Get Hydrated, Healthy Skin With The 10 Best Body Oils

You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: Your skin is your body’s largest organ and first line of defense against the outside environment. One aspect of keeping your skin healthy means making sure it stays moisturized, as chronically dry skin can lead to infection and other ailments. Certain lotions and creams can be fantastic in their hydrating capacity, but if you’ve been sleeping on body oils as an option here, too, then it’s time to explore this under-utilized category. Why? Because body oils can help seal your skin so it retains water, giving you a supple, youthful, and even glowy appearance, from your head to your toes.

“Oils can have components of fatty acids like ceramides or linoleic acid, and from that perspective, they provide a minimal sealant effect,” says Dr. Orit Markowitz, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin in New York City. “They can also house certain anti-inflammatories such as safflower and tea tree oil.” When searching for a body oil, Dr. Markowitz suggests looking for both these categories of ingredients, depending on what you’re trying to accomplish for your skin on any given day.

Sometimes the best moisturizer is the one you’ll actually use, and contrary to what you might think, many of today’s oils sink right into the skin, leaving behind virtually no residue—unlike thicker creams and ointments. “The benefit of an oil versus an ointment is that it’s not as greasy,” says Dr. Markowitz. “Because it’s thin, it’s going to absorb in the skin a lot faster and won’t rub on clothing.”

Generally speaking, oils should be the first thing you put on your skin to really get their maximum benefit, says Dr. Markowitz, and most formulas can be applied right after showering while your skin is still somewhat damp. If you’re mixing up your own skincare cocktail though, it’s best to apply your body oil as a final step, so it can seal in the extra moisture your lotion or cream is delivering.

Ready to add a body oil to your beauty routine? Start with one of these hardworking products that’ll hydrate your skin—and then some.