The 17 best body oils, according to 320 women (2024)

But first, let us clear up any misconceptions you may have over these nourishing, all-over treatments. If you still associate oils with breakouts and greasy residue, we’ve got news. Similar to facial oils, body oils are generally light in texture (or, at least, lighter than you may think), fast-absorbing (so no greasy finish) and actually help to balance sebum levels (the natural oil in your skin) to leave your complexion looking clearer and brighter.

There are hundreds of products out there, so the Good Housekeeping Institute oiled up find the best ones on the market, monitoring the areas where they excelled, or didn’t, with the help of our panel of at-home testers.

Score: 84/100

Founded by two sisters experiencing the negative effects of a busy routine on their skin, the Balance Me range is on a mission to balance skin and minds, as well as doing good for the environment – three big ticks. This award-winning firming body oil was one of the first products the brand developed, and it’s come a long way.

It claims to firm and smooth the skin, and our testers confirmed it did just that. “It made my skin feel smooth and look less crepey, especially around the upper arms,” said one. Another noted a “visible improvement in the décolleté area.”

But what’s the secret? Well, the formula contains juniper to help boost blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, leaving skin feeling and looking more lifted. Macadamia oil works to moisturise the skin, and antiseptic bergamot clears it. The oil has also been bolstered with some aromatherapeutic geranium oil, to help soothe and ease stress.

Score: 84/100

Replenish dry, lacklustre skin with this luxurious dry body oil, which testers loved for how quickly it absorbed into the skin without leaving behind any sticky residue. This is thanks to the lightweight Kalahari oil, a blend of macadamia, borage, mongongo and kukui, which are packed full of fatty acids and antioxidants that help repair and replenish hydration levels.

Not only was this one a hit with our panel for its ability to soften, but it also achieved almost full marks in the lab for lasting hydration. The scent, made from lavender, neroli, rose and mandarin, also proved popular. "It left my face feeling moisturised and soft,” said one tester, while another gave this one-word review: “Divine”.

Score: 83/100

The star of the show in this body oil is sweet almond oil, alongside three other key skin-saving ingredients. The formula is rich in omega 9 fatty acids, which help to nourish skin and increase suppleness. It also contains squalene, an emollient that keeps the skin barrier protected, and therefore looking more toned, as well as antioxidants vitamin E and beta-sitosterol, both great for minimising any reduction in skin elasticity.

The oil made a big impact on our testers’ skin, with many loving the long-lasting nourishment and hydration it provided. “It leaves skin glowing and moisturised for the whole day,” said one happy panellist.

Score: 83/100

As the name suggests, this oil's scents of coconut, mandarin and sandalwood will take you on a sensory trip to the Caribbean, hydrating the skin with jojoba and avocado oils as you go. Like you would a piña colada on a bright, white beach, our panellists' skin lapped this up and loved the “gorgeous, subtle summer smell” as much as we did.

A few mentioned the bottle had a slightly loose lid, with one tester saying they couldn't take it in their hand luggage as a result. But when it came to the actual formulation, this holiday-in-a-bottle oil gained a whole new fan base, as all our testers said it hydrated skin throughout the day.

Score: 82/100

Scent isn’t for everyone, so we wanted to try a fragrance-free option too. This one is enriched with ultra-hydrating vitamins B7, E and C, which all work together to replenish dry skin, repair the barrier and protect from external aggressors.

Our testers with sensitive skin approved. “It was brilliant, I had absolutely no reaction whatsoever,” said one. This fuss-free formula also comes in a simple, chic glass bottle, with a dropper head for easy application.

Score: 82/100

The Eight Hour range from Elizabeth Arden is nothing short of legendary in the skincare game. The products are known for their versatility and effectiveness, and this hair and body oil is no exception. One tester said it smoothed their dry and coarse split ends (their words!), and it left another panellist's skin feeling “moisturised but not oily.” Now there’s some multi-purpose magic.

It uses a mix of Tsubaki and grapeseed oil, both rich in omega 6 and 9, which are great at reducing inflammation and protecting the skin barrier.

The spray bottle dispenses a fine spritz, which testers said was useful for targeting specific areas. Some found that this oil wasn’t as effective at treating extremely dry patches, such as on the legs, but most agreed that it was a great option for face and hair.

Score: 82/100

Body oils have historically been known for feeling extremely rich and heavy, but this lightweight one from Gisou debunks that theory. “It easily buffed into the skin and didn’t make my clothes greasy,” said one of our testers, so it's great for applying after your morning shower, even when you’re in a rush. Despite it being lightweight, it still delivered a heavy dose of “all-day hydration to very dry skin,” according to another panellist.

Its honey-infused formula is rich in replenishing fatty acids and leaves a sweet, lingering smell on the skin. It’s also available in a shimmer version to provide a perfect festive glow.

Score: 82/100

This shimmering body oil received glowing reviews from our panel for the subtle, yet radiant gleam it gave them. So, it looks good, and it feels good too – one tester said it left their skin feeling “hydrated and softer after applying”. Isn’t that exactly what you want from a body oil?

