Body lotions, creams, and butters might be the star players in your moisturizing lineup, but just as worthy of your attention are body oils. Incorporating the very best after-shower body oils into your post-shower routine is one way to ensure dolphin-smooth skin, or at the very least, help fight itchy skin after a shower.
“Body oils soften the outermost layer of skin and act as an occlusive to seal in the hydration beneath, forming a barrier between your skin and its environment,” says Rhonda Klein, MD, MPH, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and co-owner of Modern Dermatology Connecticut, and according to board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD: “It can protect the skin from moisture loss.” As such, body oils can play a supporting role to lotions, creams, and butters, helping to retain the moisture they have delivered to your skin; on their own, they can leave your body instantly supple, smooth, and incredibly dewy.
In This Article
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01
what to look for
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02
best after-shower body oils
Experts In This Article
- Aanand Geria, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of Geria Dermatology
- Elizabeth Hale, MD, board-certified dermatologist, vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation, and clinical associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center
- Lily Talakoub, MD, board-certified dermatologist in Virginia
- Michele Green, MD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Rhonda Klein, MD, MPH, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and co-owner of Modern Dermatology of Connecticut
- Sopreye Chaine, London-based content creator and fragrance enthusiast
Best after-shower body oils, at a glance
- Best lightweight: Nērra, Dry Body Oil, $85
- Best fast-absorbing: Glossier, Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist, $30
- Best budget: Bio-Oil, Skin Care Oil, $10
- Best drugstore: Neutrogena, Body Oil, $12
- Best fragrance-free: Necessaire, The Body Oil, $40
- Best luxurious: Mutha, Body Oil, $35
- Best with soothing ingredients: Avène, Skin Care Oil, $32
- Best splurge: Augustinus Bader, The Body Oil, $110
- Best multipurpose: Le Prunier, Plum Beauty Oil, $72
- Best scented: Osea, Undaria Algae Body Oil, $84
- Best with shimmer: Nuxe, Shimmering Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse, $45
- Best solid: Jao, Goē Oil, $52
- Best for lymphatic drainage: Sol de Janeiro, Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil, $52
- Best with SPF: Vacation, Chardonnay Oil SPF 30, $22
- Best for ingrown hairs: Fur, Fur Oil, $52
- Best shower oil: Bioderma, Atoderma Shower Oil, $30
What to look for when shopping for the best after-shower body oils
When shopping for the best after-shower body oils, look for natural plant oils. According to Dr. Klein, natural plant oils have a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids to keep the outermost layer of the skin strong, which, in turn, can help increase moisture retention, while also softening the skin’s surface. Keep in mind that if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you’ll want to select an option with “less-likely-to-be-comedogenic oils,” says Dr. Klein. Think hemp, grapeseed, jojoba, and rosehip. Conversely, both Dr. Klein and Dr. Green recommend avoiding “comedogenic oils” like coconut, flaxseed, and palm oils.
In addition to natural plant oils, you may want to look for body oils containing vitamin E. “Vitamin E protects skin from environmental harm and speeds healing,” says board-certified dermatologist Aanand Geria, MD, FAAD, while Dr. Green adds, “Vitamin E also helps to protect the skin from premature aging and the development of fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots.”
A word of caution: “Some ingredients are best avoided in body oils, especially for individuals with sensitive skin or specific allergies,” says Dr. Geria. “These include synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, sulfates, artificial colors, and phthalates.” Dr. Green also cautions against fragrance, whether synthetic or natural. “It can lead to skin irritation and inflammation,” she says. If you’re unsure of how you and your skin will react to a particular ingredient, do a patch test before using a new product to play it safe.
With all this in mind, keep reading for some of the best after-shower body oils on the market.
