Body oils weren’t really on my radar until the last few years. I was a lotion girl through and through (specifically this one from Bath & Body Works, which you might remember from back in the day), but that all changed when I tried Moroccanoil’s Night Body Serum. I was fully influenced by the reviews, but once I used it, I was hooked. It’s deeply moisturizing and so good for dry winter skin.

From there, I went down the rabbit hole and started trying all the body oils. And I’ve found a few really good ones.

Because they’re really not all the same. Some feel too greasy, some are basically just fragrance, some actually hydrate, and some just make your skin look better right away. And a couple even work on both skin and hair, which I honestly didn’t think would work, but it does.

What Body Oil Actually Does (And Why It’s Different From Lotion)

Quick primer before we get into the picks: body oil isn’t just a fancier lotion. Lotions are mostly water with some oil and emulsifiers mixed in, which is why they absorb fast but don’t always stay. Body oils skip the water and deliver concentrated plant oils (think jojoba, argan, squalane, sweet almond), right to your skin.

Which means:

• Body oils work best on damp skin. Right out of the shower while your skin is still a little wet – this is the best time to apply. The oil traps the water in instead of letting it evaporate.
• A little goes a long way. Two or three pumps for your whole body is usually plenty.
• Not all oils are the same. Some are heavy and rich (great for overnight, dry winter skin and hair routines). Some are dry oils that absorb in seconds (great for daytime or layering under clothes). Some are barely moisturizers at all and more about glow or scent.

The trick is matching the oil to what you actually want it to do (which is how I ended up with five favorites instead of one).

The 5 Body Oils I Actually Use (And What Each One Is Best For)

So instead of trying to crown one “best” body oil, I pulled the five I actually reach for and broke them down by what each one does best, whether you want hydration, glowing skin, something unscented, or one product that can handle both hair and skin.

1. Best Scented Body Oil (That Smells Expensive)

Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Body Oil

My mom and I both immediately loved this scent. It’s warm, a little woodsy, slightly smoky, and just smells really expensive without being overpowering. The oil itself absorbs really nicely and leaves my skin soft and hydrated, not greasy or oily.

It gives a subtle glow without feeling like it’s sitting on top of your skin, which I always appreciate.

If you’re looking for a body oil that feels a little more elevated, or something that doubles as a really good gift, this is such a safe bet.

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2. Best Unscented Body Oil For Sensitive Skin

SUGARED + BRONZED Hocoba Oil

This is the one I grab when I want something simple and completely fragrance-free. It doesn’t compete with perfume and just feels really easy. It’s a blend of jojoba oil and fractionated coconut oil, so it’s lightweight but still really hydrating. It absorbs quickly, leaves my skin soft, and never feels heavy or greasy.

It’s also non-clogging and safe for all skin types, which makes it a great everyday option, especially if your skin is being even slightly unpredictable.

If you’ve ever felt like body oils were too much, this is a really good place to start.

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Ursa Major Golden Hour Dry Oil

I’m always a little skeptical of anything that claims to work on both hair and body, but this one actually does. My mom and I both tried it on our hair and were genuinely surprised by how well it worked. It’s super lightweight and dries down quickly, so you get all the benefits of an oil without that oily feel.

On skin, it gives a really nice, subtle glow and leaves everything feeling soft and smooth. And in hair, it helps with shine, frizz, and those dry ends without making it look greasy or weighed down, which is usually where these types of products go wrong.

If you want one product that can do both, this is the one I’d throw in a bag without overthinking it.

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4. Best Overnight Body Oil Treatment For Dry Skin

Moroccanoil Night Body Serum

This is the one that got me into body oils in the first place. I was fully influenced by the reviews, but it completely lived up to the hype. It’s more of a treatment than a traditional body oil. It absorbs quickly, doesn’t feel greasy at all, and you can actually sleep in it without that sticky feeling.

By morning, my skin feels noticeably softer and smoother, and over time it just looks better overall. It has ingredients like argan oil, vitamin C, and holy basil, so it’s doing more than just moisturizing.

If your skin is really dry, especially in the winter, this one deeply hydrates and makes a noticeable difference by morning.

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5. Best Body Oil For Glowing Skin (Finishing Oil)

Miriam Quevedo Sublime Gold Ultra Brilliant Hair Mist

This one is more of a finishing step than a true body oil, but I had to include it because I love the effect it gives. It adds the prettiest subtle shimmer to skin, not glittery at all, just that soft glow on shoulders, arms, and collarbones. And I especially love what it does for my hair, it brings out the highlights and adds shine without weighing it down.

It smells amazing too, a little fresh, a little floral, and just really pretty without being too much.

I use this more as a final step before going out, when everything’s already done and I just want that extra polished, glowy look.

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If you’ve tried body oils before and didn’t get the hype, it was probably just the wrong one. They’re not all the same, and once you find the right kind, whether that’s unscented, deeply hydrating, or more of a glow situation, it starts to make a lot more sense.

I definitely don’t use all of these every day, but each one has its place, and now I actually get why people swear by them.

Have any favorites I missed? Let me know!

XOXO,

Scotti