Don’t assume body oil is without a place in your beauty routine. We know: After every shower, you already smooth lotion onto your limbs to lock in hydration. And it works; your skin is soft and moisturized. But the best body oils have their own benefits to offer. They’re capable of elevating your body care routine, making oils worthy of your consideration. Here, we’ll introduce you to our favorite dry oil and teach you how to use body oil to help your skin feel smoother than ever before.

What Are The Benefits Of Body Oil?

Applying oils to your skin is far from a new occurrence. In fact, studies say that using them is “almost instinctive” for humans.I This explains the popularity of body oils. The right formula will nourish skin with moisture and help it feel soft and velvety smooth. Dry body oils, like Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil, have additional benefits. They have a lightweight texture that leaves skin residue-free and dry to the touch. While many lotions require time to sink in before you can get dressed or move on with your day, dry oils avert this waiting game.

Our oil in particular has a lot to give. It pampers skin with hydration, leaves it feeling more soft, supple, and smooth, and applies in a fine mist that absorbs quickly. As for the formula, it contains grape seed oil and squalane (a Kiehl’s signature ingredient). Both are extremely beneficial to the skin. Grape seed oil is known to help prevent signs of visible aging and improve moisture levels, while squalane helps reduce moisture loss and maintain hydration.

Who Should Use Body Oil?

Moisturizer is a key part of any skincare routine, regardless of skin type. Your skin needs oil and moisture to function properly, feel comfortable, and look healthy. Not only does this hold true for the skin on your face, but it extends to your entire body, hence the need for moisturizing body products. As you know, the best body oil formulas excel at nourishing and moisturizing skin. Since we all need oil and moisture, it stands to reason that anyone can benefit from using one. Even sensitive skin types can use the Creme de Corps oil. Of course, because of the nourishment they provide, an oil is an especially good fit for those with dry skin.

When Should You Apply Body Oil?

Traditionally, oils were preferred for nighttime, whereas lotions were applied in the morning. The thought process being that oils would leave skin looking shiny and feeling greasy. If massaged on at night, the oil has time to absorb while you sleep, and most would prefer a little oil on their sheets over their work clothes. However, using a dry body oil voids these concerns completely—you can use body oil regardless of the time of day or what’s next on your schedule. The formula will absorb fast and won’t leave behind an oily feel.

How To Use Body Oil The Right Way

To use a body oil at your time of choice, you’ll need to start with clean skin. We recommend using a body cleansing oil, like Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-to-Foam Body Cleanser. The cleanser features grape seed and castor oils in its formula and gently cleanses while also moisturizing. In the shower, wet your skin, then massage the oil cleanser into a lather. It will transform into a fine foam to remove dirt and oil. Rinse thoroughly.

When your skin is due for exfoliation, you can also reach for Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish. The gentle exfoliator is formulated with honey, shea butter, and sweet almond oil and leaves skin primed for moisture. This makes it the perfect prep step for your oil. Apply the body polish to moist skin and work it into a lather, then rinse off.

Next, it’s time for Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil. Some body oils are applied like lotion, i.e., pumped or squeezed into your hands, then spread onto your skin. But our dry body oil conveniently sprays on. Mist the oil directly onto your skin, then use your hands to gently massage until the formula completely absorbs. You can also reapply the oil throughout the day as needed.

Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Don’t towel your skin completely dry between your cleanser and oil steps. Apply body oil while your skin is damp to take things to the next level. Moisturizing wet skin will help lock in more moisture. You can also apply this tip to using any skin-hydrating product from serum to face cream.

How Do You Choose Between Body Lotion and Body Oil?

You don’t have to make any hard decisions, like cutting your favorite lotion out of your life, in order to use body oil. There’s no need to pick between the two body care products. Nor is one type of product better than the other. You can use them at different times or pair them together to experience the benefits of both. This latter option is especially recommended for those with extremely dry skin. Apply your body oil as normal, then follow with a body moisturizer, like Creme de Corps. This non-greasy lotion leaves skin feeling beautifully moisturized. Use it all over or focus the formula on key spots that need more attention.

For extra dry hands, you can opt for a moisturizer that caters toward that specific spot. The Ultimate Strength Hand Salve is a Kiehl’s favorite. It has a rich, conditioning formula with avocado and sesame seed oils. Intensive Treatment and Moisturizer For Dry or Callused Areas is another option. It’s uniquely formulated to moisturize parched skin and areas that need intensive moisture.

Kiehl’s Expert Tip: Beyond body oil, there’s another way to incorporate oils into your body care routine: using other products with oils in their formulas. Take the Intensive Treatment above, for example, it isn’t an oil, but it’s made with avocado oil. All of the products we’ve recommended here contain oils and allow your skin to reap the subsequent benefits.

Can You Use Body Oil On Your Face?

Finding multiple ways to use the same product can be an amazing way to streamline or reinvigorate your routine. However, with that said, you shouldn’t repurpose a body oil for your face. They’re meant to be used below your neck, and following that guideline is what’s best for your skin. The same rule applies to any product: You shouldn’t apply it somewhere it wasn’t intended to be used. While it might initially seem inconsequential, the skin on your face and body are different and have varying needs. Your face has thinner skin and a greater predisposition to sensitivity. This may be due to the fact that your face’s natural moisture barrier is less efficient.

To enjoy the benefits of an oil in your face-care routine, introduce your skin to a product fit for the job. We recommend Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil. The lightweight face oil boosts essential moisture to help smooth and restore the appearance of tired-looking skin. After cleansing, take two to three drops between your hands and use your fingertips to press the oil onto your skin.

Next: What Is Cleansing Oil?

Sources
I. Sethi, Anisha et al. “Moisturizers: The Slippery Road.” Indian journal of dermatology vol. 61,3 (2016): 279-87. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427