The Very Best Body Oils

Key ingredients: Sunflower-seed oil, Undaria seaweed, white lupin flower, rice-bran oil | Scent: Fruity | Price: 5 ounces at $10.40/ounce

Osea is well known for its seaweed-rich products, and the brand’s body oil is unlike any other formula I’ve tried: It’s nongreasy and fast-absorbing, and it leaves my skin feeling bright and bouncy all day long. The formulation contains 11 botanical oils — including sunflower seed, babassu, passion fruit, and açai — to replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, plus brown marine algae (or Undaria pinnatifida extract), which is rich in nutrients like sodium, iron, potassium, calcium, and several B vitamins. A handy pump makes it convenient to apply, even when I’m rushing to towel off after a shower. I especially love the earthy scent, which has notes of grapefruit, lime, and mango. After consistent use and results — including firmer skin and fewer patches of keratosis pilaris on my arms — it’s safe to say this plant-based body oil is now a mainstay in my regimen.

I’m not the only one who swears by the Undaria Algae Body Oil: LeVar Burton, who counts this formula among his favorite things, says, “This oil — it has magic in it.” Our senior editor Winnie Yang is another fan, who says it sinks in without sitting on top of the skin as some other body oils often do. It also leaves her skin feeling “velvety” with a refreshing, slightly tropical scent. My editor, Hilary Reid, loves this oil too, noting that it sinks in much faster than other oils she has tried. “I never worry about it leaving oily traces on my clothes,” she says.

Key ingredients: Sesame-seed oil | Scent: Fragrance free | Price: 8.5 ounces at $1.88/ounce

If $51 for the Osea above is more than you’d like to spend, this Neutrogena formula is an affordable option that comes recommended by Mitchell. Not only is it super-lightweight, making it easy for skin to absorb, but it’s fragrance-free, which makes it suitable for all skin types, especially sensitive ones. Mitchell points to the nourishing sesame-seed-oil base, which “helps to hydrate and soften the skin without leaving a greasy residue.”

When I tested Neutrogena’s Body Oil, I noticed that it kept my skin soft and supple without any irritation after shaving. Compared to our best overall body oil from Osea, the Neutrogrena is more slippery and thin, but soaks into my skin quickly. I apply a few drops right after a shower when my skin is still damp and I love that it provides long-lasting hydration without being too heavy or sticky. It gives my skin a nice shiny glow and doesn’t rub off on my clothes when it’s time to get ready. One note: If you’re a fan of scented products, Neutrogena also sells a fragranced body oil option.

Key ingredients: Rose-hip oil, sunflower-seed oil, noni-fruit extract | Scent: Earthy | Price: 3.38 ounces at $19.82/ounce

As someone who was prescribed Accutane (isotretinoin) as a teenager and has dealt with According to the brand, the formula’s hero ingredient is an extract derived from the noni fruit, an antioxidant-rich superfruit, which works alongside rose-hip oil and sunflower-seed oil to soften roughness and support skin’s elasticity. I apply it right after the shower a few times every week and love how it leaves a subtle sheen that lasts several hours.

Key ingredients: Paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil), lavender oil, rosemary oil, calendula oil, sunflower-seed oil | Scent: Floral | Price: 4.2 ounces at $5.24/ounce

We first heard about Bio-Oil from Strategist contributor breakouts).

It’s also safe to use while pregnant and nursing: Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, recommends Bio-Oil to keep the skin hydrated throughout pregnancy, which can help prevent discomfort and diminish the appearance of stretch marks.

Key ingredients: Safflower oil, castor oil, squalane, coconut oil, jojoba oil, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (oil-soluble vitamin C derivative), linoleic acid, rose-hip oil | Scent: Vanilla coconut | Price: 3.4 ounces at $7.06/ounce

Naturium makes some of our favorite body-care products, and this year, the brand added a new body oil to its Glow Getter line. I already use the Glow Getter body wash almost daily, so when the brand launched this linoleic-rich formula, I immediately requested a sample. After using it consistently for over three months, it’s improved the appearance and texture of my skin thanks to a blend of skin-replenishing ingredients such as squalane, jojoba, and coconut oil. The formula also contains tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which is considered a less irritating form of vitamin C but has the same powerful brightening properties. I love how weightless it feels when applied to my arms and legs, and the vanilla-coconut scent is warm and relaxing. There’s no denying how quickly it’s helped to reduce dullness and soothe patches of dry skin, leaving behind a softness and glow that lasts for several days.

