A nourishing body oil is the best remedy for parched winter skin
Winter is here, and with it, that instinctual need to warm up. Hot showers and baths are great, but they can have a drying effect on skin that might already be on the parched side. Let body oils come to the rescue.
“Smaller molecules allow oils to penetrate more quickly and deeply into the skin than lotion,” explains Yael Alkalay, founder and CEO of Red Flower. “They are also very nourishing, helping to replenish the oils from within the layers of the skin, and enhancing the production of the body’s own natural oils, which are often lost when skin is dry.”
Here are eight beautiful body oils perfect for the cold-weather season, plus tips on how to best make them work for you.
HollyBeth Organics: USDA Certified Organic Body Oil
This nourishing product features sunflower seed oil to hydrate and target fine lines, vitamin-rich pumpkin seed oil to boost collagen production and encourage cell renewal and fatty acid-rich apricot kernel seed oil to moisturize, tone and fight aging. On top of that, HollyBeth Organics’ signature mix of litsea, ylang-ylang and black pepper essential oils help lift the spirits, too. $60;
hollybethorganics.com
Indie Lee: Nutrient Oils
Launched this fall, Indie Lee’s non-greasy Nutrient Oils pamper skin with a super hydrating mix of jojoba, apricot, sunflower, safflower, olive and avocado oils. Choose from two decadent scents: Jasmine Ylang-Ylang, a combo that calms the mind (and has great benefits for scalp, hair and nail health); and Grapefruit Citrus, which invigorates, promotes skin elasticity, and boosts circulation. $40; indielee.com
Ila: Body Oil for Inner Peace
We’re not promising nirvana with the use of this product, but it should bring you pretty close with a mix of oils that nourish the skin and center the spirit. Revel in healing sandalwood, calming jasmine, and anxiety-reducing ylang-ylang, suspended in a base of vitamin-rich, anti-inflammatory argan and rosehip seed oil. $78; ila-spa.com
Azalia: Ginger Tea Body Oil
Just as a warm cup of ginger tea can help balance our insides and boost circulation, so, too, does Azalia’s vegan, non-greasy ginger tea-infused body oil. Sunflower and cold-pressed jojoba oil bring moisture and a glow to the skin, while the fragrance from pure essential oils of ginger and grapefruit can help with digestive issues. The versatile oil can be added to the bath or even used as a makeup remover. $21; azaliaspagoods.com
Erbaviva: Body Oil Breathe
Perfect for winter, this oil does double duty as a skin moisturizer and sinus-clearer. Organic almond, sunflower and jojoba oils add plenty of moisture, while essential oils of cedar, eucalyptus, thyme, spruce and tea tree encourage you to breathe deeply and often. Pair with the Breathe Bath Salts for a cleansing home-spa experience. $38; erbaviva.com
Red Flower: Cardamom Body Oil
Warm up all over with this lush blend of ingredients that does everything from relax muscles and increase circulation to impart a glow and act as an aphrodisiac. In a hydrating base of apricot and coconut, find black pepper, bergamot, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, vetiver and heady cardamom, which stimulates blood flow and radiates heat, inside and out. $48;
redflower.com
Valentina’s Naturals: Sweet Dreams Body & Massage Oil
Get your comforters and woolly blankets ready—this easily-absorbed oil’s sweet scent will have you floating off to dreamland in no time. Slather on at the end of a long day to hydrate winter-worn skin with organic sunflower oil, and ease the mind with a proprietary blend of sandalwood, jasmine and vanilla. $14; valentinashomebrewed.com
Crawford Skin Care: Sandalwood + Bergamot Body Oil
Crafted in Canada, this non-greasy oil is luxurious enough to pamper the skin, but gentle enough for even sensitive users. Avocado, sesame, sweet almond and apricot kernel oils offer deep hydration, while the intoxicating scents of sandalwood, cypress, bergamot, and howood oils make you feel warm and cozy. $27;
crawfordskincare.com