Shop the best after-shower body oils
Best lightweight: Nērra, Dry Body Oil — $85.00
Key ingredients: Coco-caprylate, argan oil, hibiscus seed oil, rosehip oil, sacha inchi oil, bataua fruit oil
Those who want skin-coddling moisture without the heaviness may want to opt for Nērra’s Dry Body Oil. The dry oil has a lightweight consistency that absorbs quickly, and yet, it left my skin with a lingering softness long after application. Much of this is owed to the formula, which contains vitamins A, C, and E to hydrate and fortify your skin’s defenses against environmental damage, along with moisturizing coco-caprylate, a coconut oil derivative. It also has a lovely jasmine-forward fragrance. However, it’s available in a fragrance-free version, too.
Size: 3.1 fl oz
- Fine mist application
- Comes in fragrance-free version
- Cruelty-free
Best fast-absorbing: Glossier, Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist — $30.00
Key ingredients: Grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, sea fennel extract
The Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist, as the name suggests, is a fast-absorbing dry oil that doesn’t leave any slipperiness behind. What it imparts is plenty of non-greasy moisture by way of grapeseed and sunflower seed oils, as well as sea fennel extract to leave your skin supple. It’s easy to apply, too: simply spritz and massage the oil into your skin. The result is skin that feels as dewy as it looks. As a bonus, it’s scented with Glossier’s signature Orange Blossom Neroli scent, which lends to the sensory experience.
Size: 3.3 fl oz
- Fine mist application
- Dermatologist-tested
- Cruelty-free
Best budget: Bio-Oil, Skin Care Oil — $10.00
Key ingredients: Mineral oil
The Bio-Oil Skin Care Oil has been beloved for years by both skin-care enthusiasts and experts, including Dr. Green. “The Bio-Oil Skin Care Oil is excellent for promoting moisture retention and improving the appearance of aging skin, stretch marks, and scars,” she says. “Its formulation combines vitamin E, vitamin A, and various essential oils to protect, soothe, and hydrate the skin.” It’s also vegan and cruelty free—and not to mention, cheap at just under $10.
Size: 2 fl oz
- Affordable
- Formulated without parabens and phthalates
- Cruelty-free
- Formulated with mineral oil
- Contains synthetic fragrance
Best drugstore: Neutrogena, Body Oil — $12.00
Key ingredients: Sesame oil
The Neutrogena Body Oil was my first foray, as was many others, into body oils and it’s still as wonderful as the first time I massaged it into my skin. The oil, made from antioxidant-rich sesame oil and isopropyl myristate (an emollient), has a slippery consistency that easily glides over the skin, and not long after, dries down to a velvety finish. It also has a scent that is comforting in the way that a hug from a grandparent is comforting—which is to say that not everyone will like the scent. Fortunately, it also comes in a fragrance-free version.
Size: 8.5 fl oz, 16 fl oz, 32 fl oz
- Wallet-friendly
- Comes in fragrance-free version
- Available in three sizes
- Can feel slick on the skin
Best fragrance-free: Nécessaire, The Body Oil — $40.00
Key ingredients: Sweet almond oil, tamanu oil, hazelnut seed oil, macadamia seed oil, marula seed oil
If you’re sensitive to fragrance, or simply want to steer clear of it, consider the Nécessaire Body Oil. It’s not only free of unwanted fragrance, but also other potential sensitizing ingredients that may irritate the skin, making it ideal for reactive skin types. Plus, it comes recommended by Dr. Klein. She says that in addition to its gentle formula, it’s “loaded with vitamins B, C, E, and omegas,” which help to repair and strengthen the skin barrier while nourishing the skin.
Size: 3.4 fl oz
- Ideal for sensitive skin
- Dermatologist-tested
- Cruelty-free
Best luxurious: Mutha, Body Oil — $35.00
Key ingredients: Rosehip oil, jojoba oil, botanical seed oil blend
Moisturizing is made more luxurious with the Mutha Body Oil, which is infused with a blend of natural plant oils, such as rosehip, jojoba, and grapeseed, to help lock moisture into the skin while leaving it so smooth, you might find it hard to resist the urge to keep touching it (much like I did). It’s one of the richer formulas I had the opportunity to try, but it wasn’t overly heavy or greasy. Plus, it leaves behind a subtle, citrus scent that is at once energizing and relaxing—like the feeling you have after a day spent in a day spa.
