12 best body oils that will leave skin nourished and silky soft

The first thing we noticed about this body oil is how deeply moisturising it felt on our skin. Just a small amount offered intensely hydrating nourishment, and our skin looked satisfyingly glowy, thanks to the moisture boost. Plus, the glass bottle has a dropper top for mess-free use.

Ingredients include rose otto oil and macadamia oil, and that’s reflected in the sweet botanical scent, which we thought smelt brightening and uplifting. Suitable for normal to dry skin, we found that rough patches were smoothed, and the rich moisturised effect felt soothing, too.

Presented in a tall bottle with a press-down release lid, the vitamin-E infused formula has Palmer’s signature sweet and creamy cocoa butter scent, which is instantly appealing. The body oil is quite a runny consistency, so we were careful not to make a mess during application. But this does mean it spreads easily across a large area of skin, so rubbing it on post-shower was a very quick task.

Our skin felt smooth and sheeny after use, and while there was a bit of a shiny residue, the oil soaked in well and left our limbs glistening. We also enjoyed adding it to bath water for skin-softening as we soaked.

Undeniably a treat splurge, this bath and shower oil has become a relaxation go-to for us, and the square glass bottle does look suitably expensive on any shelf.

Ingredients include vetivert, camomile and sandalwood, making for a rousing essential oil scent, which felt both centring and calming. The 55ml bottle is compact, but we found a tiny amount of the rich oil goes a long way when it comes to smoothing skin dryness and leaving a feeling of lingering nourishment.

We liked to apply before bedtime to wind down much more easily, between inhaling the spa-like scent and appreciating the easily absorbed moisture.

Aveeno is a brand known for offering dry-skin relief, and this hypoallergenic body oil is also suitable for those prone to experiencing product irritation. The spray applicator nozzle ensures simple application and just one spritz delivers a generous layer of rich moisture.

Hydrating ingredients include oat oil and jojoba oil, and we noted a subtle sweet scent, which we could pick up on after we’d got dressed too. The formula soaked in fast, with no stickiness at all, and we saw an even finish to areas of dryness or rougher skin patches. We used it on our little ones too, as the oil is gentle enough to offer calming moisture.

Presented in a glass apothecary-style bottle, this is a fragrance-free option containing no essential oils, so great if you prefer an unscented buy. Moisturising ingredients include jojoba oil, evening primrose oil and vitamin E, and it’s designed to be added to damp skin.

We slathered the oil onto our body after either a bath or shower, and really enjoyed how luxurious it felt. The formula is rich, so this oil envelops skin with intense moisture. We could feel – and see –significantly softened skin, plus noticeable hydration on parched areas after application.

A useful body oil buy if you’d like to try a few scent variations, ESPA’s signature blends collection contains seven 15ml bottles in different aromatherapy options. These include fragrances to suit different moods and situations, such as the restful, positivity, restorative, soothing, energising, connection and fortifying bath and body oil blends. Also handy for travelling, each dinky bottle contains potent scents, which we found ideal for creating a spa-style body treatment.

The midweight formula glides onto skin and absorbs easily, leaving a light layer of moisture and tempting scent to soak up. Our favourites were the peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary combination found in the sharply awakening energising pick, as well as restful soothing lavender, clary sage and bergamot blend.

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This brown glass bottle has a handy stopper, ensuring droplets of oil come out for precise application, or it can be removed, should you prefer to slather on more at a time. We really enjoyed the brisk and brightening scent, which was immediately noticeable and uplifting for our senses.

The botanical blend includes blood orange, jojoba seed and laurel leaf, and we happily soaked up this citrus freshness. Its formula is midweight without being runny, and the oil slides onto skin before soaking in and creating a silky-soft layer of moisture.

This body oil is intended for use on the skin, hair and nails, as well as in the bath and shower. From an aesthetic perspective, we really like the pink glass bottle’s design (created by artist Alexandria Coe), and its twist-off lid ensures easy application access.

We warmed up the oil in our hands as instructed, before popping it all over. We noticed a reviving scent – ingredients include grapefruit, peppermint and bergamot. The lightweight formula spreads easily across skin, and we saw it soak in to leave a silky, sheeny layer that made our limbs look and feel moisturised.

This tall glass bottle features a metallic spray nozzle applicator, which we found made use in a rush much easier. Whether we fancied spritzing some oil onto our dry skin in the morning or at bedtime, the spray delivered an even amount of oil distribution, which we then rubbed into skin.

It’s a lightweight oil that soaks in efficiently and offers optimum skin softening. We appreciated the comforting botanical scent comprising cranberry, borage and rosehip seed oils, too.

The round glass bottle that this body oil comes in has minimalist branding and makes a stylish addition to our bathroom cabinet, while its dropper stop enables mess-free use. Suitable for all skin types, the oil has a pretty, floral scent. Ingredients include moisturising marigold extract, soothing St John’s wort and hydrating olive oil and sunflower oil.

We saw the golden-coloured liquid smooth onto our skin and create a glistening glow, while leaving intense hydration and a softening effect. Plus, that fragrance clung to our skin, so we could detect its welcome botanical brightness throughout the day.

This chic glass bottle features signature Molton Brown branding and looks suitably luxe to match its price point. An oil in one of our all-time favourite blends from this fragrance brand, the rhubarb and rose combination is a sweet and sunny floral scent.

We added drops of the body oil onto our skin and noticed the light liquid had a slightly runny finish, which meant it could reach our entire limbs and torso without much effort. It also contains hydrating argan oil, and we could see this from the supple skin effect we felt and saw.

What’s clever about this glass bottle is there’s a stopper requiring a push-down mechanism to open it, which means the top securely closes to minimise the risk of spillage.

When spreading the formula onto our skin, we noticed this essential oil-infused body oil is richly moisturising while still feeling relatively lightweight. It smells divinely tranquil too, with the scent coming from lavender, geranium, orange and ylang ylang. It absorbs very quickly, and our skin happily drank up the hydration provided, while we also saw a soft glowing sheen to our arms and legs.