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I’ve never been a huge fan of slathering my arms and legs with heavy creams. Instead, I prefer body cream’s lighter alternative, body oil, which absorbs quickly, locks in moisture, and leaves my otherwise scaly, dry skin glowing. If you haven’t used a body oil before, here’s a tip from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Connie Yang of PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank: It works best when applied to semi-damp skin immediately after a shower or bath. This technique allows the oil to act as a seal, which prevents your skin barrier from losing the water it needs to function.
To find the best body oils out there — from the drugstore shelves to the aisles of Sephora — I consulted Yang and a few other dermatologists to get their recommendations. Then I tested several of these oils on my own skin (and loved some so much that I continued to use them every week) and, to round out the list, tapped my fellow Strategist staffers for the oils they use in their post-shower routines. Below, you’ll find oils for a range of skin types at various price points. Looking for more for your everything shower? Check out our bath-and-body buying guides for washes and scrubs for all skin types.
Update on November 19, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Key ingredients
As their name suggests, body oils primarily consist of oil — or, more specifically, a blend of a few different oil extracts. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hope Mitchell, founder of Mitchell Dermatology, you should look for plant-based oils — such as jojoba, almond, and coconut — when choosing a body oil because they mimic the natural lipids found in your skin, helping to restore and balance your skin’s moisture level. Other oils like safflower and rose hip, are natural sources of essential fatty acids, which also help maintain healthy skin-barrier function; meanwhile, sunflower-seed oil is rich in vitamin E, an antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and protect against environmental damage. For dry skin, squalene is an additive that can further hydrate and soften the skin. And if you have sensitive skin, calendula oil and chamomile oil are your best bets for calming irritation.
Acne-prone skin is generally a less optimal candidate for body oils. However, if you’re prone to breakouts and want to try using body oil, choose a noncomedogenic formula and avoid heavier oils such as shea and coconut, which can easily clog pores.
Scent
A nice-smelling formula goes a long way in enhancing your after-shower routine, but the right fragrance for you is an entirely personal choice. To make your search easier, I’ve listed the fragrance profile for each body oil on this list. Just note: Some experts recommend steering clear of body oils with added fragrance if you’re prone to allergic reactions or have sensitive skin.
Price
Because body oils vary widely in price, I’ve broken down the approximate cost per ounce so you can more easily compare each product on this list (regardless of how much formula is in the bottle or tube).
Best body oil overall
Key ingredients: Sunflower-seed oil, Undaria seaweed, white lupin flower, rice-bran oil | Scent: Fruity | Price: $10/ounce
Osea is well known for its seaweed-rich products, and the brand’s body oil is unlike any other formula I’ve tried: It’s nongreasy and fast-absorbing, and it leaves my skin feeling bright and bouncy all day long. The formulation contains 11 botanical oils — including sunflower seed, babassu, passion fruit, and açai — to replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, plus brown marine algae (or Undaria pinnatifida extract), which is rich in nutrients like sodium, iron, potassium, calcium, and several B vitamins. A handy pump makes it convenient to apply, even when I’m rushing to towel off after a shower. I especially love the earthy scent, which has notes of grapefruit, lime, and mango. After consistent use and results — including firmer skin and fewer patches of keratosis pilaris on my arms — it’s safe to say this plant-based body oil is now a mainstay in my regimen.
I’m not the only one who swears by the Undaria Algae Body Oil: LeVar Burton, who counts this formula among his favorite things, says, “This oil — it has magic in it.” Our senior editor Winnie Yang is another fan, who says it sinks in without sitting on top of the skin as some other body oils often do. It also leaves her skin feeling “velvety” with a refreshing, slightly tropical scent. My editor, Hilary Reid, loves this oil too, noting that it sinks in much faster than other oils she has tried. “I never worry about it leaving oily traces on my clothes,” she says.
