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Vetted
Joline Buscemi Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Forbes Vetted
The best body oils are lightweight, hydrating and nourishing, often giving skin a beautiful sheen. Oils can also strengthen the skin barrier and deliver radiance-boosting antioxidants for long-term benefits. From the wildly popular L’Occitane Supple Skin Body Oil to the budget-friendly SheaMoisture Coconut And Hibiscus Body Oil, our top picks keep your skin feeling soft and supple.
In choosing a body oil, look for ingredients like vitamin E, squalane or hyaluronic acid for deep hydration that won’t irritate sensitive skin. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you should generally avoid options with comedogenic (or pore-clogging) ingredients like coconut oil. After consulting with Forbes Vetted deputy editor Jane Sung and medical expert Dr. Azza Halim, we’ve rounded up the best body oils that hydrate, nourish and soften skin.
Best Body Oil Overall: L'Occitane Supple Skin Body Oil
Best Drugstore Body Oil: SheaMoisture Coconut And Hibiscus Body Oil
Best Luxury Body Oil: Retrouvé Baume Ultime Body Oil
Best Massage Oil: Maude Oil
Best Smelling Body Oil: Ellis Brooklyn Myth Spectacular Scented Body Oil
Best Oil For Stretch Marks: Bio Oil
Best Body Oil For Aging Skin: Esker Firming Body Oil
Best Shower Oil: Sabon Shower Oil
Best Shimmer Body Oil: Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse
Best Body Oil Overall
A Popular Option With A Warm Vanilla Scent
L'Occitane Supple Skin Body Oil
This body oil from L’Occitane is a popular option that hydrates skin and leaves behind a healthy sheen—minus that oily feeling. The hero ingredient is sweet almond oil, which can help improve the appearance and firmness of the skin. Reviewers love the warm vanilla scent and subtle glow that it provides.
Best Drugstore Body Oil
An Affordable And Versatile Pick
SheaMoisture Coconut And Hibiscus Body Oil
Body oils may sound pampering, but they don’t have to be expensive. This drugstore pick features a blend of oils that moisturize and nourish skin, including coconut, sweet almond, jojoba and olive oil. The versatile formula can be poured into baths, used directly on the skin or applied as a massage oil. It’s also free of sulfates, parabens and phthalates.
Best Luxury Body Oil
A Concentrated Formula That's Worth The Splurge
Retrouvé Baume Ultime Body Oil
For a splurge-worthy option, you can’t go wrong with the Retrouvé Baume Ultime Body Oil. The luxurious product contains avocado oil, squalane, ceramides and vitamins C and E for hydration and improved skin texture and tone. It has a thicker texture than most oils on this list, and the concentrated formula absorbs quickly and without leaving extra residue. A little goes a long way, so you’ll go through less product at a time, too.
Best Massage Oil
A Lightweight Pick With The Right Amount Of Slip
Maude Oil
When it comes to the ideal formula for a massage, look for a combination of lightweight oils that absorb quickly, as many people don’t like the feeling of heavy oils sitting on their skin. This blend contains jojoba, coconut, argan and castor oil, which combine to give it just the right amount of slip, and you only need a small amount for an at-home massage. There are no added fragrances, and it’s hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin.
Best Body Oil For Dry Skin
A Hydrating Blend Of Six Botanical Oils
Roz Treatment Oil
To soothe dry skin, choose an option with ultra-nourishing and hydrating ingredients. The Roz Treatment Oil is a non-greasy pick that uses six botanical oils, including sesame, jojoba and sunflower, to moisturize and nourish. It can be used on the hair and body, and reviewers say it works wonders as a pre-treatment oil before cleansing strands.
Best Smelling Body Oil
A Lightly Scented Pick That Leaves A Subtle Glow
This scented body oil is inspired by the best-selling perfume of the same name, with notes of white musk, cassis, jasmine and white cedarwood. Antioxidant-rich rosehip and pumpkin seed oils hydrate, while squalane soothes skin. Use it instead of perfume to add a light scent and subtle glow to the skin before a night out.
Best Oil For Stretch Marks
A Formula Packed With Healing Ingredients
Bio Oil
While there’s no cure for stretch marks, the right oil can help heal and reduce symptoms like itching or dryness. Bio-Oil was specifically designed to target scars and stretch marks using rosemary oil, vitamins A and E, and a number of other healing ingredients—all of which can help improve the appearance of skin over time. It has over 45,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, and reviewers say it spreads easily and doesn’t feel greasy. Some customers found the screw cap difficult to use as the oil comes out quickly, but overall it’s a great product to have in your arsenal.
Best Body Oil For Aging Skin
A Fragrant Oil That Softens And Hydrates
MOST POPULAR
Esker Firming Body Oil
Skin can become drier with age, so it’s important to select a body oil that targets the unique needs of aging skin. This fragrant blend contains botanical oils such as juniper, palmarosa, lavender and rose geranium that work together to soften skin. Many of these ingredients also contain antioxidants that can help improve the texture and appearance of mature skin over time. The botanical oils give this formula a fresh citrus aroma.
Best Shower Oil
A Moisturizing Option That Lathers And Cleanses
Sabon Shower Oil
Many traditional soaps can strip the skin of essential moisture, so using a shower oil can help lock in hydration while cleansing. This oil lathers up and can be used in the same way as a classic shower gel. Massage a small amount of product onto wet skin and spread evenly over your body before rinsing. Key ingredients include jojoba, avocado, wheat germ and olive oils. Along with the musky, warm Patchouli Lavender fragrance pictured here, the formula is also available in a variety of scents like Jasmine and Green Rose.
Best Shimmer Body Oil
A Shimmer-Infused Oil That Gives A Beautiful Glow
Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse
Body oils typically leave behind a natural sheen, but this pick gives skin a beautiful glow thanks to micro flecks of naturally sourced shimmer. Its botanical oils including argan, macadamia and camellia moisturizes and softens the skin. If you’re feeling bold, apply the shimmer all over since it’s also safe to use on the face and hair. The best part? The fragrant combination of orange blossom, vanilla and magnolia leaves you smelling like you’re on a luxury beach vacation.
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we’ve researched and written dozens of skincare stories. These include bodycare topics like the best body scrubs and top self-tanners.
- Author of this piece Joline Buscemi is a beauty reporter with six years of experience covering beauty and lifestyle topics.
- This story was assigned and produced by deputy editor Jane Sung, who leads the beauty and grooming category and has 15-plus years of experience covering lifestyle topics.
- Buscemi also gathered key insight and guidance from Dr. Azza Halim, a board-certified physician and anesthesiologist.
How We Chose The Best Body Oils
To select the best body oils, we carefully evaluated options from top retailers and brands, including L’Occitane, SheaMoisture, Retrouvé and more. We also consulted experts on product recommendations and insights on what to look for.
- We prioritized formulas with active ingredients that hydrate, soften and nourish without leaving any greasy residue.
- Our final list includes options for different skin types and concerns, ranging from dry to aging skin.
- Additionally, our experts Halim and Sung made recommendations based on their experiences, while customer reviews were examined for standout product traits.
- As everyone’s budget looks slightly different, we included affordable and luxury options.
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