Size: 0.84 fl oz, 3.4 fl oz
- Dermatologist-tested
- Cruelty-free
- Comes in two sizes
Best with soothing ingredients: Avène, Skin Care Oil — $32.00
Key ingredients: Shea oil, camelina oil, safflower oil, thermal spring water
The Avène Skin Care Oil comes highly recommended by Dr. Klein, who says, “It’s great for the body and can even be used on the face, too—it’s non-comedogenic and pairs antioxidants with hydration for instant and long-term skin health benefits.” It counts natural plant oils—shea, camelina seed, and safflower oil—among its ingredients, which work to seal in moisture, and like most products from Avène, it contains mineral-rich thermal spring water, which has been proven to soothe stressed-out skin.
Size: 3.3 fl oz
- Can be used on the face, body, and hair
- Formulated without mineral oil and parabens
- Contains synthetic fragrance
- Only one size
Best splurge: Augustinus Bader, The Body Oil — $110.00
Key ingredients: Trigger Factor Complex, olive fruit oil, argan oil, squalane, vitamin E
The Augustinus Bader Body Oil is powered by a proprietary Trigger Factor Complex (TFC8). TFC8 is a complex blend of amino acids, vitamins, and synthesized molecules, which is said to help create an optimal environment of cell regeneration, and thus help improve the appearance of fine line, wrinkles, and scars, which is, in large part, why Dr. Geria recommends it. Although TFC8 is its star ingredient, the body oil also contains natural plant oils, vitamin E, and squalane, which works to lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier.
Size: 1 fl oz, 3.38 fl oz
- Formulated without synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, and parabens
- Comes in two sizes
- Most expensive option on the list
Best multipurpose: Le Prunier, Plum Beauty Oil — $72.00
Key ingredients: Patented plum superfruit complex, vitamin A, vitamin E
Le Prunier’s body oil is powered by plum oil, which is rich in vitamins A and E, omega fatty acids 6 and 9, and polyphenols to protect against environmental damage. W+G social producer Taylor Bell, who has dry, sensitive skin, has used it all over her body, including her face—and to great results.“I haven’t experienced any breakouts and my skin does have a subtle glow the morning after each use,” she previously wrote. What’s more, it has a water-like consistency, which means you won’t look like, in Bell’s words, “a greasy donut.”
Read the full review about the Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil here.
Size: 1 fl oz
- Can be used on the face, body, and hair
- Certified-organic ingredients
- Dermatologist-tested
- Cruelty-free
Best scented: Osea, Undaria Algae Body Oil — $84.00
Key ingredients: Undaria seaweed, white lupin, botanical oil blend
The Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil made an appearance in our list of the best body oil fragrances, and I was intrigued to try it for myself. It smells like a fresh orange peel—and, suffice it to say, I’ve been told not once but multiple times that I, indeed, “smell good.” You can also expect more supple, radiant skin (both in the short term and over time), thanks to its formula of Undaria seaweed and botanical blend of passion fruit, acai, babassu, and rice bran oils.
Size: 1 fl oz, 5 fl oz, 9.6 fl oz
- Cruelty-free
- Comes in three sizes
Best with shimmer: Nuxe, Shimmering Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse — $45.00
Key ingredients: Tsubaki oil, argan oil, macadamia oil, borage oil, camellia oil, hazelnut oil, sweet almond oil
The Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil offers plenty of moisturizer, thanks to seven botanical oils (argan, sweet almond, and camellia, to name a few) and the perfect amount of sparkle—its gold sparkles are perceptible on the skin, but not ostentatious. The oil, though jam-packed with moisturizing ingredients, doesn’t leave your skin slick or slippery, so it won’t transfer onto your clothes. It also imparts a scent, which I can describe as a powdery floral fragrance—and while subtle, it might be off putting to sensitive noses.