Best less expensive body oil
Key ingredients: Sesame-seed oil | Scent: Fragrance free | Price: $1.38/ounce
If $51 for the Osea above is more than you would like to spend, this Neutrogena formula is an affordable option that comes recommended by Mitchell. Not only is it super-lightweight, making it easy for the skin to absorb, it’s also fragrance free, which makes it suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive ones. Mitchell points to the nourishing sesame-seed-oil base, which “helps to hydrate and soften the skin without leaving a greasy residue.” It’s a solid choice that will keep your skin soft and supple without any added irritants — and without breaking the bank.
Best body oil for dry skin
Key ingredients: Rose-hip oil, sunflower-seed oil, noni-fruit extract | Scent: Earthy | Price: $19.12/ounce
As someone who was prescribed Accutane (isotretinoin) as a teenager and has dealt with dryness all over my body ever since, I’m always looking for products that can deeply hydrate my skin. Though I’m usually hesitant to try celebrity skin-care lines, I decided to test this body oil from model Miranda Kerr’s Kora Organics because it’s packed with natural fruit oils and flower extracts. I’ve been using it consistently for over a month and have seen the flakiness on my legs disappear to reveal a smoothness I didn’t think was possible. According to the brand, the formula’s hero ingredient is an extract derived from the noni fruit, an antioxidant-rich superfruit, which works alongside rose-hip oil and sunflower-seed oil to soften roughness and support skin’s elasticity. I apply it right after the shower a few times every week and love how it leaves a subtle sheen that lasts several hours.
Best less expensive body oil for dry skin
Key ingredients: Paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil), lavender oil, rosemary oil, calendula oil, sunflower-seed oil | Scent: Floral | Price: $5.13/ounce
We first heard about Bio-Oil from Strategist contributor Carson Griffith, who described it as an unbeatable moisturizer for dry skin that happened to be Kim Kardashian’s favorite, too. Griffith is a fan because this one is formulated with a blend of hydrating and soothing botanical oils, including rosemary, sunflower seed, and lavender. Kristin Chenoweth and LaLa Kent also love Bio-Oil, which they use to moisturize dry areas from head to toe. The formula is also a solid remedy for scars and stretch marks because it contains vitamins A and E, which can stimulate collagen production and reduce signs of aging. As Chenoweth puts it, “It really helps in the wrinkle department.” And since it’s non-comedogenic, it won’t clog your pores (Kent even swears it calms her breakouts).
It’s also safe to use while pregnant and nursing: Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, recommends Bio-Oil to keep the skin hydrated throughout pregnancy, which can help prevent discomfort and diminish the appearance of stretch marks.
Best body oil for dull skin
Key ingredients: Safflower oil, castor oil, squalane, coconut oil, jojoba oil, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (oil-soluble vitamin C derivative), linoleic acid, rose-hip oil | Scent: Vanilla coconut | Price: $7.06/ounce
Naturium makes some of our favorite body-care products, and this year, the brand added a new body oil to its Glow Getter line. I already use the Glow Getter body wash almost daily, so when the brand launched this linoleic-rich formula, I immediately requested a sample. After using it consistently for over three months, it’s improved the appearance and texture of my skin thanks to a blend of skin-replenishing ingredients such as squalane, jojoba, and coconut oil. The formula also contains tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which is considered a less irritating form of vitamin C but has the same powerful brightening properties. I love how weightless it feels when applied to my arms and legs, and the vanilla-coconut scent is warm and relaxing. There’s no denying how quickly it’s helped to reduce dullness and soothe patches of dry skin, leaving behind a softness and glow that lasts for several days.
Best body oil for dry, inflamed skin
Key ingredients: Shea oil, camelina oil, safflower oil, squalane, thermal spring water | Scent: Fragrance free | Price: $6.70/ounce
If you want to calm irritation caused by dryness, this body oil from Avène, which comes recommended by Yang, is for you. It’s made of three nourishing plant-based oils — shea, camelina, and safflower — and Avène’s mineral-infused thermal water that’s designed to soothe inflammation. The formula also contains squalene, which hydrates and softens, plus it’s hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic, and paraben free.
