Body Oils

If taking better care of your body was one of your resolutions, or you simply love indulging in body products to nourish and protect your skin, body oils make great alternatives to the traditional lotions and creams.

I personally prefer body oils as I find they’re more ‘pure’ in terms of formula and absorb into the skin better, which means they provide faster results. Of course there are so many alternatives and I have a few select favorites which I’ve been using for quite some time…

Guerlain Nourishing Dry Oil; The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Radiance Oil; Caudalie Divine Oil

I know the word ‘oil’ usually conjures up this image of heavy, high shine, slippery consistency not many of us would choose to use as a body product – unless in a spa/massage environment. However, especially with more beauty companies getting on the natural oils bandwagon, the options are endless.

I guess this is another reason why I love body oils so much, as I can choose the consistency from light/dry formulas for summer time to heavier formulas when I need that extra bit of nourishment. Here are the top 3 body oils that I’ve been loving and I also added other alternatives including drugstore, at the end of the post.

CAUDALIE DIVINE OIL

Starting with my No:1 favorite body oil, Caudalie’s Divine Oil lives up to its name in every way imaginable.

Having won many awards and still being the most praised body oil, this liquid amber goodness contains a blend of grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan oils. Caudalie is renowned for their use of grape oil in all their products, known for its high omega 6 and vitamin E properties which is very nourishing for the skin.

The bottle is a heavy glass with a wood finish cap and it has a spray pump which explains how light this oil is.

Another plus about body oils is that, depending on the quality of the blend, you’ll pretty much see and feel a difference right away. This oil is one of those must have gems.

Along with a gorgeous sheen on my skin, I feel its softening effects pretty much right away and it only gets better with continued use. Add to this mix a subtle floral scent to transport you to a happy place, this oil is definitely Divine.

Retails from $9-$49 depending on size – Shop HERE

THE BODY SHOP POLYNESIAN MONOI RADIANCE OIL

This is a newer oil that I discovered when The Body Shop launched their Spa Of The World range. In fact, I did a full review of this oil, along with a body butter from the same line which you can check out here

Even though I only had this oil for a few months, I’m almost done with the bottle. It’s a much heavier formula than the Caudalie Divine Oil, definitely needs more working into the skin. But…it absorbs really quickly which is why I love this oil so much.

As the name suggests, this oil contains Monoi – which is a special blend of coconut oil and tiare flowers – known for its nourishing properties not only for the skin but also the hair.

The scent is a soft floral undertone which takes me to a tropical haven with palm trees and turquoise waters and that can never be a bad thing right?

The Body Shop Spa Of The World range features other oils if you prefer different fragrances.

This range is available in-store.

GUERLAIN TERRACOTTA NOURISHING DRY OIL

I was a bit hesitant including this dry oil in the mix as I’ve had it for a while and I’m not quite sure if it’s still available in the stores. You can definitely find it on Amazon and ebay though. I did include couple of alternatives at the end of the post which I also highly recommend.

What sets the Guerlain Dry Oil from the others is that it’s tinted with a shimmering bronze color. While the formula of the oil itself is very liquid-y and applies just as light as the Caudalie Divine Oil, it takes a little longer to soak into the skin and of course tints the skin with a soft veil of bronze.

It has a much heavier floral fragrance which is typical of Guerlain products. What I love the most about this oil is the amazing sheen it gives to the skin. Regardless of your skin tone, the soft bronze tint blends right in and the subtle shimmer highlights all the right areas.

This oil looks and feels beautiful over tanned skin to soften and hydrate, as well as boost the tan. Just as a side note, it’s not a self tanning formula. It will slightly tint the skin due to the bronze shimmer but it will wash off in the shower.

The only downside about this oil is the bottle. It’s not in a spray form or doesn’t have a stopper so it can get quite messy if you’re not careful. Best to apply it in the bathroom or keep a towel handy in case there’s any accidental spillage.

So here we are beauties, if you haven’t ventured into the world of body oils yet, I would highly recommend you give them a try. Not only do they provide more nourishment than traditional lotions and creams, the visible effects are pretty much instant. It’s just a matter of finding the right formula for your skin type. As well as the three favorites I mentioned above, you can confidently try the following options for great results:

Click the pictures for more detail and shop

NARS Monoi Body Oil – NARS Body Glow Bronze Oil – Philosopy Amazing Grace Oil Spray – Josie Maran Argan Oil – The Body Shop Shimmering Dry Oil –

DRUGSTORE ALTERNATIVES: Neutrogena Body Oil – Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturizing Body Oil – Champneys Mediterranean Shimmering Body Oil

Do you use Body Oils? What’s your must have favorite?