5 reasons you should be using a body oil

They were good enough for the ancients Greeks and continue to be the top choice of leading professionals and therapists. But it’s only recently that the rest of us have started to cotton onto why the golden liquid needs to become a staple in our beauty cupboards. So what is the fuss over body oil? Why does it deserve the coveted space on your bathroom shelf?

#1: Body oil is super nourishing for your skin

While body lotions, moisturisers and creams will absolutely keep your skin hydrated and nourished, an oil can provide that extra hit of moisture that your body may need. As we head closer into the winter months, your skin will need the attention more than ever, and ingredients like jojoba oil, avocado oil, and almond oil can help keep your limbs soft and moisturised.

Try: Essano Certified Organic Body Oil; The Jojoba Company 100% Natural Australia Jojoba; Trilogy Aromatic Body Oil

#2: Body oil can benefit your hair, too

Some body oils have been formulated to pull double-duty and can help repair and hydrate dry and damaged hair. In small amounts, it can also be used to keep it smooth, sleek and frizz-free.

If you’re looking to add nourishment to your strands, make sure to apply the oil to wet hair before blow-drying, and if you’re using the oil to smooth down flyaways, you’ll find it works best to apply on dry hair.

Try: Oribe Côte d’Azur Luminous Hair & Body Oil; diptyque Satin Oil For Body and Hair; Go-To Excepion-Oil

#3: Body oil can repair skin

Above and beyond the hydrating benefits, certain oils can help repair and heal scars, reduce the appearance of stretch marks, soothe irritated skin, and even help tackle cellulite. 

So what are these magical healing oils? Look for rosehip oil, which penetrates deep into the layers of skin to repair, lavender essential oil, which has therapeutic benefits to calm, and geranium essential oil, which can help improve skin’s elasticity. 

Try: KORA Organics Luxurious Rosehip Body Oil; Bio Oil; Clarins 'Tonic' Body Treatment Oil

#4: Body oil can be used to relax and rejuvenate

Sometimes you need a bit of an extra push to turn mundane activities, like moisurising your limbs, into something a bit more relaxing and uplifting, and an aromatic body oil can help do exactly that. 

Pick a formula that features essential or plant oils to turn your post-shower hydration into an aromatherapy session and gently massage the oil into your skin to relieve tired or tight muscles. While some massage oils may take a bit longer to sink into your skin, body oils tend to absorb quite quickly, so you won’t have to worry about the formula transferring onto clothes or sheets. 

Try: Mecca Cosmetica Elixir Body Oil; Milk & Co Body Oil; Grown Alchemist Body Treatment Oil

#5: Body oil can be used to layer your scent

There are a few different ways to wear a fragrance that don’t involve spritzing a perfume, and body oil is another one to be added to the list.

Find your favourite scent in an oil form to pull double duty: not only will it hydrate the skin but you can either use your oil to layer with your perfume and enhance the scent, or you can use the oil on its own for a subtle fragrance.

Try: NARS Monoi Body Glow II; L’Occitane Néroli & Orchidée Body Oil; Jo Malone Dark Ginger and Amber Dry Body Oil

If you like to top up your fragrance during the day, try MOR Little Luxuries Perfume Oil. The small rollerball can fit into even the smallest of clutches for a hit of fragrance and hydration.

Main image photography: Edward Urrutia