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Like face oils, body oils are an indulgent addition to any skincare routine to boost skin's softness and glow. "Body oils are often made from lightweight, non-sticky oils, usually mineral oil or plant oils like safflower oil, sunflower seed oil, sweet almond oil and castor oil, among many others," explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "They can also contain oil-soluble versions of active skincare ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids that provide benefits such as brightening."
So why try a body oil? "Body oils can quickly improve the appearance of dry, flaky or ashy skin, and are both emollient, meaning they soften skin, and occlusive, meaning they prevent water from evaporating from skin," Butler says. "They can also soothe skin that's irritated or itchy due to dryness." And body oils aren't only for those with dry skin: "All skin types can benefit from body oils," says Anna Chacon, M.D., a dermatologist in Coral Gables, Florida. "They provide skin with a deeply moisturizing barrier."
Find a body oil you (and your skin) will love from among the GH Beauty Lab's expert-recommended body oils below, which were evaluated for their ease of use, texture, scent and effects on skin. Whether you're looking for an under $10 bargain, great smelling pick, formula for sensitive skin or just a pampering experience, these are the best body oils you can buy.
Not your basic body oil, fast-absorbing Bio-Oil, a blend of plant oils and retinol, is a true skincare treatment. The Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner is proven to help improve the look of dehydration, uneven skin tone and scars and stretch marks.
A study on scars up to three years old showed 62% improvement in color and 42% in width and height after twice-daily application for 12 weeks, GH Beauty Lab data evaluation confirmed. After eight weeks of use on stretch marks, 90% of testers reported reduced hyperpigmentation and up to 82% saw a reduction in size. "I used this oil after I got a curling iron burn on my face and it completely disappeared after a few days," GH's beauty director reported.
| Key ingredients | Mineral oil, plant oils, retinyl palmitate, vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Scent | Soft, powdery |
| Size | 4.2 oz. |
One of GH's beauty director's all-time favorites, this Vaseline drugstore body oil is actually a gel formula, so it’s less greasy and glides onto skin without dripping. This means you can easily apply it even when you’re tight on time. "Besides the amazing formula, the cocoa scent is delicious and it leaves skin looking radiant and healthy," she raves.
RELATED: Best Drugstore Body Washes
| Key ingredients | Mineral oil, cocoa butter |
|---|---|
| Scent | Sweet |
| Size | 6.8 oz. |
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Relieve extremely dehydrated skin by layering on this GH Beauty Award-winning body oil in rich balm form, loaded with naturally derived oils like castor and sunflower. The fragrance-free moisturizer didn’t irritate skin and kept it looking hydrated for 48 hours after one application, GH Beauty Lab data analysis found. "This definitely provides heavy-duty nourishment for when your skin is most parched, like in cold or dry weather," GH's beauty director says.
RELATED: Best Body Washes for Dry Skin
| Key ingredients | Glycerin, castor seed oil, shea butter |
|---|---|
| Scent | Fragrance-free |
| Size | 7 oz. |
4
Best-Smelling Body Oil
Brown Sugar Babe Nourishing Body Oil in It Girl Inspired by Kayla Greaves
Brown Sugar Babe's special edition body oil was created like a fine fragrance by beauty editor Kayla Greaves. It features three layers of sophisticated notes, including black pepper, rose, amber and musk for a rich scent in a base of skin-silkening plant oils. "This can truly double as perfume," GH's beauty director says. "It smells like luxury."
| Key ingredients | Avocado oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, olive oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Warm, spicy |
| Size | 4 oz. |
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Dip into this Oak Essentials formula loaded with plant oils for skin that feels hydrated and supple to the touch."It leaves my skin feeling super nourished and moisturized," says GH Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn. "The luxurious oil absorbs beautifully and leaves no greasy residue." She does note that while it's great to use after the shower for "extra soft skin," you have to use quite a bit of product to cover your body.
| Key ingredients | Safflower seed oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, sweet almond oil, lavender oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Fresh |
| Size | 3.4 oz. |
A blend of botanical oils like sunflower, hemp and coconut, GH Beauty Award winner Palmer’s silkens and coddles body skin but won’t leave behind a greasy feel thanks to a unique dry-touch finish. “I couldn’t believe how quickly it absorbed,” a tester revealed. “My skin looked luminous and was no longer itchy.”
RELATED: Coconut Oil for Skin
| Key ingredients | Sunflower seed oil, baobab seed oil, moringa seed oil, hemp seed oil, cocoa butter |
|---|---|
| Scent | Herbal |
| Size | 5.1 oz. |
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7
Best Perfume Body Oil
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Body Oil
Many fragrance brands offer perfumes in body oil form, which lets you wear the scent in a subtler way (either dabbed on pulse points or all over your skin), often at a fraction of the price. The body oil version of the now iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge carries the same warm, sophisticated fragrance (which GH's beauty director wore on her wedding day) and leaves skin both beautifully scented and silky.
