Best Body Oils for Skin: What to Know About Using Body Oil

Skincare doesn’t just involve your face—a good skincare routine should include your entire body.

The skin on other areas of the body—especially the neck, chest, and hands—is prone to the same issues as the face, including loss of moisture, disrupted skin barrier, dryness, irritation, uneven skin texture, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. 

Adding body oils to your daily skincare routine can leave your entire body feeling moisturized, nourished, glowy, and smooth. In this article, learn more about the benefits of body oil and the best body oils for all skin types.

Why Should You Add Body Oil to Your Skincare Routine?

Our skin’s natural oils decrease with age, environmental changes, or seasonal fluctuations. This can lead to cracked elbows, ashy knees, uneven skin texture, dehydrated skin, and a greater appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Adding body oils to your skincare routine has many potential benefits to fight back against this decrease in natural oils, including: 

• Improved Skin Texture. If you have rough patches, dry spots, or uneven texture, using body oils regularly can help to improve them and make your skin feel smoother.
• Deeper Hydration. Body oils help to seal in moisture and provide deeper hydration than a body lotion can—especially if you apply them on damp skin. 
• Vitamins and Essential Fatty Acids. Most plant-based oils contain vitamins and essential fatty acids, including vitamins A and E, antioxidants, and omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. 
• Stronger Skin Barrier. Body oils can strengthen the skin barrier, protecting it from environmental stressors and pollutants. A stronger skin barrier means better resistance to dryness and irritation. Jojoba, rosehip, argan, and almond oil may best improve the skin barrier. 
• Reduced Wrinkles. The neck, chest, and hands are particularly prone to wrinkles as they are often exposed to the sun more than other areas of the body. Using oils on these body parts can help to prevent or reduce the appearance of wrinkles by improving skin elasticity. 
• Reduced Appearance of Stretch Marks. Although stretch marks are a natural part of various life stages, some people use body oils to help reduce their appearance. Oils containing essential fatty acids and vitamin E are best, and products with hyaluronic acid or botanical extracts may also help. 
• Soothe Irritated or Sensitive Skin: Irritated or sensitive skin can be calmed and soothed when using the right body oils. Some oils, like argan, avocado, and olive oil, have anti-inflammatory or calming properties that help better than others.
• Improved Circulation and Blood Flow: The act of massaging body oil into your skin can help stimulate blood flow and improve circulation, which supports lymphatic health and makes your skin appear more supple and healthy. 
• Calming and Relaxing Ritual: Putting on body oil can be a calming and therapeutic experience, especially if it contains essential oils or other aromatherapy. Taking time and consideration to apply body oil can be a great act of self-care and stress reduction.

Best Body Oils to Use on Your Skin

Choosing the best body oil for your skin can depend on your specific needs and skin type. Here are some of the most popular body oils, their main benefits for skin health, and which skin types they may work best with.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is a much-loved skincare ingredient that provides nourishment and deep hydration for the skin.

It is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, helping to soothe dry or irritated skin, protect the skin’s barrier from environmental damage, and provide anti-aging benefits.

Comedogenic Rating: With a comedogenic rating of 0, argan oil is not known to clog pores—in fact, it’s the oil that tends to work best with all skin types. 

Best For: All skin types, including dry, mature, irritated, sensitive, and acne-prone skin

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil comes from the jojoba plant, a shrub growing in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Jojoba contains nourishing fatty acids and vitamin E. It also closely mimics our natural sebum, which can help to balance the skin’s natural oil production.

Comedogenic Rating: Jojoba oil has a comedogenic rating of 2 (with 5 being the highest), so it has a low likelihood of clogging pores, but still might in the most acne-prone people.

Best For: Dry, combination, oily, sensitive, and mature skin 

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial compounds, like lauric acid, which may help with dry skin, irritation, and itchiness.

Although coconut oil can penetrate the skin quickly, increasing hydration and skin elasticity, it does not work well for all skin types.

Comedogenic Rating: Although coconut oil has many benefits, you should avoid using it on your skin if you are in the acne-prone club. Even if it doesn’t go on your face, many people get breakouts on any part of their body, and coconut oil can clog pores and contribute to acne with its comedogenic rating of 4 (out of 5).  

Best For: Very dry or itchy skin; may work for people with skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis, but always spot test first with a small patch of skin to see if you react well.

Olive Oil

Olive oil contains many skin-supporting compounds, including antioxidants, vitamin E, healthy fats, and oleocanthal, which may help with wound healing, inflammation, and anti-aging.

Olive oil deeply moisturizes and repairs damaged skin, but it can often be too heavy for daily use. 

Comedogenic Rating: Its comedogenic rating is 2-3, meaning it has a moderate likelihood of clogging pores. Best For: Very dry, irritated, or chapped skin

Rosehip Oil

Derived from the wild rose bush, rosehip oil contains antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines.

Rosehip oil also hydrates the skin, evens out skin texture, and reduces inflammatory skin symptoms like itchiness or redness. 

Comedogenic Rating: Rosehip oil has a comedogenic rating of 1-2, which means it’s unlikely to clog most people’s pores. 

Best For: Generally safe for all skin types 

Almond Oil

Almond oil can be a nourishing, healing, and effective moisturizer for many skin types. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help with dry skin, eczema, and irritated skin.

It’s gentle, hypoallergenic, and contains vitamins A and E, which also may help to reduce the appearance of scars or other marks—plus, it has a pleasantly sweet and nutty aroma.

Comedogenic Rating: Almond oil’s comedogenic rating is a 2 out of 5, which is a low likelihood of clogging pores, but people with acne-prone skin should use caution. 

Best For: Most skin types, but probably better for people with normal, dry, combination, or irritated skin (rather than oily skin) 

Avocado Oil

Just as avocado oil is healthy for us to consume, it’s also a great oil for our skin health—especially people with super dry or irritated skin. 

It’s rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, helping to nourish, hydrate, and repair the skin. Avocado oil may also help with anti-aging, as its antioxidant properties can fight oxidative stress that damages and ages skin. 

Comedogenic Rating: Avocado oil has a comedogenic rating of 3, meaning it has a moderately high likelihood of clogging pores, so acne-prone people should avoid or take caution with it. 

Best For: Very dry or mature skin, or those needing deep hydration or skin repair.

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