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10 body oils you need in your winter kit, STAT

Trust us, these guys do *everything*

By Erin Docherty

Beauty crew Beauty Writer / June 25 2019

It’s that time of the year again. The temperature has *officially* dropped to an annoying chill and you are now cursed with reptilian-like skin that looks dull, dry and just overtly unhappy.

While a good post-shower moisturising session may help bring it back to life, sometimes those body lotions and goopy body butters just don’t seem to cut it. And for this reason, you need to get on board the blissful world of body oils.

Body oils are hands-down the best way to lock in all that glorious moisture, and they’ll generally hydrate your skin for longer than the ol’ body lotion. That’s because oils share a similar structure to the natural lipids found in our skin (pretty cool, huh?), so they’re ideal for repairing and re-regulating your skin's moisture barrier.

If you’re one who would usually palm off body oils because you feel like they’ll turn you into a slick, greasy mess, you’ll be happy to know that today the best body oils absorb quickly and hydrate even the driest skin, AND their beauty benefits are seemingly endless - there’s something for literally *every* skin type, concern and budget.

So, whether you’re looking to simply up your hydration or prefer something with added benefits, we’ve pulled together the best body oils you need in your winter skin care routine.

The ultra-hydrating oil

Thursday Plantation Macadamia Ultra Hydrating Body Oil
If you’re after a classic hydrating oil to nix that dry skin quickly and effectively, try Thursday Plantation’s Macadamia Ultra Hydrating Body Oil – we guarantee it’ll become your everyday staple. It absorbs super quickly on damp, post-shower skin and won't leave an oily residue, which is great if you’re getting ready in a rush. It also has a beautiful light scent, and will leave skin feeling smooth, silky and flake-free.

The shimmer oil

The Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
Just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean you have to give up beautifully glowing skin! Nab that sun-kissed glow with this hydrating and illuminating bronzing oil. It’s made with community fair trade honey from Ethiopia and beeswax from Cameroon, and will give your skin the most perfect bronzed look with a delightful dry finish.

The Jojoba Company’s Natural Australian Jojoba

The natural option

The Jojoba Company’s 100% Natural Australian Jojoba
While jojoba is technically not an oil (it’s a wax ester plant extract!), it certainly feels and acts like oil. The Jojoba Company’s 100% Natural Australian Jojoba is rich in vitamins A, D and E and can be used to get rid of those annoying dry patches (hello, flaky elbows) or applied all over for a complete hydration boost.

The healing oil

Sodashi Fitness Recovery Body Oil
If you’ve been slogging it out in the gym (good on you!), and your muscles are *really* feeling it, reach for Sodashi’s Fitness Recovery Body Oil. It features a fusion of therapeutic botanical extracts that work to warm and relax your muscles and stimulate circulation post-exercise. Its blend of eucalyptus, ginger, rosemary and lavender essential oils relieve stiffness and reduce inflammation while leaving your skin feeling hydrated and toned.

The aromatic oil

Jurlique Lavender Body Oil
Calm your skin and your senses at the same time with a deeply relaxing aromatic oil like Jurlique’s Lavender Body Oil. Perfect for your nighttime skin care routine, this lightweight oil contains lavender oil and jojoba for soft, supple skin. *Snoozes*.

The travel oil

L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil
Smooth skin doesn’t take a break, people! L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil’s spray pump is perfect for travelling, and the soft almond scent is literally the most irresistible thing going. It’ll leave your skin feeling firm and gloriously silky-smooth.

The one for acne-prone skin

Kiehl's Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil
If you have acne-prone skin, you’re going to want to look for something that isn’t too heavy – and Kiehl's Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil is the perfect option. It’s a lightweight spray-on oil that absorbs instantly and is dry to the touch. Formulated with nourishing ingredients like squalane and grapeseed oil, it’s great for breakout-prone skin that’s also dry and flaky now that it’s winter.

The firming oil

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil
This uplifting body oil is enriched with plant extracts and helps to nourish and protect skin against dehydration (thanks to hazelnut oil), while eliminating toxins and firming the skin. It promises to improve the elasticity of the skin and reduce the appearance of stretch marks. We’ll take 10, thanks.

The budget buy

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil
Everyone loves a bargain, and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Body Oil is where it’s all at. It's a lightweight blend of cocoa butter and vitamin E that absorbs quickly but deeply moisturises rough, dry skin.

Winter Body Oils CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Velvet Body Oil

The luxe buy

CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Velvet Body Oil
A CHANEL body oil. So much YES. It smells heavenly (there are notes of rose and patchouli in there), makes your skin feel ridiculously expensive, and looks luxe as hell in your bathroom cabinet.

If you’re looking for more ways to repair winter skin, check out these expert-approved winter skin care tips that’ll keep your complexion looking hydrated and healthy.

Are you a fan of body oils? What’s your favourite? Let us know in the comment section below.

Main image credit: Getty

Erin Docherty

Erin Docherty is a Beauty Writer for BEAUTYcrew, Beauty Editor for Women's Health magazine and a Grooming Writer for Men's Health magazine. She has a keen interest in cosmeceutical skin care and is currently working on minimising her 9-step skin care routine – because ain’t nobody got time for that. When she’s not writing about the latest beauty news, or applying copious amounts of serum, you can find her spending all her money in Sephora.