Size: 1.6 fl oz, 3.3 fl oz
- Can be used on the body and hair
- Imparts a sparkly sheen onto skin
- Contains synthetic fragrance
Best solid: Jao, Goē Oil — $52.00
Key ingredients: Rosehip oil, hemp oil, meadowfoam seed oil
There’s plenty I love about the Jao Goē Oil—namely, 28 natural plant, fruit, and floral oils and butters (hemp, rosehip, grapeseed, and mango, to name a few) and its floral scent that transports me to a beachside paradise. However, what is most intriguing about the oil is its balm-like texture, which upon first glance, looks like petroleum jelly. Once you work it into the skin, it transforms into oil that is thick, but not too thick, so long as you aren’t using too much of it. A little goes a long way to impart a dewy glow that lasts several hours.
Size: 3 oz
- Formulated without parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil
- Cruelty-free
Best for lymphatic drainage: Sol de Janeiro, Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil — $52.00
Key ingredients: Guaraná Caffeine+ Complex, micro algae extract, Brazilian olive oil
Sol de Janeiro’s Bum Bum body oil doesn’t just smell deliciously of caramel and vanilla, it’s also formulated with a proprietary Guaraná Caffeine+ Complex and micro algae extract to improve circulation, and subsequently reduce puffiness. It also counts moisturizing Brazilian olive oil, an ingredient rich in vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, as one of its key ingredients. The body oil is beloved by scent enthusiast Sopreye Chaine, who previously told Well+Good, “It’s non-greasy hydration … leaves my skin silky.”
Size: 3.4 fl oz
- Formulated without parabens and mineral oil
- Cruelty-free
- Contains synthetic fragrance
- Only one size
Best with SPF: Vacation, Chardonnay Oil SPF 30 — $22.00
Key ingredients: Chardonnay grapeseed oil, marula seed oil, passion fruit seed oil, jojoba oil, shea oil, bisabolol, vitamin E
Whereas many body oils have the sole purpose of moisturizing the skin, the Vacation Chardonnay Oil also offers sun protection, earning it a place in our list of the best sunscreen oils—and the approval of board-certified dermatologist Elizabeth Hale, MD. “Vacation’s formula is packed with skin-nourishing ingredients like chardonnay grape seed oil and marula oil, it rubs in quickly, it feels really light on the skin, and it smells incredible,” Dr. Hale told Well+Good, making application, in her words, “an indulgent self-care moment.”
Size: 3.4 fl oz
- Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation
- Dermatologist-tested
- Cruelty-free
- Contains synthetic fragrance
Best for ingrown hairs: Fur, Fur Oil — $52.00
Key ingredients: Grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, tea tree oil
The Fur Oil is formulated specifically for use on your pubic hair and the surrounding skin—an oft–overlooked area of the body that is equally deserving of attention. Made with a combination of grapeseed oil and antimicrobial tea tree oil, the lightweight oil helps to keep moisture in while simultaneously preventing ingrown hair and irritation. It came in clutch after shaving, and my skin—usually red and raw—was left smooth and soft. While its primary purpose is to tend to your private bits, it works as well to moisture any other part of the body.
Size: 2.5 fl oz
- Can be used on the skin
- Formulated without phthalates, parables, synthetic fragrance, and dyes
- Cruelty-free
Best shower oil: Bioderma, Atoderma Shower Oil — $30.00
Key ingredients: Skin Barrier Therapy
While most of the body oils featured on the list are made for post-shower use, Bioderma’s Shower Oil is made for in-shower application, working to simultaneously cleanse and moisturize. The body oil, made with vegetal biolipids and niacinamide, comes highly recommended by board-certified dermatologist Lily Talakoub, MD. Dr. Talakoub told Well+Good, “It’s so inexpensive, and I use it to wash my body as well as shave my legs.”
Size: 3.4 fl oz, 6.7 fl oz, 16.9 fl oz, 33.8 fl oz, 1 L
- Cleanses and moisturizes skin
- Comes in five sizes
- Contains synthetic fragrance
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