You may have mastered your skin-care routine by now, but dont skimp on the rest of your body. Fortunately, staying moisturized from head to toe is easier than ever. All you need? A bottle of body oil.
The best body oils leave your skin feeling soft and looking glowy, while simultaneously moisturizing and strengthening your skin barrier. According to board-certified dermatologist Michele Green, who is based in New York City, body oils also offer long-lasting hydration for all skin types — without any stickiness, grease, or waxy residue. “Many people might assume that using a body oil would do the opposite and cause the skin to feel greasy, but body oils tend to be fast-absorbing,” she explains.
Head-to-toe elixirs are especially essential in the summertime since oils tend to be lightweight yet effective when it comes to locking in moisture and offering much-needed nourishment. “Being in chlorine pools, the beach, and the sun over the summer can leave our skin feeling dry and dull,” explains New York City board-certified dermatologist Marina Peredo. Body oils can help with replenishing any moisture lost.
New York City board-certified dermatologist Brian Hibler tells Allure that most body oils are spiked with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory botanical oils, and a slew of vitamins to promote healthy, smooth-looking skin. According to Hibler, you should look out for body oils that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as rosehip seed and jojoba oils, which “mimic the natural oil in our skin so it wont clog pores.” He also recommends squalene, which he describes as a “great emollient” thats “especially great for acne-prone skin.”
Green also recommends choosing a body oil formulated with vitamin E, which she describes as “naturally healing, hydrating, protective, and soothing.” The ingredient is “most often associated with its ability to intensely hydrate and protect against environmental irritants and pollutants,” she says.
For oily and acne-prone skin types, common comedogenic (or pore-clogging) ingredients like coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax may exacerbate acne breakouts and should be avoided when choosing a body oil. Meanwhile, those with sensitive skin should avoid body oils with synthetic fragrances and dyes, says board-certified dermatologist Zenovia Gabriel, who is based in Newport Beach, California.
Now for the good stuff: We narrowed down more than a few of our favorite body oils — both scented and fragrance-free — that will keep your skin silky-smooth and glowy throughout the summer months and beyond.
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7 Natural Oils for Dry Skin
- Maracuja. Loaded with linoleic acid and vitamin C, maracuja oil delivers powerful hydration to skin. …
- Argan. Derived from Morocco’s argan tree, this oil is now considered a skin care staple for its proven moisturizing abilities. …
- Grapeseed. …
- Olive. …
- Sunflower. …
- Jojoba. …
- Coconut.
6 Body Oils for Dry Skin, Plus Anti-Aging Boosters
Maybe the most counterintuitive choice here, olive oil — that staple of every Mediterranean pantry — is also an ancient beauty tool (and probably available in your kitchen right now). It’s the ultimate in all-purpose skin salves: Use it to gently remove makeup, soothe cracked heels, deep-condition hair, or just to moisturize dry skin. Use a light touch and wipe off any excess to prevent irritation or clogging.
You may be giving up pretty packaging, but with this DIY aesthetic you’ll gain greater control over ingredients and application.
Maybe the most counterintuitive choice here, olive oil — that staple of every Mediterranean pantry — is also an ancient beauty tool (and probably available in your kitchen right now). It’s the ultimate in all-purpose skin salves: Use it to gently remove makeup, soothe cracked heels, deep-condition hair, or just to moisturize dry skin. Use a light touch and wipe off any excess to prevent irritation or clogging.
Boost your oil: Add a few drops of pomegranate essential oil or green tea extract to help tackle further sun damage. Licorice extract may also help with lightening dark spots, or hyperpigmentation.
Another sweet, lightweight oil that can be used on the body — and hair! — apricot kernel oil is rich in vitamins like A, C, E, and K. To avoid clogged pores and acne, be sure to rinse it off your skin with warm water and gently dry with a clean towel. Apricot kernel also does wonderful double-duty for dry, damaged hair — add a few drops to a warmed-up carrier oil like almond oil, and then apply to damp hair, wrapping in a towel for at least 20 minutes. (Overnight is fine, too.)
Rose Hip Seed Oil
Best for: Uneven pigment, scars, fine lines, and acne-prone skin
What it is: Rose hip seed oil, which is extracted from the seeds of a South American rosebush, is like Mother Natures Retin-A without the irritating side effects. “It contains omega-6 essential fatty acids and vitamins A and C, which work to increase cell turnover,” explains Sobel. “If you use it for a few weeks, youll notice significant change in any dark spots, scars, or any other skin discoloration.”
This retinol-like effect, and the resulting increase in collagen and elastin production, means aging skin will benefit from rose hip seed oil, too. Its high concentrations of linoleic acid may also help acneic skin.
Best for: Dry, irritated skin
What it is: The oil of this thistle-like flower contains linoleic acid, or omega-6 fatty acid, which helps your skin make ceramides, a type of lipid that helps the skin hold onto water and prevent dehydration. “Its the best of all the oils for inflamed, dry skin — with the exception of argan oil, but safflower oil is much less expensive,” says Leslie Baumann, MD, a dermatologist in Miami and author of Skin Type Solutions. You can also consume safflower oil to prevent dry skin, especially if your diet is low in fat. “Vegetarians and those on low-fat or low-cholesterol diets are more likely to have dry skin, but adding safflower oil to foods can help,” Dr. Baumann says.
Best for: Acne-prone skin
What it is: Tea tree oil is the essential oil taken from the leaves of the Australian tree Melaleuca alternifolia. Found in many natural acne remedies, it helps kill bacteria in the pores and hair follicles that lead to blemishes, and, luckily for those who cant find relief fast enough, it penetrates the skin quickly. “For best results, use it in conjunction with alpha- and beta-hydroxy-acid washes,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Doing so will help slough off dead skin cells to prevent clogged pores.”
Although its a natural substance, tea tree oil may cause irritation, so make sure you test it on a small patch of skin before you use it generally.
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