If there is one product that deserves a permanent spot in your summer beauty rotation, it is body oil. Lightweight and skin-smoothing, a great body oil is the secret to a sun-kissed glow, the kind that looks like you have just returned from a week in the Mediterranean, even if you have only stepped out of your bathroom.
Unlike richer body butters, the best body oils are fast-absorbing and add instant radiance while delivering a hit of hydration that leaves you looking luminous rather than greasy. Apply to damp or dry skin straight after your shower and skip all the usual creams and lotions.
Why Body Oils Are a Summer Essential
The best news is that body oils have had a serious glow-up. Whether you are looking for a fast-absorbing dry oil that will not transfer onto your bed sheets or a fast-working formula to tackle dryness and texture, there is something for every skin type, concern, and budget.
As someone who swears by body oil for baby-soft skin, I have spent years testing budget and luxury options alike. To help you find the right one, I have curated a list of my all-time favourites. From cult-status luxury splurges to budget high-street finds, these are the best tried-and-tested body oils to shop this summer. Silky, glowy, outrageously good-smelling skin? Consider it done.
The 8 Best Body Oils for Silky Summer Skin
Hotel, Mike Bath + Body Oil
Hotel, Mike is a very cool, new beauty brand that uses upcycled and biotech ingredients across its luxury bodycare products, and this oil is my favourite from the bunch. It is a fragrant blend of microalgae, green tea seed oil, hemp oil, and eucalyptus, which will transport you to a spa from the comfort of your bathroom. It does not irritate my eczema nor drip all over the place. The packaging is made from 100% recyclable materials and feels as good as it looks to apply. It is a luxury treat well worth the investment. Price: £43.
Naturium The Glow Getter Body Oil
I have been through four bottles of this stuff – it is that good. The vanilla scent is delicious but not overpowering, and the formula is not sticky, greasy, or leaves you feeling like a wet seal. It does, however, leave skin glowing, so it is perfect for summer days. It is fast-absorbing, and you can apply as much and as often as you like, with not only a glowing cosmetic benefit but a squalane-rich formula that leaves your skin softer and smoother than before. Price: £28.
Q+A Collagen Firming Body Oil
If you are shopping on a budget, Q+A is one of my go-tos. Not only does this body oil cost less than a tenner right now, but it also has a refreshing summer scent of golden pear, green apple, and grape, along with a formula designed to improve skin firmness – perfect for swimsuit weather. Packed with vegetable collagen and immortelle oil, it works a treat if you get very dry legs post-shaving, like me. Price: £12.
L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil
This is a cult classic for good reason. It is part of L'Occitane's beloved Almond range, with a sweet, buttery scent and rich in almond and camelina oils. If you are looking for an instant improvement in the texture of your skin, it is one of the best. It has a pump spray, so you do not have to deal with it running down a pyjama sleeve, and I have often applied this with wet hands just fine. Spritz away and enjoy. Price: £43.
Aveeno Skin Relief Body Oil Spray
Sometimes, you just cannot be bothered to start a whole bodycare routine after your shower. This is when a fast-absorbing dry oil like this one from Aveeno comes in handy. It leaves skin silky soft and supple, and you can apply it to legs, arms, and chest if you want to look sun-kissed when you are heading out the door, too. It contains oat oil and jojoba oil, which are rich in lipids and fatty acids, making it a tonic for dry and sensitive skin. Price: £9.49.
Saltair Santal Bloom Body Oil
Saltair has only recently landed at Space NK in the UK, and its body oils are gorgeous. It has a cocktail of hardworking ingredients, including kukui, cacay, squalane, and karanja oils, to moisturise, hydrate, and condition the skin. It is so good, I will often skip my traditional moisturising cream and go straight to this. It lasts me months, so you really do get your money's worth, and the beautiful glass bottle is so chic on my bathroom shelf. Price: £25.
PHLUR Vanilla Skin Body Oil
If you love fine fragrances and gourmand scents with notes of luxurious vanilla, this Phlur body oil is a treat for your skin and senses. It creates a cocoon of moisture on the skin and is just rich enough that a few pumps are all you need. Given that it is a dry oil, it sinks into the skin quickly, so you will not be hanging around for ages before being able to get dressed, and it has a strong enough scent that you could use it as your perfume, too. I would bathe in this stuff if I could. Price: £45.
Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Hydrate Body Oil
Well known for its budget-friendly pricing, Palmer's Coconut Oil has been around forever and is a reliable go-to if you want to save money without scrimping on effectiveness. Application is pretty straightforward thanks to the press-down release lid, and the sweet, creamy notes of cocoa butter just scream summer. While it is lovely to slather all over your body, you can also add it to your bath to leave your skin buttery soft. Price: £7.40.
