When and How to Use Body Oil in Your Skincare Routine

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The best ways to apply body oil and lock in moisture

Co-authored by Barbie Ritzman and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: November 3, 2023 References

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Best Ways to Apply Body Oil

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Benefits of Body Oil

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Body Oil vs. Lotion

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DIY Body Oil

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Expert Interview

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Q&A

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Tips

Body oils, body creams, and body lotions—oh my! With so many options for hydrating your skin, it can feel a little overwhelming to add a new product into your routine. But if you’re looking for intense moisturization for dry or cracked skin, you’ve come to the right place. Using body oil is a great way to lock in hydration and leave your skin feeling silky smooth. In this article, we’ll tell you how to include body oil in your skincare routine to leave you feeling soft and smelling good. To learn more about body oil and what it can do for you, read on!

Things You Should Know

Apply body oil after applying lotion when you get out of the shower. Use body oil to lock in moisture and hydrate your skin all day.
Add a few drops of body oil to a warm bath for luxurious hydration.
Body oil softens your skin and contains anti-aging properties. Plus, it contains natural ingredients that are great for sensitive skin.
Body oils contain fatty acids, while body lotions contain humectants. Oils lock in hydration, while lotions bring moisture to your skin.

Section 1 of 4:

Best Ways to Apply Body Oil

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The best time to apply body oil is right when you get out of the shower or the bath. Pat your skin dry, but leave a layer of water on your skin. Since your skin is still damp, the body oil will lock in that hydration and keep your skin feeling smooth all day. Rub the lotion onto your body all over.^{[1]
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After you get out of the shower, apply your body lotion like you normally would. Then, drop a few drops of body oil into your hands and rub it on after the lotion. The oil helps to lock in hydration and moisturize your entire body for hours.^{[2]
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Don’t want to add extra steps to your shower routine? No problem! Simply mix 2 to 3 drops of body oil into your body cream or lotion before you put it on.^{[3]
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Want to hydrate your skin, but don’t feel like rubbing the oil in with your hands? Fill up your bath with warm water, then add a few drops of body oil before you get in. The hydrating oil will soak into your skin as you relax and recharge.^{[4]
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Ran out of shaving cream? No problem! Rub a few drops of body oil between your palms and apply it to the area you want to shave. Your razor will glide over the body oil, leaving your skin feeling silky smooth.^{[5]
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Oil helps your hands glide over skin, and it replenishes and rehydrates as you massage. If you’re giving someone else or yourself a massage, rub a few drops of body oil in between your palms before you start.^{[6]
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Section 2 of 4:

Benefits of Body Oil

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Body oil locks in moisture and rehydrates dry skin. When used in conjunction with a lotion or when your skin is already damp, you’ll notice that body oil keeps your skin feeling more moisturized for longer.^{[7]
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Since body oil keeps you hydrated all day, your skin is going to look (and feel!) soft and texture-free. If you’ve been dealing with flakey, cracked, or textured skin, body oil is the right product for you.^{[8]
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As you get older, your skin naturally loses some of its elasticity. Body oil helps to smooth your skin and keep it fresh and young-looking as you age.^{[9]
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Do you have sensitive skin? If so, you’ve probably noticed just how many ingredients body lotions can have. Body oils, on the other hand, are often made with natural ingredients that don’t irritate skin.^{[10]
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Section 3 of 4:

Body Oil vs. Lotion

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Different oils contain different fatty acids, including linoleic acids and oleic acids. These acids act as emollients, which lock in moisture and hydration in the skin, going deeper than just the first layer.^{[11]
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Go to source} The main thing to remember here is that body oil locks in moisture, but it doesn’t contain any moisture itself (that’s where lotion comes in).
Humectants bring moisture to the skin to add hydration. However, since lotions do not contain fatty acids, a lotion won’t lock that moisture in as well as a body oil does.^{[12]
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Research source} The best skincare routine contains both: a lotion to add moisture, and a body oil to lock that moisture in.^{[13]
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Section 4 of 4:

DIY Body Oil

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Mix 1 oz (30 mL) of a carrier oil with 10 drops of an essential oil. Carrier oils make up the base of your body oil. To make your own body oil, choose an oil like sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, or olive oil. Pour about 1 oz (30 mL) into a bowl. Then, mix in 10 drops of your favorite essential oil, like lavender essential oil, rosehip essential oil, lemon essential oil, sandalwood essential oil, or vanilla essential oil.^{[14]
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- It’s important to dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them to your body. Using undiluted essential oils on your skin can cause redness and irritation.
- Pour your body oil into a dark, semi-opaque glass jar with a lid. Since sunlight breaks down oil over time, it’s important to store your body oil in a cool, dark place, like your bathroom cabinet.^{[15]
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- Typically, body oils will stay good for about 1 year. If your body oil smells off or changes in texture, throw it away.

Community Q&A

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What do you do after you put the oil on? I feel like I can't move or sit anywhere.

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Community Answer

Just leave the oil on. It will be perfectly fine. It's normal to feel weird after applying the oil. If you feel like there is too much oil, get a towel or a rag, and pat the areas you applied the oil to.

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While some body oils are marketed toward reducing the appearance of stretch marks, studies show that oils for stretch marks have little to no effect.^{[16]
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Always do a patch test before using new body oil. If you experience redness or irritation, you may be allergic to the ingredients in the body oil, and you should try something else.

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