The best body oils to keep your skin smooth, supple and silky-soft

If body oils are currently not part of your everyday skincare vocab, you’re about to be put on a life changing supple skin secret. Keeping our body hydrated (from the outside as well as the inside) is essential for healthy skin, And, putting in the elbow grease, quite literally, can prevent skin conditions, like acne or dermatitis, spurred on by irritation. For starters, the skin on the rest of our body has less sebaceous (oil-producing) glands than our face, which is why you’ll often find that your shins are scaly while your chin’s looking a little shiny.

Dry skin feeling might be top two (and likely not number two) worst feelings after a shower. You know that tight I-feel-like-a-raisin feeling, when your skin reaches the point that it’s so dry, sapped and itchy, practically crying out for some lubrication. Showers and baths are the death knell for moisture. Hot water strips the oils from our skin, so while you may enjoy a steamy shower, your skin is unlikely to thank you.

Nourishing oils form a protective layer on skin – sealing in moisture and fortifying our skin barrier for stronger, healthier, glowier skin (so, probably worth the two minutes before getting dressed, then). Plus, the massaging motion not only feels nice, but also encourages blood circulation which helps with new cell generation. All of which means you can trade in cracked, scratchy skin for skin that’s plush, cashmere soft and positively beaming. Pretty persuasive, eh?

We asked Therese M’Boungoubaya, founder of KOBA skincare and bodycare expert to answer your most asked body oils questions and here are her thoughts:

Why should we opt for body oils instead of body lotion?

“Body oils, unlike lotions, do not contain any water, so they take longer to be absorb and therefore are great at locking in moisture on the skin’s outermost barrier. Body oils are enriched with natural oil extracts from seeds, fruits and vegetables which give it the smooth texture. These ingredients such as jojoba and almond oil mimic the natural lipids found in our skin so when our skin absorbs the body oil, the top layers treat these oils as their own. Body oils tend to be thicker than lotions to keep moisture in for longer, adding a protective layer. However they are non-greasy, unlike most lotions and butters which often leave a greasy or sticky residue behind.”

Best body oils at glance:

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Florale Multi-Purpose Dry Oil 100ml

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle The Body Oil Silky Moisturising Oil

Rituals of The Ritual of Karma Shimmering Body Oil

Aesop Breathless Body Treatment Oil

What to look out for when choosing the right body oil?

“When choosing what moisturising texture is right for you, the first step is to understand what your skin type is and what your concerns are. Most of us have the same goals in mind when choosing a moisturiser: to nourish and smooth the skin. It’s a common misconception that if you have oily skin, using a body oil will clog your pores and potentially cause breakouts. If you are conscious about the ingredients used in your skincare products then oils are the perfect answer as they don’t require chemicals to balance and stabilise the formulas.”