RELATED: Best Perfumes for Women
| Key ingredients | Macadamia seed oil, apricot kernel oil, argan oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Warm floral |
| Size | 2.4 oz. |
A few pumps of this mild Farmaesthetics body oil formula, which contains only three ingredients, help soothe skin sensitivity. "When my skin is especially dry or feels sensitive, I apply this before and after a bath to help lock in moisture," says GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. "Sometimes I even drop a little bit in the bath to give it that silky feel."
| Key ingredients | Soy oil, honey, vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Scent | Lightly sweet |
| Size | 7 oz. |
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Whind's body oil is spiked with iridescent glimmer to give skin instant, eye-catching radiance. "This is a body oil that leaves skin shiny and glowy with gold shimmer," Butler says. "It’s perfect for a summer night out when you want to add gleam and moisture to exposed arms and legs."
| Key ingredients | Sunflower seed oil, apricot kernel oil, castor oil, argan oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Warm amber |
| Size | 6.7 oz. |
A French beauty staple, Nuxe's luxe multitasking oil works on more than just the body: It can be used on the hair and even the face. "The soft orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla scent is heavenly and it feels like a little spa escape when I use it on my body and as a hair treatment," GH's beauty director raves.
RELATED: Best Hair Oils
| Key ingredients | Macadamia seed oil, sweet almond oil, hazelnut seed oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Floral |
| Size | 3.3 oz. |
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This oil mist from French-made brand Bastide is one of former GH Beauty Lab Executive Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.'s go-tos thanks to its fast absorption and convenient spray application. Simply spritz on your skin and massage in with your hands. “I especially love the orange blossom notes,” she says. “It’s a nice perfume alternative if you want a light scent.”
| Key ingredients | Macadamia seed oil, grape seed oil, sesame seed oil, argan oil, squalane |
|---|---|
| Scent | Floral |
| Size | 3.4 oz. |
Infused with a subtle lavender scent, which is known to help promote deep sleep, this luxurious Yon-Ka Paris spray formula, a GH Beauty Lab favorite, is perfect for applying before bed. Not only will it help you get ready for ZZZs, it also soaks into skin fast, so you won’t have to wait long before snuggling up. "This aroma instantly makes me feel relaxed after a long day," GH's beauty director says.
| Key ingredients | Sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, lavender oil |
|---|---|
| Scent | Herbal |
| Size | 3.38 oz. |
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How we choose the best body oils
The GH Beauty Lab has a decades-long history of testing and evaluating hundreds of moisturizing skincare products. These body oils are a combination of GH Beauty Award winners and Beauty Lab expert recommendations assessed on attributes such as their texture, scent and the look and feel of skin after application.
What to look for when shopping for body oil
"Selecting the proper type of oil for your unique skin type is key to harnessing the benefits," Dr. Chacon says."Depending on your skin and skincare goals there is a large array of oils to choose from that vary from light and quick to absorb to thick and deeply moisturizing." Here's what to consider when choosing the best body oil for you, according to experts:
✔️ Skin type: If you have dry or mature skin, "choose a rich, heavier oil such as avocado, argan or coconut, which will moisturize deeply while protecting the skin barrier," Dr. Chacon explains. Those with sensitive or oily skin can opt for jojoba oil, "which is similar to skin's natural sebum, has antimicrobial properties and is noncomedogenic, making it unlikely to clog pores," she says. If you experience eczema, "jojoba and coconut oils are ultra-soothing and calendula oil has natural healing and anti-inflammatory properties," Dr. Chacon notes. "Always patch test a new product on a small hidden area of skin to check for sensitivity before applying it all over."
✔️ Fragrance: "Certain body oils can be strongly scented, so decide whether you want one that perfumes your skin or one with a light scent or no scent at all," Butler advises. "Body oils can also be a great perfume alternative,” Aral says.
✔️ Skin finish: "Some body oils add a lot of gloss to skin, and some contain shimmer," Butler says. "If you don’t want shimmer or shine, look for a dry body oil, which will impart a more natural skin finish."
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What's the best way to use a body oil?
GH Beauty Lab experts recommend applying body oil at night so it doesn't stain clothes or transfer onto furniture. Smooth it onto bare skin after you get out of the shower to lock in moisture, then let it absorb into the skin before dressing. Store body oils away from light and heat since they can cause formulas to degrade and go rancid.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
GH Beauty Director April Franzino has over 15 years of experience researching, writing and editing skincare-related content. For this piece, April worked closely with the GH Beauty Lab to report on the Beauty Lab's body oil product recommendations and expert commentary. She also interviewed dermatologist experts about the topic.
GH Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Columbia University and years of experience as a cosmetic chemist formulating skincare products for a variety of beauty brands. She contributed scientific insights to this article and reviewed it for accuracy.
April Franzino
Beauty Director
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Reviewed byChiara Butler
Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Reviews Analyst
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she conducts hands-on testing of health and beauty products. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH in 2022, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims.
