Rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, body oils are a skincare staple. From jojoba to castor oil, each has a unique history that spans generations. But if you’re skeptical about using oils for the body, it’s probably because you’re missing key details about how to use them properly.
Think of a luxury skincare product that makes your skin feel fresh and soft. When you apply it, you’ll not only smell incredible but also boost your skin’s elasticity and restore skin barrier function. Do you have one in mind?
You can’t possibly be thinking of body oils. Right?
We’ll be honest: body oils are a controversial topic. Some people swear by them and others claim they clog pores. But oils for the body have been used for centuries — often prized goods that were traded across continents. Cleopatra trusted them, and she was probably onto something. So let’s unpack the science.
The History of Oils for the Body: Where Ancestral Formulas Meet Modern Skincare
Oils for the body are nothing new. They have a multi-generational legacy in the clean beauty space, dating all the way back to Cleopatra’s reign (she used cold-pressed olive oil for skincare). From Ayurvedic medicine in India to the world-famous Turkish bath, body oils are the main character of ancestral beauty.
So why aren’t they in every bathroom cabinet? Well, they’ve been replaced by modern products (like body lotion) that boast a lower price tag and easy pump-bottle use. But what’s the real cost of disconnecting from history’s long love of body oil? In two words: chemical exposure.
Modern replacements for body oils are less nourishing, more chemically dense, and tend to be less effective (if you stop using them, symptoms come back). The solution for our modern skin concerns isn’t to try the next “new and improved” formula. It’s to go back to our roots with pure, natural ingredients that restore.
4 Good Reasons to Use Oils for the Body
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Skin barrier support
Oils help cleanse the skin, but not in the same way that chemicals do. Natural oils help remove dirt, unplug pores, and act as your makeup cleanser. But they don’t strip the skin of nutrients and healthy bacteria. They work with your skin barrier, instead of against it. This is why you’ll notice that long-term use of oil cleansers improves your skin over time, instead of temporarily clearing the problem.
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Targeted skin restoration
Skin-nourishing oils are best known for their moisturizing benefits (they’re used as a lotion replacement). But that’s just one of their many advantages. For instance, we formulate oil-based serums with ingredients that lighten, brighten, and firm skin texture. Helichrysum, primrose, and jojoba oil contain nutrients that closely align with the skin’s needs. When you apply them, you’ll notice fewer age spots, better tone, and more balanced skin.
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Gentle cleansing
If you’re familiar with holistic medicine, you might know about the homeopathic principle “like cures like.” If not, you’ll get to see this principle in action by using the oil cleansing method.
An oil cleanser is an effective way to restore oily skin, since it gives your skin barrier the tools to rebalance. Essentially, when you apply a face oil, you remove oil plugs, dirt, and grime from the skin. At the same time, you retrain your skin to stop overproducing oil and sebum.
We know, it sounds counterintuitive. But it genuinely works. Many of our customers have turned to oil cleansing as their “last resort” after using prescribed cleansers, pharmaceuticals, and other mainstream methods. It’s now their favorite part of their skincare routine.
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Natural ingredients
Each body oil is different, but plant-based oils generally contain essential fatty acids, antioxidants, lipids, and bioavailable vitamins. Many of these ingredients are added artificially into lotion bottles, but your organic body oil has them naturally. With the right oil, you can achieve that easy (and non-greasy) appeal of lotion but without the chemical exposure.
Different Types of Oils for the Body
As much as we love ancestral skincare, we’re thankful that we don’t have to use body oils the same way our grandparents did. Now, we work with skincare experts and product formulators to create oils that are both healthy and easy to apply.
Organic body oil
Body oil is a simple luxury that can soften your legs, arms, and torso after a warm bath and leave you with a beautiful natural scent. The best modern formula should be lightweight, easily absorbed, and non-greasy. You don’t want to be running for the nearest sink to wash off your hands after applying it. Our favorite ingredient for organic body oil is jojoba oil. Even though it’s plant-based, the molecular structure of jojoba oil is similar to human sebum. So it soaks in naturally and can boost skin elasticity without the sticky feeling.
Oil-based serums
Avocado oil and jojoba oil contain powerful antioxidants and nutrients to brighten your complexion. But when it comes to oil-based serums, we want a little more intention behind the ingredients. For example, evening primrose oil and helichrysum oil contain potent anti-inflammatory benefits that reduce redness, support collagen production, and work to restore skin cells. These ingredients are good for any skin type and just as powerful as the chemically-based products.
Oil cleanser
Any oil cleanser is better than no oil cleanser. Our ancestors typically used one oil (like castor, jojoba, or argan) and experienced powerful results. But since we have access to skincare science today, we can formulate a do-it-all oil cleanser with multiple nourishing ingredients. Our favorite oils to include are castor, jojoba, and seabuckthorn. These oils have potent antioxidants and fatty acids to support skin cell regeneration and give you that natural glow.
Beard oil
Historically, men love body oils, too. We can’t pinpoint the exact date when beard oil first rose to popularity, but we know it happened in ancient Mesopotamia. The right beard oil can also prevent skin irritation and improve hair growth, too. Our favorite oils for this are jojoba oil and castor oil, since they bring traditional nourishment without leaving hair greasy or sticky.
Applying Body Oils the Right Way
Maybe you’ve heard that body oils clog pores and cause more skin problems. Of course, everyone is different, and people with highly sensitive skin should always patch-test a new skincare product. That said, using body oils the right way is key to getting tangible and lasting results.
How to apply oil-based serum
Less is more. If it’s your first time using an oil-based face serum, start with a conservative amount of product. You’ll be surprised how well it softens and absorbs into the skin. Just make sure there’s no product sitting on your skin when you’re done with the serum. Massage the product well, especially around your forehead, T-zone, and jawline.
How to apply body oils
A luxury body oil shouldn’t feel greasy or sticky when you apply it. It should just feel like an elevated lotion that softens your skin. The best time to use body oil is after your shower or bath, when your pores are open.
How to apply oil cleanser
One of the best natural remedies for acne, your oil cleanser should always be used with care. Start with a dime-sized amount of product and massage it into your skin for a few minutes. You might actually see oil plugs come out of your skin. When you’re finished, you want to remove the product from your skin with a damp washcloth, taking care around your forehead and any breakout zones. Leaving too much product on your skin can lead to acne or irritation.
The Bottom Line: Body Oils Deserve a Second Chance
If you’re part of the tallow balm revolution, then you know natural skincare has a lot of surprises. For nearly a hundred years, we told ourselves that chemical products were better than time-tested ones. Now, we’re all rediscovering the power of tallow and other ancestral skincare.
Body oils are no different. Our ancestors used them because they genuinely worked. In fact, they were so valuable, they were often traded across continents and reserved for the most wealthy. Today, we’re lucky to have access to these same valuable oils — but with targeted science and better formulas. They deserve a second chance.