Key ingredients: Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (oil-soluble vitamin C), ectoin, squalane | Scent: Bergamot, vanilla, amber | Price: $9.05/ounce

I first heard about the Claudia Sulewski–founded brand Cyklar when reading posted about the vanilla-scented body oil on her Instagram Story, calling it a “go-to” body-care product. I’ve been testing it for the past six months and was immediately drawn to the creamy, warm scent. It’s an irresistible vanilla fragrance that lasts practically all day if I apply it after a morning shower. It’s packed with ingredients that increase the skin’s glow: There’s vitamin C, which provides antioxidant nourishment and brightens skin tone while also helping to promote collagen synthesis. The oil also has sugarcane-derived squalane to support the skin’s moisture barrier and help fight dark spots, plus ectoin, an amino acid that binds water molecules to the skin. While this might be a little TMI, I had a mole removed from my shin area during the summer. Thankfully, it ended up being noncancerous, but the mark from the punch excision was pretty obvious and almost purple in color. Once it was healed enough to apply my regular bath and body formulas, I started using the Cyklar to fade the scar’s dark appearance. After only a few months, the scar became much less obvious, and overall, my legs had a smoother and brighter texture. I also love the Cyklar packaging because it’s sleek-looking and the sturdy bottle feels expensive in my hand.

Key ingredients: Safflower oil, avocado oil, rose-hip oil, squalane | Scent: Cedarwood | Price: 3.3 ounces at $19.70/ounce

On days when I want a lighter layer of hydration — especially during the warmer months — I go for the Hydrating Body Gloss from Oui the People. It has a thin, serumlike texture and leaves a dewy finish without any sticky residue. Thanks to a blend of rose-hip, avocado, and pomegranate oils, plus squalane, the formula is packed with super-hydrating and skin-nourishing ingredients. Though I’ve been testing it for only a few weeks, I’ve noticed how quickly this glossy oil sinks into my skin and how it never slides around or wipes off on my clothes while I’m getting dressed.

Along with its Brazilian wax. According to Taylor and Shapiro, the oil’s ultralightweight consistency helps moisturize the area pre-wax without becoming oversaturated.

Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, argan oil, grape-seed oil, evening-primrose oil | Scent: Floral | Price: 4.1 ounces at $29.27/ounce

To address signs of Tallulah Willis, who says, “This is far and beyond the best, most supple body oil I’ve ever used.” It’s also free of fillers, synthetics, artificial colors, and fragrances.

Key ingredients: Soybean oil, oat oil, jojoba oil | Scent: Vanilla almond | Price: 6.7 ounces at $2.11/ounce

Body oils can get messy — I’m speaking from experience after many rounds of testing — but this Aveeno mist makes every application a breeze with a few quick spritzes. Our writer and resident beauty expert Tembe Denton-Hurst is a fan of the formula, which happens to be the final step in her routine for glowing skin. It contains mainly soybean and oat oils, which means it’s safe for sensitive-skin types, and as Denton-Hurst explains, “The spray nozzle makes it easy to apply on hard-to-reach spots like my back.” After bringing it on a trip to Myrtle Beach, she says, “Even though I was spending eight hours at the beach every day with my family, I still felt hydrated the following day.”

Key ingredients: Coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, castor oil | Scent: Earthy | Price: 2 ounces at $12/ounce

The Mainstay Blend from Everyday Oil is a do-everything formula that can be used on the body, in hair, as a cuticle treatment, and for shaving. It’s made of a concoction of organic oils that delivers essential fatty acids and vitamins to soften skin and help it retain moisture. Yang, who uses it as a body oil, loves that the lighter texture is highly absorbent. It also comes recommended by Deer Tick front man outside” thanks to hints of lavender, geranium, sage, and palo santo.