Blog
Our Favorite Body Oils Are Giving Glazed-Donut Skin
You’re religious about serums, committed to sunscreen, and you know which moisturizers pull their weight, but when it comes to the other 90% of your skin, the best body oils are an essential upgrade to your body-care ritual, delivering nourishment, radiance, and skin barrier support in one step. Unlike lotions, which can feel heavy during warmer months or take longer to absorb, body oils seal in moisture and deeply condition with lightweight formulas. Today’s options are nothing like the slippery, overly scented oils you might remember from the early 2000s. These are fast-absorbing options that offer everything from subtle shimmer to SPF protection, and you can use them on their own or add a few drops to your favorite daily lotion.
Our Top Body Oils
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you prefer a soft, dewy finish or full-on editorial gleam, there’s a body oil that delivers that just-moisturized sheen (without feeling greasy!) for everyone. Some are subtle and scent-free, perfect for layering under your favorite fragrance. Others are rich with gourmand, beachy, or floral notes that linger like a personal signature. Even the application itself feels like a ritual—slow, intentional, indulgent. Whether you’re pressing oil into damp skin post-shower, blending it with lotion, or dabbing a little onto your collarbones before going out, it’s a moment of self-care that feels luxurious without taking more than 30 seconds.
Ahead, the very best body oils editor’s love, whether you’re looking to firm, hydrate, protect, or simply glow like you just stepped off a beach.
Best Overall: Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil
Why we love it: If there’s one body oil you can count on for an all-day, summer glow, it’s Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Oil. The star ingredient, undaria seaweed, is rich in antioxidants and essential minerals that help replenish the skin’s moisture barrier and improve overall texture. It’s paired with white lupin flower extract to support firmness and elasticity, and passion fruit oil for skin nourishing hydration that won’t clog pores. The formula melts in like a dream, leaving skin soft and smooth without any greasy residue. One pump goes a long way, and the fresh citrus scent, with notes of grapefruit, lime, and mango mandarin, lingers lightly, leaving you smelling like a vacation in a bottle.
Tester feedback from contributor Jailynn Taylor
“I’m officially on my third bottle of Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Oil, and yes, it’s that good. What I love most is the shine it offers from head to toe. It’s not greasy or glittery, just this subtle, healthy, natural-looking glow. The scent is super light and fresh, so it never competes with my perfume. And it absorbs fast, which is a non-negotiable for me. I use it every day, post-shower, and my skin feels baby soft and stays hydrated all day.”
- Key ingredients: undaria seaweed, white lupin flower extract, passion fruit oil
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent option: grapefruit, lime, cypress, mango mandarin
Best Softening: Oui the People Featherweight Hydrating Body Gloss
Why we love it: Oui the People’s Featherweight Hydrating Body Gloss functions like a serum but hydrates like a moisturizer, delivering immediate softness and long-term skin barrier support. The Allure Best of Beauty 2024-winning formulation features plant-derived squalane for non-heavy hydration that strengthens the skin barrier. Rosehip seed oil brightens and evens skin tone by supporting collagen production, and organic avocado oil hydrates dryness and soothes irritated skin. It absorbs quickly with no greasy feel and can be used alone or layered under moisturizer. The body gloss is available in two versions: fragrance-free or a fresh orange blossom scent featuring notes of lemon zest, neroli, and petitgrain.
Tester feedback from former editor Talia Gutierrez
“Love this. The formula feels light both on its own and mixed with a lotion.” —Talia Gutierrez, former editor
- Key ingredients: plant-derived squalane, rosehip seed oil, organic avocado oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Scent options: Orange Blossom, Fragrance-Free
Best Mist: Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Body Oil
Why we love it: Chanel’s Chance Eau Tendre Body Oil is not to be confused with the parfum of the same name. The glass bottle mirrors the iconic pink design of the original, but inside is a weightless oil that delivers a satin-smooth finish to parched skin. The floral-fruity scent is subtle yet elegant, blending notes of grapefruit, quince, jasmine, and white musk to leave a delicate trail that lingers without overpowering. With a fine mist spray, it vanishes like silk into the skin for a hydrated glow that feels as luxurious as it smells.
Tester feedback from senior director of audience development Lexi Herrick
“The Chance Eau Tendre Body Oil by Chanel is the perfect mix of perfume and body oil. It has the most refreshing scent, that lingers without being too overpowering. I have always been sensitive to strong fragrances, often avoiding regular perfume to prevent migraine headaches. But this body oil is very gentle and holds up subtly throughout the day. The scent is fresh, floral, and elegant, with added skin hydration as a plus!” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of audience development
- Key ingredients: sunflower seed oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, tocopherol (vitamin E)
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent notes: grapefruit, jasmine, and white musk blend
Best In-Shower: L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
Why we love it: The first time ever oil and water played well together. L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil pours out as a golden oil, then melts into a milky lather the moment it touches skin. Sweet almond oil, rich in omega-9 fatty acids, works alongside grapeseed oil to soften and smooth skin without leaving behind a greasy film. It can double as the perfect base for body shaving and can be poured into a bath for a luxe soak. Plus, it’s subtly sweet, nutty scent enhances the experience, turning a quick cleanse into something closer to a spa ritual.
