When the weather (or the occasion) calls for bearing a little skin, body oils are ready to deliver not only unmatched glisten and gleam, but nourishment with anti-aging benefits to boot. “Oils are the purest form of moisturizer, in a sense, because they do not require a lot of preservatives to maintain their shelf life,” says Alicia Zalka, MD, board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University. “Typically, body oils are 100% oil, with no water added.” Then, of course, there’s the purely aesthetic benefits. While making skin smooth and dewy, body oils leave behind a lustrous glow wherever applied—and per De. Zalka, that glow is long-lasting, too.
Vogue’s Favorite Body Oils
Personally, I was hesitant to get into body oils at first. Since I’m sensitive to products that feel heavy, the idea of an extra layer in the summer never appealed to me—especially one designed to leave a luminous film on top of skin. That changed when I tried Nuxe’s spray-on oil—a beloved French pharmacy staple that instantly proved how light and airy these formulas can be. To my surprise, go-to for a JLo-level glow. Body oils came in handy again this past winter. With my skin parched from head to toe, the rise of skincare-inspired body care finally convinced me to add an oil to my regimen. Cyklar’s body oil was the one to really convert me, thanks in large-part to its delectable scent perfect for fragrance layering. After just a week of use, every friend who brushed my arm remarked on how incredibly soft my skin felt.
From restoring elasticity to quenching dryness and nourishing the skin with essential vitamins and minerals, the best body oils can make everything below the neck supple, satiny, and ready to shine. Ahead, Vogue’s edit of incredible body oils for glowing skin all summer and beyond.
