy of ELEMIS

This powerful body oil is an ideal hydrating treatment for soothing tired muscles after your tough workout or weekend hike. The formula blends together pine, sea buckthorn, sea fennel, and rosemary essential oils which treat sore muscles and help to relieve tension. These soothing ingredients are based in a blend of sweet almond oil and sunflower oil so you can be sure that this is a body oil that's just as hydrating as it is soothing.

10. Best Body Oil for Oily Skin Types:

BAREFOOT VENUS Hunny Mango Argan Body Oil

BAREFOOT VENUS Hunny Mango Argan Body Oil
Courtesy of BAREFOOT VENUS

This super nourishing body oil smells like an instant tropical vacation. It's made with just a few simple ingredients to deeply hydrate and improve the appearance of the skin. Argan oil provides anti-aging benefits and protects against free radicals, apricot oil helps to control oil production (a big bonus for any oil-prone skin types interested in using body oil), meadowfoam oil creates a super-strong moisture barrier to lock in hydration, and sesame oil boosts collagen production.

11. Best Body Oil for New Moms and Moms-to-be:

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Oil
Courtesy of OSEA

This seaweed-infused body oil is so clean and natural you might even find a little bit of seaweed sediment at the bottom of your bottle. The clean formula's hero ingredient is a super effective hydrator that can also help to firm and boost elasticity. It's a great go-to for all skin types, but it can be particularly during pregnancy or postpartum to naturally reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

12. Best Cleansing Body Oil:

GLOSSIER Body Hero Daily Oil Wash

GLOSSIER Body Hero Daily Oil Wash
Courtesy of GLOSSIER

You've heard of cleansing oil for your face—this is essentially the same concept but for your entire body. Slather this body oil all over in the shower to cleanse and hydrate in one simple step. While sesame oil purifies skin and attracts grime, a combination of coconut oil, meadowfoam seed oil, olive oil, and soybean oil hydrate and soften skin. Don't be surprised if you step out of the shower with skin that feels super moisturized.

13. Best Body Oil for Sensitive Skin:

KIEHL'S Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil

KIEHL'S Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil
Courtesy of KIEHL'S

The minimal, natural-leaning ingredient lists popular in many body oil formulas can be great for sensitive skin types. Just be sure you're using a formula that features oils that fall low on the comedogenic scale (a scale that determines how likely an ingredient is to clog pores). This refreshingly simple formula from KIEHL'S features grapeseed oil and squalane as the two primary ingredients, both of which are non-comedogenic and sensitive skin-approved. Use this dry oil daily for velvety smooth skin that feels intensely hydrated.

14. Best Soothing Body Oil:

DERMALOGICA Phyto Replenish Body Oil

DERMALOGICA Phyto Replenish Body Oil
Courtesy of DERMALOGICA

If your skin is currently experiencing irritation or just needs soothing, try this nourishing oil from DERMALOGICA. It uses an antioxidant-rich blend of skin-nourishing oils like French plum seed oil, avocado oil, and sunflower seed oil to replenish moisture and protect the skin's lipid barrier. Fermented red ginseng calms and soothes the skin, plus bergamot, neroli, patchouli, and sandalwood create an addictive scent.

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About the author
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Cortney Clift
Cortney is a New York-based freelance writer who has written about beauty and wellness for more than six years. She was previously the senior writer and special projects editor at Brit + Co where she covered a wide range of news and lifestyle topics.
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Article Last Updated March 29, 2021 12:00 AM