Best body oil for sensitive skin
Key ingredients: Coconut oil | Scent: Coconut | Price: $5.30/ounce
“For a simpler option, I often recommend plain coconut oil to my patients with sensitive, dry skin who aren’t acne-prone,” says Dr. Noëlle S. Sherber, co-founder of Sherber + Rad and clinical associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University. Sherber recommends this formula because it comes in a travel-friendly tube that “eliminates the concern of repeatedly dipping hands into a jar of preservative-free oil, which can result in bacterial contamination,” she says. Coconut oil is packed with lauric acid, an essential fatty acid with anti-bacterial properties, and vitamin E, an antioxidant that can reduce redness, meaning it’s super sensitive-skin friendly. Just note, as Sherber mentioned, this one is not recommended for those with very oily or acne-prone skin because of coconut oil’s comedogenic nature.
Best lightweight body oil
Key ingredients: Safflower oil, avocado oil, rose-hip oil, squalane | Scent: Cedarwood | Price: $19.70/ounce
On days when I want a lighter layer of hydration — especially during the warmer months — I go for the Hydrating Body Gloss from Oui the People. It has a thin, serumlike texture and leaves a dewy finish without any sticky residue. Thanks to a blend of rose-hip, avocado, and pomegranate oils, plus squalane, the formula is packed with super-hydrating and skin-nourishing ingredients. Though I’ve been testing it for only a few weeks, I’ve noticed how quickly this glossy oil sinks into my skin and how it never slides around or wipes off on my clothes while I’m getting dressed.
The Hydrating Body Gloss also comes in an unscented formula, which beauty experts Elizabeth Taylor and Alix Shapiro of True Beauty Brooklyn recommend for prepping skin before a Brazilian wax. According to Taylor and Shapiro, the oil’s ultralightweight consistency helps moisturize the area pre-wax without becoming oversaturated.
Best body oil for mature skin
Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, argan oil, grape-seed oil, evening-primrose oil | Scent: Floral | Price: $28.60/ounce
To address signs of skin aging, try this quick-absorbing body oil from Tata Harper suggested by Sherber. Formulated to improve your skin’s elasticity and smooth uneven texture, it contains a “blend of plant-based oils chosen for their vitamin, mineral, and nutrient content,” Sherber says. That includes moisturizing grape-seed oil, antioxidant-rich camellia oil, soothing evening-primrose oil, plus healing calendula-flower extract, and more. This body oil is also a favorite of Tallulah Willis, who says, “This is far and beyond the best, most supple body oil I’ve ever used.” It’s also free of fillers, synthetics, artificial colors, and fragrances.
Best body-oil mist
Key ingredients: Soybean oil, oat oil, jojoba oil | Scent: Vanilla almond | Price: $1.43/ounce
Body oils can get messy — I’m speaking from experience after many rounds of testing — but this Aveeno mist makes every application a breeze with a few quick spritzes. Our writer and resident beauty expert Tembe Denton-Hurst is a fan of the formula, which happens to be the final step in her routine for glowing skin. It contains mainly soybean and oat oils, which means it’s safe for sensitive-skin types, and as Denton-Hurst explains, “The spray nozzle makes it easy to apply on hard-to-reach spots like my back.” After bringing it on a trip to Myrtle Beach, she says, “Even though I was spending eight hours at the beach every day with my family, I still felt hydrated the following day.”
Best multipurpose body oil
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, castor oil | Scent: Earthy | Price: $14/ounce
The Mainstay Blend from Everyday Oil is a do-everything formula that can be used on the body, in hair, as a cuticle treatment, and for shaving. It’s made of a concoction of organic oils that delivers essential fatty acids and vitamins to soften skin and help it retain moisture. Yang, who uses it as a body oil, loves that the lighter texture is highly absorbent. It also comes recommended by Deer Tick frontman John McCauley, who uses it before (and sometimes after) shaving. He adds that it “smells like being outside” thanks to hints of lavender, geranium, sage, and palo santo.
Our experts
• Tembe Denton-Hurst, Strategist writer
• Dr. Hope Mitchell, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Mitchell Dermatology
• Hilary Reid, Strategist senior editor
• Dr. Noëlle S. Sherber, co-founder of Sherber + Rad and clinical associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University
• Dr. Connie Yang, board-certified dermatologist at PFRANKMD by Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