It reflects the light beautifully, especially along the collarbones and the décolletage area. The added sweet white tea and lotus flower aromas make it the perfect night-out option, too.

Score: 81/100

Omorovicza Shimmer Oil is, quite literally, liquid gold. It’s formulated with complexion-clearing colloidal gold, which works to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and age spots. There’s also soothing calendula oil, and collagen-boosting vitamin E for a rejuvenated look.

These nourishing ingredients encourage a natural glow, but the oil also includes some gold particles for good measure. You’ll glisten without feeling greasy too, as the oil absorbs quickly. Take care when dispensing, though, as some testers found it comes out quite fast.

Score: 81/100

With 99.65% naturally derived ingredients, Mirror Water does the job of softening your skin, without using any harsh chemicals. Instead, it’s made up of three nourishing oils: Grapeseed oil to soothe; fatty acid-rich marula oil to soften; and camellia oil to rehydrate dry skin.

Testers said it softened their skin immediately on application and lasted all day. It's quite thick in consistency, which some testers didn’t enjoy, but it works a dream on dry and cracked patches. It’s also fragranced with smoky, woody essential oils, to help you find your zen.

Score: 79/100

Dodging a damaged skin barrier is a hard feat these days, as there are so many things that are out to get it – from environmental aggressors such as UV or pollution exposure, to natural ageing, and even pH-disrupting skincare products. The result can be dry, scaly, inflamed skin.

That’s why Byoma founder Marc Elrick extensively researched the skin barrier before he developed the brand’s patented Barrier Lipid Complex. It’s formulated with sphingolipids, which maintain the barrier and encourage the production of ceramides, to better draw in and retain moisture.

But how did it perform on test? Well, to sum it up in three words, one panellist said it left their skin “hydrated, moisturised and softer.” Another said it helped soothe their “dry, itchy and cracked feet” too, an area particularly susceptible to dryness.

Score: 78/100

Like all the brand’s products, this Aveeno oil uses the power of oats to relieve and repair skin. It’s rich in ceramides, a humectant that’s highly effective at absorbing and retaining moisture in the skin. The impact of this key ingredient was evident in our feedback too, as many claimed it smoothed, hydrated and plumped their skin.

Some did find that it took longer to absorb, though, as its consistency is on the heavier side, so it may be more effective for those with extra dry skin. But at under £10, it’s an easy-to-apply, nourishing and affordable body oil. What’s more, it scored the same for long-lasting hydration in the lab as some of the more expensive options on our list.

Score: 77/100

Lightweight in all senses of the word, our testers thought this conveniently packaged spray oil was perfect for travel. “The packaging is portable, so I’ve been taking the oil to work, and while I’ve been travelling,” said one – massage on the move anyone? However, some did find the spray quite strong, so be sure to aim close to the skin to save you from losing the deposit on the Airbnb.

Overall, it revitalises and hydrates without clogging the skin and causing breakouts. Instead, our testers with dry legs said it “noticeably improved” their skin. It’s naturally fragranced with essential oils, so the lovely scents of lavender, rosemary and orange will follow you around after application.

Score: 77/100

When a brand claim rings true with our panel, we have to shout about it. And for one tester, this body oil left a “noticeable difference in the firmness of my skin after using it”. Simply massage into your skin and let the exfoliating black pepper extract do its repair work, while grapefruit extract encourages the production of plumping collagen, for a tighter and more toned look.

A little goes a long way too – testers agreed that the pump was effective at dispensing just the right amount of the rich and nourishing formula.

Score: 77/100

As much as we love a golden tan, we all know the damaging effects the sun has on the skin. This body oil uses ingredients to minimise the photoaging effects on the skin as much as possible. This is thanks to the high SPF 50 protection, along with rice and rosemary extracts, which help to brighten your complexion and protect cells.

It soothed and hydrated all our testers’ skin, with one saying it “provided intense hydration that lasted all day.” This was clear in the lab test results too, as it scored nearly full marks for retaining moisture over a four-hour period.

Score: 76/100

It wouldn’t be a Sanctuary Spa oil without the presence of golden sandalwood, an anti-inflammatory that help to smooth your skin, as well as coconut and shea butters to soften.

But with a unique mousse-to-oil formula, we were intrigued to see how it performed on test. Some of our panel enjoyed it – one said it effectively “locked in moisture” – but others thought it had “no benefit whatsoever”, and instead made it harder to judge how much to dispense.

Score: 71/100

Retinols are extremely effective at resurfacing and renewing skin, but they can be harsh. This is why the brains behind the Facetheory brand decided to pair up this super ingredient with an extremely moisturising body oil.

The retinol stimulates the production of collagen and accelerates skin renewal to leave it looking rejuvenated and fresh, while the oil-based vitamin C brightens and hydrates even the driest skin on the arms and legs, the brand claims.

Test results showed that it didn’t keep our testers’ skin hydrated for as long as some of the other body oils we tested, however. But the majority of our at home panel of testers agreed that it made their skin appear brighter, smoother and more glow-y.