While lotions and creams can also provide moisture, a change of formula might be exactly what your skin needs. Most people are familiar with face creams and body lotions. However, a high-quality best body oils can give your skin a glow that goes beyond what your typical lotion can deliver. A lightweight body oil will absorb easily into the skin and help seal moisture in, making you look and feel luxurious.
Most oils are incredibly lightweight, meaning they don’t take much time to apply but have many of the same moisturising benefits as a lotion. Sinking into the top layers of your skin, body oils are known for significantly improving the look and feel of your body, evening out skin tone and lessening the appearance of scars, stretch marks and even signs of ageing. With lots of good, natural ingredients, they’re like food for the skin.
Apply directly to your skin or sprinkle a little into the bath – however you choose to use them, body oils can revolutionise your beauty routine.
Here are some of the best body oils to mosturise your skin.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is easily absorbed into the skin and is known to have many health benefits, including those from vitamins E and K, as well as its antifungal and antibacterial properties. The one big exception? Along with cocoa butter, coconut oil is likely to cause breakouts. In general, coconut oil is a great option for almost everybody, except if you have oily skin and you’re acne prone. In a study published in the journal Dermatitis, researchers found coconut oil was better than olive oil at moisturizing skin when used in a carrier. Remember to look for cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil for your face or skin care.
Olive Oil
Olive oil doesn’t typically trigger allergic reactions, but for the best results, be sure to opt for the extra-virgin variety. Olive oil contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, and some research, such as a study offers scientific evidence of its potential as a moisturizer. With its heavy consistency, it is a great choice for an all-body application. You may even want to try an olive body oils cleanser or bar of soap for a clean that won’t dry out your skin.
Sunflower Seed Oil
Sunflower seed oil is widely available, high in vitamin E, and absorbs easily into the skin, making it an excellent choice as a natural moisturizer. One study, published in the journal Pediatrics Dermatology, found that in infants sunflower body oils better protected the skin’s barrier and didn’t cause or aggravate atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema), as compared with olive oil.
Shea Butter
Derived from the nuts of the African shea tree, shea butter is a tallow-like substance that is commonly found in a solid form, but it melts at body temperature, and is sometimes used as a moisturizer and hair product. Unrefined, organic shea butter can also be combined with olive oil or coconut oil to create a smoother texture for application.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba is native to Mexico and the American Southwest, where its oils have been extracted from its seeds and used medicinally by Native American tribes. In a review published in the Journal of the Italian Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, researchers found jojoba oil may have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects, among other skin benefits.
Almond Oil
Made from pressed raw almonds, almond oil is full of health benefits, such as vitamin E, zinc, proteins, and potassium. It has a lighter texture than olive oil and shea butter, which many find appealing to use on the face. But sweet almond oil can result in allergic responses, so we recommends avoiding almond body oils if you have sensitive skin.
Grapeseed Oil
Containing vitamin E and essential fatty acids, grapeseed oil is lightweight compared with other natural oils. It also offers antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, according to an article published in September 2016 in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights. From her experience, grapeseed body oils is less commonly used for skin than the other oils, but we are optimistic about its potential use for this purpose. We have not seen allergic reactions to grapeseed oil. It definitely has a number of phytochemicals that have antioxidant benefits, too, so that’s kind of intriguing.
Rose Hip Seed Oil
Extracted from the seeds of wild rose bushes, rose hip seed oil has seen a surge in popularity and is increasingly found in facial skincare products that tout moisturizing, anti-aging benefits. The essential fatty acids and antioxidants in this oil, including provitamin A, provide relatively high protection against inflammation and oxidative skin damage, and that rose hip seed oil has shown promising results when used to alleviate inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema.