I love body oils : The case for body oils and why I love them

A while ago, I mentioned in my comment replies about preferring body oils to body lotions. Reader melchewvin picked up on it and asked if body oils would be too oily here in Malaysia because of our humid tropical weather. I promised I’d talk about using body oils but what with one commitment and another, I couldn’t find the space. Well I’ve recently decided that while commitments are all well and fine, I want to write about stuff I like, when I like. And I like body oils 🙂

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My pet tiger loves body oils too 🙂

I actually started with the REN Moroccan Rose Body Oil which is a very lovely, very lux rose scented body oil. I then went on to purchase the Marie Veronique Anti-Aging body oil with Rose and Neroli, and most recently, I was sent a Lavender Body Oil from DollyMoo. I’ll be reviewing these 3 body oils in the coming days/weeks so if you’d like to know my thoughts on each of the body oils I have, do remember to subscribe or just come back for more.

Today, I’d just like to plead my case for body oils, and why I like them and prefer oils to lotions.

Body Oils are not Oily on the skin

The big question I’m sure many of you here in the tropics are wondering, is “How can you apply oil on your body when its so hot and humid here? Don’t you get oily all over?”

Well, my answer is no, I don’t. Based on the body oils I have, I’ve realised that the oils used are very light and in fact, absorb very quickly into the skin. I don’t even have to massage it very much and the softening effect on my skin is quite instant. I must say here however, that the ones I use contain quite high quality oils so that may be a contributing factor. The texture is light and it is not oily like cooking oil, if you can imagine. Slathering cooking oil on your skin may do the job if you use extra virgin olive oil, but I just prefer something lighter and bit more lux.

Body Oils smell better

If you like essential oils then you will like the smell of most body oils. I find that body oils smell better than lotions. It might be because essential oils are easier to mix into other oils, or because you can infuse oil with flowers and plants. You can’t do that with lotions which are an emulsion. I do find that body oils have a more natural scent. Roses smell of freshly plucked roses fresh in from the garden, not the powdery nose-tickling scent of roses you get in some body lotions. Lavender smells of freshly cut and dried lavender, not the musty smell of lavender that’s been hanging in the cupboard for 20 years, as you sometimes get in body lotions.

Body Oils make my skin feel softer

Compared to body lotions, I find that oils soften my skin more and make them feel softer more quickly and lasts longer. When I apply body lotions, I sometimes end up with a layer of lotion on my skin that just sits there, not absorbing into the skin. When I wash my hands, I get the slippery feel. When I use body oils, I find that they absorb right into my skin, perhaps with a bit of massaging, and I don’t get that icky sticky feeling thereafter.

It will be interesting to note that in Ancient Rome ladies (and men) used perfumed oils on their body after their baths. It acted both as perfume, and to soften their skin. So, my use of body oil is going back to basics 🙂

Body Oils are expensive

I will not lie. Body oils – the good ones – are expensive. I am willing to pay for pricey body oils, because if I’m rubbing oils into my body, I would be happier knowing that a high quality oil is used. I’m not fussy about the oils being natural or organic (its a plus, but not compulsory) but I am fussy about how they feel, how they smell and whether I like it. Also, I like rose and lavender scented body oils. Lavender calms me down, and helps me sleep better enveloped in the calming scent and oil. Rose is a nice comforting scent to cocoon yourself in if you’re feeling a little down or just want some Me time. So, these are my favourite scents, and these are pricey.

Rose in particular, is an expensive essential oil, and a good rose scent that doesn’t smell musty and powdery and old, is usually pricey. So I do expect to have to pay more for a rose scented oil. Lavender on the other hand is more affordable, but good lavender that again, doesn’t smell musty or powdery is pricier. So yes, body oils are a luxury.

Body Oils are economical

Ah what a contradiction! The reason I say they are economical is because you don’t have to use a lot of oil to cover a large expanse of skin. If you associate body oils with the oils used during an oil massage, let me assure you that its not quite the same. The oil used for massage is usually thicker and the masseuse uses more each time. When you are applying body oils at home, you actually use just a little because it can go far.

I usually pump some oil into my palm, and then warm up the oil between my hands before applying to my skin. If you apply on damp skin e.g. after a shower, you will find that it absorbs better. But you can also apply on dry skin which is what I usually do before bed.

Warming up the oil makes it lighter and helps to cover a wider area. It also releases the scent and if you breathe in while applying it to your body, it helps you relax and wind down at the end of a tiring day. I haven’t used up my body oils at all and because they are oils, I try not to stockpile too much because I know oils can go rancid. So I will (try to) use up these body oils I have before indulging in another. And because its economical in use, it will be a while.

Have you used body oils before? Would you consider it? Do you have a body oil you like that you think I should try? 🙂

Paris B