These Body Oils Lock in Moisture and Keep Skin Glowing From Head to Toe (2024)

We updated this article in October 2022 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

There are two types of people in the world: those who happily slather on a thick, creamy lotion for dry skin after hopping out of the shower and those who couldn’t think of a more tortuous task. (So. much. rubbing.) Luckily for the latter group, the best body oils exist to add moisture and hydrate skin without that creamy texture associated with moisturizers.

Body oils are super lightweight and help you maintain supple skin with much less hassle. With that being said, it’s important to note that lotions and oils aren’t necessarily created equal—although they both moisturize the body, they do it in slightly different ways. “Body oils are made of just that—oils—while body lotions are usually an emulsion (a mixture) of oils and water together,” says Courtney Rubin, M.D., M.B.E., F.A.A.D, Harvard dermatologist and co-founder of Fig.1 Skincare. “Because body oils don’t contain water, the products themselves do not provide hydration.”

Meet the experts: Courtney Rubin, M.D., M.B.E., F.A.A.D, Harvard dermatologist and co-founder of Fig.1 Skincare; Jessica Houston, double-licensed esthetician and lead esthetician at BEAUTYBEEZ; Celebrity makeup artist Alexis Oakley; and Janiene Luke, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Loma Linda, California.

But the best body oils do so much more than add moisture. Many include powerhouse ingredients to help nourish skin and others even include SPF for sun protection (though nothing beats the best sunscreens). In fact, Janiene Luke, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Loma Linda, California, says products with sunscreen in them are “dermatologist’s choice,” so we’re inclined to name them ours, too.

Our top picks

Now that you’re well informed on the body oil basics, here are some top picks—including loads of our experts’ favorites.

“A dermatologist’s obvious choice, this oil is moisturizing (includes a blend of several oils such as grapeseed, soybean, coconut, and shea),” explains Dr. Luke. “And [it] provides sun protection (SPF 50) for up to 80 minutes, leaving skin with a nice overall glow.”

Chances are you’ve probably heard the praises of Bio-Oil before, but it’s only fair that this cult favorite product makes the cut. Driven by sunflower oil and vitamins A and E, this formula is not only moisturizing, but many shoppers say it’s made stretch marks and scars disappear.

This luxurious, multi-use product recommended by Dr. Rubin is perfect for those who fear the greasiness of a traditional oil. Its dry oil formula sinks in instantly, making it ideal for the body, face, and hair.

Celebrity makeup artist Alexis Oakley likes this one because it contains evening primrose oil, camellia oil, and an Estate Grown Beauty Complex of 11 vitamins, 18 nutrients, and six minerals to nourish and moisturize the skin. Plus, the bottle is super luxurious.

Sunflower oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil make this one a favorite for Oakley, especially because the latter two oils deliver essential fatty acids. It’s also certified organic and made for babies, so it’s extra gentle.

This is a pick from Dr. Rubin that contains a blend of acai, babassu, and passion fruit oils along with organic undaria algae to help firm and moisturize the skin, and even reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

This affordable pick is a go-to for Houston. Its main oil is sesame, which is safe to use over body breakouts, and it’s super lightweight so it won’t clog pores.

Coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, peach kernel oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E make this formula a nourishing dream for dry skin and hair. Houston loves it, and it also contains hibiscus flower petals (which you can see floating in the bottle), giving it a light floral scent.

Dr. Luke loves this body oil for a variety of reasons. “Specifically formulated for dry, sensitive skin this oil is moisturizing and contains shea, camelina, and safflower oils and Avene’s Thermal Spring water which helps soothe the skin and has been extensively studied,” she says.

Another of Dr. Rubin’s faves, this innovative body serum is made with naturally exfoliating pumpkin seed oil, nourishing sea buckthorn oil, and antileukine 6, an antioxidant-rich sea botanical that smooths, firms, and helps defend against environmental stressors.

This chic body oil, recommended by Oakley, contains sweet almond and hazelnut oils that are rich in omegas 6, 7 and 9, delivering crucial antioxidants and vitamins that restore skin to a healthy state.

Dr. Luke recommends this body oil for those looking for a massage oil. “I love that Sheamoisture has a wide variety of body/massage oils that are formulated with amazing ingredients that are moisturizing and soothing. The Olive and Green Tea product smells great and can be used in the bath and/or as a massage oil to soothe sore, tired muscles,” she says.

A blend of olive oil, coconut oil, and rosehip seed oil complete this moisturizing, smoothing, and brightening formula recommended by Houston. It comes in various subtle scents, but she prefers “Lake,” which carries notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and neroli.

Houston enjoys this formula for its organic ingredients and the fact that it’s fragrance-free, which makes it great for sensitive skin. Organic coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and castor oil leave a moisturized, dewy glow after every application.

“Vitamin A derivatives or retinoids are one of my favorite anti-aging ingredients and included in this family is retinol, a form of retinoid that is readily available over-the-counter,” explains Dr. Luke. “Retinoids/retinols have well-established anti-aging benefits and can stimulate collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.” The cult-favorite brand’s face oil is made with retinol in addition to “soothing agents such as chamomile, and avocado and chia seed oils, rich in essential nutrients such as omega 3s and vitamins A, C, and E,” she says.

“This oil blend contains jojoba, moringa, rosehip, argan, evening primrose, and sunflower,” Dr. Luke says. “As well as antioxidants Vitamin C and E, along with the retinol and can be helpful for those with mild acne and/or dark spots.”

This beautiful oil’s three main ingredients are camellia flower oil, which increases elasticity and gives skin luminous glow, grapeseed oil, and jasmine sambac oil (hence the name), which supports skin’s natural moisture levels, according to the product's description.

If you’re looking to glow a little extra than normal, perhaps on a beach vacation or poolside, reach for this shimmering liquid by Patrick Ta. It comes in three opulent shades and contains squalene and olive oils, as well as vitamin E and vitamin C to prevent free radical damage.

We know, this one’s quite the splurge. But, La Mer has a reputation for being worth the dent in your bank account. Plus, as a body oil, a little goes a long way—so this one should last you quite some time. Chock full of seed oils (jajoba, meadowfoam, and grapeseed are just a few that make the ingredients list), this oil will turn your post-shower routine into one of pure luxury.

Another favorite of Dr. Luke, this body oil is from singer Alicia Key’s skincare line. “Formulated with marula, baobob, and jojoba oil, this antioxidant- and nutrient-rich blend provides moisture to the skin (jojoba oil is similar in structure to our body’s natural oil, sebum),” says Dr. Luke. “This is great right after showering and can be applied while skin is still slightly damp.”