“I’ve been living for the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil—it’s like a silky gel that magically turns into the most luxurious milky lather. My dry skin drinks it up like it’s been stranded in the desert. It leaves me feeling soft, hydrated, and smelling like a fancy French bakery. I don’t substitute it for my body wash, though. I use it in addition to make sure that I’m extra hydrated and moisturized.” —Ang Trakoshis, shopping market editor
- Key ingredients: sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent notes: sweet almond
More body oils we love
Best Sunscreen Oil: Supergoop Glow Oil SPF 50 Dry Body Oil Sunscreen
Why we love it: It’s rare to find body oil that doubles as sun protection, and Supergoop’s Glow Oil SPF is the exception. It’s a barely-there oil that nourishes skin while offering broad-spectrum SPF 50 to help defend against UV damage. Argan oil hydrates without feeling greasy, grapeseed oil provides antioxidant support, and meadowfoam seed oil helps lock in moisture. It’s water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes, making it just as ideal for beach days as it is for everyday wear. The easy-pour bottle and skin-loving finish make reapplying a breeze, and yes, it gives your skin that “lit from within” glow. If you want your face to glow as much as the rest of your skin, pair this sunscreen oil with Supergoop’s Glowscreen.
Expert feedback from board-certified Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
“This formula creates a luxe glow on the skin with argan, grapeseed, and meadowfoam seed oils while providing broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection.” —Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Key ingredients: argan oil, grapeseed oil, meadowfoam seed oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
- Scent notes: beach flower, sunkissed coconut
Best Brightening: Cyklar Vitamin C Body Oil
Why we love it: Cyklar’s Vitamin C Body Oil turns daily moisturizing into a full-body ritual. This dry oil sinks in quickly, leaving skin soft, supple, and luminous without a trace of residue. It’s infused with oil-soluble vitamin C to visibly brighten and protect against environmental stressors, plus sugarcane-derived squalane and ectoin to boost hydration and support the skin barrier. The multi-oil blend smooths and nourishes while the scent, a creamy, spicy mix of vanilla, bergamot, amber, and Peru balsam, sends you on an indulgent sensorial experience without overpowering. Use it post-shower while you’re still lightly damp for glowing skin that smells expensive.
- Key ingredients: vitamin C, squalane, ectoin
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent options: Vanilla Verve, Sacred Santal, Naked Neroli
Best Moisturizing: Nativa Spa by O Boticario Quinoa Hydrating Body Oil
Nativa Spa by O Boticário
Quinoa Hydrating Body Oil
Why we love it: Nativa Spa’s Quinoa Firming Body Oil delivers intensive nourishment with a moisturizing finish, thanks to its hero ingredient: pure quinoa oil. Rich in omegas 3, 6, and 9, plus vitamin E, this formula works to hydrate deeply, improve elasticity, and reinforce the skin barrier, all while helping to visibly improve stretch marks and support collagen production over time. The texture is light and velvety, absorbing quickly without a greasy feel. Use it in or after the shower alone to remedy dry skin, or mix a few drops into your body lotions for added radiance. The warm and floral scent wraps skin in a light fragrance that’ll have you skipping over your favorite perfume.
- Key ingredients: quinoa oil, omegas 3-6-9, vitamin E
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent options: Quinoa, Black Plum, Plum, Vanilla
Best Shimmer: Sol de Janeiro GlowMotions Glow Oil
Sol De Janerio
GlowMotions Glow Oil
Why we love it: Consider this your shortcut to vacation skin—no sun required. Sol de Janeiro’s GlowMotions Glow Oil is a sheer, shimmer-packed body oil that delivers an instant, blurring glow while hydrating with cupuaçu butter, açaí oil, and coconut oil. Available in two luminous shades, Copacabana Bronze for a warm bronze tint and Rio Sunset for a champagne shimmer, it flatters all skin types with a buildable, transfer-resistant finish. The best part? It comes in the brand’s signature Cheirosa 62 scent, a tropical blend of pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla. But if you’re after a radiant glow without the tint, Sol de Janeiro’s Beija Flor Elasti-Body Oil is the one for you.
- Key ingredients: cupuaçu butter, açaí oil, coconut oil
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent notes: Cheirosa 62 (pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla)
- Color options: Copacabana Bronze, Rio Sunset, Carnaval Queen (limited-edition)
Best Spa-Like Scent: Oak Essentials Dew Body Oil
Oak Essentials
Dew Body Oil
Why we love it: If your ideal evening involves a plush robe, herbal tea, and dim lighting, Oak Essentials’ Dew Body Oil will fit right into your spa-like routine. This fast-absorbing elixir is packed with skin-soothing oils like borage seed to reduce redness and support the moisture barrier, sweet almond and cedarwood to calm irritation, and organic sesame seed to deeply hydrate and soften. It leaves skin supple and glowy, never greasy, with a soft, botanical scent of lavender, rose geranium, and orange peel that lingers with a fresh, barely-there finish.
- Key ingredients: borage seed oil, sweet almond oil, organic sesame seed oil
- Fragrance-free: no
- Scent notes: lavender, rose geranium, and orange peel blend
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use body oil?
The best body oils leave your skin feeling soft and glowy while simultaneously moisturizing and strengthening your skin barrier, says Michele Green, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. Oils offer long-lasting hydration for all skin types without stickiness, grease, or waxy residue, unlike denser body lotions, Dr. Green adds. “Many people might assume that using a body oil would do the opposite and cause the skin to feel greasy, but body oils tend to be fast-absorbing,” she explains.
