Body Oils

Shop Body Oils at The Body Shop

A good body oil earns its keep by disappearing fast, not sitting there while you wait to get dressed. Ours are built the same way, including a fair few from the Spa of the World™ range, which manage to feel light enough for every day without skimping on the parts of your body that actually need help. Some people swap it in for a body moisturiser altogether, others keep a bottle around purely for when skin's having a rough week. Every one of them uses ethically sourced ingredients, and none of it's ever tested on animals.

 

What are the benefits of using a body oil?

Skip the water, and what's left is a lot more concentrated, which is why oils tend to punch above their weight on skin benefits. A big part of that comes down to actives like vitamin E, which get straight to work rather than competing with water for space in the formula. It's also why oil tends to hold moisture in better than a cream on its own, sealing it in rather than letting it evaporate. Elbows, knees, shins, wherever your skin dries out fastest, that's where you'll notice the difference first, along with a subtle glow straight out of the shower.

 

Can body oil replace my usual body moisturiser?

It can, and plenty of people do exactly that, especially once the weather turns and lotion alone doesn't quite cut it anymore. Damp skin is the trick: oil spreads and soaks in far more easily straight out of the shower than it does on skin that's completely dry. If you already reach for a body butter, try oil underneath instead, letting it seal in whatever's gone on first. There's no correct order really, it just depends how rich you want your routine to feel that week.

 

How should I apply body oil for the best results?

Timing matters more than technique here: apply oil the moment you step out of the shower, while skin's still damp, rather than after you've towelled off properly. Warm a little in your palms first, then sweep it on in long strokes rather than rubbing it in the way you would a lotion. If you exfoliate with a body scrub once or twice a week, you'll notice the oil sinks in properly instead of sitting on flaky skin. And less is more, start small and build up only if your skin's still asking for it.

 

Are body oils suitable for dry or sensitive skin?

Most of the range works across skin types, though if you're already dealing with dry skin, you'll probably get the most noticeable results. If dryness is a constant rather than an occasional issue, it's worth looking at our body oils for dry skin range instead, since it's built specifically around that. Sensitive or reaction-prone skin is worth a quick ingredients check before you buy, even though our formulas are generally on the gentler side. And whatever your skin type, patch test anything new before using it properly.

 

What's the difference between a body oil and a body lotion?

It's mostly about what's in the bottle. Body lotions are water-based, which is why they're lighter and quicker to sink in, while oils leave the water out entirely and sit a little longer to lock moisture where it is. Dry skin, or a dry season, tends to favour oil, anything quick and everyday usually calls for lotion instead. Plenty of people use both, lotion in the morning and a massage oil in the evening, when there's time to actually enjoy it rather than rush it.

 

Explore The Body Shop's Body Oils Today

Whether you want something light enough for every day or a bit more richness for skin that's asking for it, there's an oil in here for most routines and most seasons. We source our ingredients ethically and don't test on animals, not as a selling point, just how things have always been done. Have a browse through the wider body range and find whatever your skin needs right now.