Top 14 Body Oils for 2025: Expert Reviews and Recommendations
Body oil stands as a skincare essential, designed to enhance hydration by sealing moisture into the skin's natural barrier. Ideal for application after showers or baths when skin is most absorbent, these formulas are typically lightweight, easy to spread, and quick-drying, offering a pleasant alternative to heavier creams. They provide nourishment, especially for dry areas like elbows and knees, while also serving for massages or bath additions to promote relaxation. Our extensive testing over several months evaluated consistency, skin feel, packaging, and value to curate this definitive list for all skin types, including dry and sensitive.
How We Tested Body Oils
Our beauty expert, Helen Wilson-Beevers, trialled a wide range of body oils over several months, using each product post-shower, on dry patches, and as needed. Assessments focused on consistency, skin feel, packaging, and price, ensuring reliable recommendations based on hands-on experience. Helen's expertise in dry skin care, backed by personal experience, informs her analysis of nourishing ingredients and effective formulas.
Best Overall: Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil
Price: £35 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Moroccan rose otto
This body oil impressed with deep moisturisation, instantly soothing and smoothing dry, rough patches. It delivers hydration and a satisfying glow, becoming a post-shower staple. The glass bottle with a dropper ensures mess-free application, while the sweet botanical scent enhances the experience. For non-floral preferences, Ren's kelp and microalgae anti-fatigue toning body oil (£38) offers relief for tired limbs.
Best Budget Buy: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil
Price: £6 | Size: 250ml | Scent: Cocoa butter
Infused with vitamin E, this oil features Palmer's signature creamy cocoa butter scent. Its runny consistency requires careful application but allows easy spreading across large skin areas. Post-use, skin feels smooth with a slight shiny residue that absorbs well, leaving a glistening finish. It also works wonderfully added to bath water for skin-softening soaks.
Best for Relaxation: Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil
Price: £58 | Size: 55ml | Scent: Vetivert, camomile, sandalwood
A luxurious splurge, this oil combines vetivert, camomile, and sandalwood for a centring, calming essential oil scent. The rich formula requires only a small amount to smooth dryness and provide lingering nourishment. Ideal for pre-bedtime application, its spa-like aroma and easy absorption promote relaxation and wind-down.
Best for Dry Skin: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray
Price: £6 | Size: 200ml | Scent: Subtle and sweet
Hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin, this spray delivers generous moisture with oat and jojoba oils. The subtle sweet scent lingers post-application, while the fast-absorbing, non-sticky formula evens out dryness and rough patches. Gentle enough for all ages, it offers calming hydration.
Best Body Oil Selection: ESPA Signature Blends Aromatherapy Collection
Price: £35 | Size: Seven 15ml bottles | Scent: Varied
This collection includes seven aromatherapy blends for different moods, such as restful, energising, and soothing. Each dinky bottle is travel-friendly and contains potent scents for spa-style treatments. The midweight formula glides on, absorbs easily, and leaves light moisture. Top picks include the energising peppermint-eucalyptus-rosemary blend and the soothing lavender-clary sage-bergamot mix.
Best Citrus Scent: Aesop Breathless
Price: £30 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Woody and citrus
Featuring blood orange, jojoba seed, and laurel leaf, this oil offers a brisk, brightening citrus scent that uplifts the senses. The brown glass bottle with a stopper allows precise application, while the midweight, non-runny formula slides onto skin, absorbing to create a silky-soft layer of moisture.
Best for Multi-Purpose Use: Lixirskin Universal Oil
Price: £39 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Grapefruit, peppermint, bergamot
Designed for skin, hair, nails, baths, and showers, this oil comes in a pink glass bottle by artist Alexandria Coe. Warming it in hands before application releases a reviving scent, while the lightweight formula spreads easily, soaking in to leave a silky, sheeny layer that moisturises limbs.
Best for Quick Absorption: UpCircle Body Oil
Price: £25 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Passionfruit, kumquat, tangerine
With a spray nozzle for spill-free application, this fruit-scented oil absorbs quickly without greasy residue, allowing prompt dressing post-use. The vegan-friendly formula provides lasting softness, making it a practical choice for daily hydration.
Best Lightweight Option: Jurlique Rose Body Oil
Price: £27 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Rose
This lightweight oil feels luxurious and absorbs well, with a strong, sweet rose scent that lingers. Versatile enough for bath additions, it offers a fresh, hydrating experience suitable for regular use.
Best for a Glow: Nudestix Nudebody Sunshine Oil Body Elixir
Price: £29 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Botanical
Ideal for adding radiance, this oil imparts subtle iridescence and glow, perfect for winter dullness or summer complexion enhancement. Enriched with coconut oil, moringa seed oil, bergamot oil, and squalene, it provides dewy, lightweight hydration that absorbs well.
Best for Easy Coverage: Kora Organics Noni Glow Body Oil
Price: £60 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Rose
This vegan-friendly oil has an extremely subtle floral scent and spreads easily, nourishing dry areas like elbows and knees. It absorbs quickly, making it handy for quick top-ups, though it comes with a premium price tag.
Best for the Skin Barrier: First Aid Beauty After-Shower Nourishing Body Oil
Price: £32 | Size: 177ml | Scent: Citrus
Infused with lipids to support the skin barrier, this lightweight formula softens skin without sticky residue. The tangy citrus scent is initially strong but invigorating, and the generous size ensures long-lasting use.
Best Indulgent Buy: 79 Luxe Oil
Price: £75 | Size: 100ml | Scent: Frankincense, marula, rose
Featuring gold particles, this luxe oil absorbs quickly, imparting a subtle glow and softness. Its unique scent blends woodiness, warmth, and sweetness, leaving a perfume-like fragrance. While pricey, it offers a special, indulgent experience.
Best Organic Pick: InLight Firm & Tone Oil
Price: £59 | Size: 200ml | Scent: Ylang ylang, geranium
Made with organic ingredients aimed at water retention breakdown, this oil glides easily for moisturising or massaging. It leaves skin looking nourished, with a generously sized bottle for extended use.
The Verdict: Body Oils
Our top pick is Ren's Moroccan rose ultra-moisture body oil for its soothing and smoothing properties. UpCircle's body oil excels in fast absorption and lasting softness, while Aveeno's skin relief body oil spray is ideal for dry and sensitive skin. For further relaxation, explore our reviews of the best bubble baths for a soothing soak.
