This post has been months in the making. If you watch my empties videos on YouTube you know that one of the products I go through the fastest is natural body oils. That’s because I use a ton of it every.single.day. I am convinced I have the world’s driest skin. If I don’t use body oil after I shower I get super itchy and flakey. It’s a life-long battle but thankfully body oil almost always does the trick! I asked you guys if you wanted to hear about my love of body oil and the best natural body oils and you guys gave me a resounding yes. So with that, my obsession with body oils is being put to good use…Let’s chat!
Body Oil vs. Body Lotion
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Let’s break down the differences between body lotion and body oil… Lotion is made up of water, oil and an emollient to hold the mixture together. It’s mostly water and because of that, it needs a preservative because bacteria can grow in water. Lotion penetrates the skin because of the water content. Body oil on the other hand is just oil. No preservatives or emollients are needed so there are generally less ingredients in body oils. Body oil seals in the moisture rather than penetrating the skin. But not all body oils are created equal…a discussion on all natural body oils below.
Why use a body oil?
If you feel like you lather on lotion every night but your skin is still dry, it might be time to switch to a body oil. Like I said, lotion absorbs into the skin while body oil seals your skin and can help improve the natural barrier. The best way to use a body oil is to apply it on damp/wet skin. The body oil will lock in the moisture that is already on your skin.
Ingredients to Look For
Not all natural body oils are created equal, however they’re generally more effective than body lotions (as discussed above). Some oils are better than others so we’re listing some of the best body oil ingredients to look for in your products:
Almond Oil – Almond oil is an amazing oil for the skin (and scalp!) It helps prevent water loss from the skin and is extremely hydrating. It’s packed with vitamin E which can help protect the skin from sun damage, aging, and stretch marks. (Source)
Evening Primose Oil – Helps to balance fatty acids on your skin and is super moisturizing. More often than not, I see evening primose oil in face oils but it is a great ingredient for body oil as well. Some have reported mild irritation with this oil so it’s recommended to spot test before coating your whole body! (Source)
Sunflower Oil – Sunflower oil is also packed with vitamin E. Studies have shown that it helps maintain the skin’s barrier and can help heal wounds. Look for organic, cold-pressed oil if you can! (Source)
Grapeseed Oil – The base of my current favorite body oil. Grapeseed oil can help improve your elasticity, even out skin tone and can protect your skin from sun damage. Again, packed with vitamin E (seeing a theme here?!) and vitamin C to protect your skin. (Source)
Jojoba Oil – Jojoba oil is a super common oil used in both facial and body oils. It promotes wound healing and can help with different skin issues like dryness and itching. (Source)
You also can’t go wrong with coconut oil! It can just be a tad greasy so try not to overdo it.
The Best Body Oils
Team Maven has tried and vetted all of these products – they are probably some of the best natural body oils on the market including many of the ingredients listed above. Here are our favorite all natural body oils:
Over the years you’ve probably heard me talk about this body oil. It is my favorite! I’m a total sucker for anything jasmine scented but I also find this one SO hydrating. The combo of coconut oil, apricot kernel oil and grapeseed oil mixed with my favorite scent makes this one my go-to, always. Unless you don’t like the scent of jasmine, I can’t see a reason why you won’t like this one.
My nightly routine is to coat this stuff all over my body after taking a bath. The lavender helps my sore muscles relax and I find it helps me sleep better. It’s also super absorbent so I don’t find I’m too greasy when I tuck myself into bed. They have lots of different scents but the lavender one is definitely my favorite. Use code DAVIDA20 to save 20% off your first order (not affiliate – just a discount code for y’all!)
A really solid, non-greasy body oil from one of my favorite skincare companies. The smell is nice though not super luxurious. If you’re looking for a very basic but effective body oil, you will love this one. Use code MAVEN15 to save 15% off your first order.
Real talk – the Gardenia and Tea Body Serum smells divine but the packaging spray bottle is such an unnecessary use of plastic that I refuse to buy it! The Vitamin C oil is also very good and while still plastic, not unnecessary. Just be cautious about not going out into the sun after applying it due to photosensitivity.
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Friday, 27 September 2019