BODY OIL

We have even MORE winners in this category, for 2023 – because there were just so many fantastic scores, each with a whisper between them. It is often fragrance which swings whether or not a product does well, so we’re going to give you a good idea of what each smells like – not least because THREE of this year’s winners come from a fragrance brand who happen to make a body oil to ‘match’ their perfumes. (Same formula, different scents – but they all pushed the buttons of quite separate testing teams. And there was a LOT of competition in this category – getting on for 50 entries.) 

Your body will thank you for scrolling on through, we promise. (And for us, it’s lovely to see some personal favourites of the Beauty Bible team on the winners’ podium – not something we can control, but always pleasing!)

We WISH we could tell you that we’d found a really affordable option that scored well, meanwhile – but alas not, this year…

GOLD AWARD and BEST NATURAL  To the Fairest Satin Body Oil (Aubine)

This has never happened in all our born days: one brand scoops a trio of Beauty Bible Awards in the same category! The formula for all of To The Fairest’s oils is the same – but the fragrances are quite different. So, let’s start with the Gold Award-winner, Aubine, taking its name from a French girl’s name meaning dawn, or light. Richly floral, it’s a swirl of white floral gardenia, orange blossom and frangipani, on a base of woods and frankincense. Nourishment-wise, your body will soak up lashings of argan oil, in the base.

£38 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Considering I tested it in winter, it kept my skin healthy-looing and so well-moisturised’ • ‘Used it on holiday instead of an aftersun product; had many compliments on the sheen it gave. Really lovely oil, lovely fragrance – a luxurious treat’ • ‘The spray nozzle means you get a fine mist on the desired area. I generally use body lotion but the body oil left my skin a lot smoother and softer; I thought a body oil would leave an oily residue on my skin, but it absorbed very quickly’ • ‘Using a spray nozzle is genius for an oil; made getting the right amount so much easier’ • ‘My husband loved the smell of this product and noticed every time I used it’ • ‘Pleasantly surprised how hydrated my skin felt, and how much better my fake tan applied and lasted after using this’ • ‘Cleared up some stubborn dry patches I have on my back that I have tried to treat with lots of other products but to no avail’ • ‘A little bit of luxury! A spa-like experience in the comfort of your home’ • ‘LOVE LOVE LOVE! A super-luxury fine body oil that will just make you happy in every spray’ • ‘I am a primary school teacher, with a class of seven to nine-year-olds. One morning, shortly after beginning to test this body oil, I was working closely with a child, sitting next to her. She leant over and said: "You smell nice!". In all my years teaching in schools, I have only had such comments a couple of times (and only ever about perfume), so I would say that this backs up my feelings that this has a lovely smell!’

£38 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil

This first won a Beauty Bible Award in our book The Anti-Ageing Beauty Bible, oh, AGES ago, but here’s proof it’s as luscious and skin-lovin’ as ever. As the name suggests, this oil from aromatherapy-powered This Works is primarily targeted at legs, and was definitely deemed most effective for treating the knees-down. (Though in reality, it CAN be used all over.) The base of jojoba, coconut, macadamia, evening primrose and peach kernel oil is infused with a florally essential oil blend of frankincense, bergamot, geranium, sweet orange, patchouli, sandalwood, rose, ylang ylang and tuberose. It scored literally a whisker more than the other Silver winners – a micro-point – so we’ve awarded it our Best Natural ‘gong’, too.

£45 for 150ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Gives a beautiful sheen to dry legs and to arms and body, but is most noticeable and effective on the legs’ • ‘Gorgeous. The formulation sinks straight into the skin and gives your legs a lovely sheen, leaving them looking smooth, not glossy but with a glow. You do have to reapply throughout the day if you want to keep that glow up, but it’s a decent enough size to carry around in your beach bag. Perfect for post-sunbathing not as an aftersun, but after using aftersun’ • ‘I loved this product and used it a lot before going out, observing an excellent, immediate moisturised look. I would recommend this to everyone’ • ‘Absolutely will re-purchase; this oil is gorgeous. Gives lasting improvement over time. I only used it from the knees down, but my knees, shins and ankles are so soft with no flakiness in sight. In the last two weeks I have skipped the odd day, but the suppleness and improved texture has remained, especially around ankles which have a tendency to have a white hue from the dry skin’ • ‘I love this oil. Used it on my arms and shoulders too; I have many scars following breast cancer and this was very softening. Like the fact the fragrance is 100% natural botanicals’ • ‘There was a sheen and general more healthy look to my skin; it looked more radiant I did get a complement on my legs after using this on a night out – my friend actually said my legs looked toned and the skin looked really even.’

£45 for 150ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Tea & Tonic High Spirits Body Oil

We’ve featured this as a ‘Beauty Bible Loves’ section on our site, because – well, we do. And we were pleased to see that the testers for this all-natural, vegan-friendly and cruelty-free body treat agree. Tea & Tonic was founded by Sarah Strang, who’d worked with luxury spa and lifestyle brands for nearly 20 years. Having discovered adaptogenic herbs when looking for support for her high-paced lifestyle, Sarah created Tea & Tonic around these balancing ingredients. This sinks-in-fast dry oil is available in three options (including unscented), but our testers enjoyed the sense-awakening blend of lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, black pepper, frankincense and rosemary, among other essential oils.

£42 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Even after I had completely used this product, my skin still felt soft for weeks. I felt that this product actually strengthened the top layer of my skin; I used it after being out in the elements all day and did not have dry or flaky skin from about three days into the product trial’ • ‘A nice, gentle, instant sheen that seemed to stay for a good few hours afterwards’ • ‘Quite strong verbena/lemon/eucalyptus scent, which I loved – very uplifting and energising’ • ‘Absorbs instantly, no dragging, it just sinks into skin’ • ‘My husband has mentioned how nice I've smelt after I've used this in the evening after bathing; it helps make skin feel soft and smooth without feeling greasy or sticky’ • ‘I wasn't sure if I would like this because I've never used a body oil before but I was pleasantly surprised. The fragrance is gorgeous – it awakens the senses but isn't overpowering at all. I loved that this didn't leave my skin feeling greasy or sticky and that I could get dressed pretty quickly after using it. My skin felt soft and supple every time I used this and it's become a product I really enjoy’ • ‘As the trial progressed and my skin retained its moisture better, I was using less and less to get great results. Skin looks full of moisture with a healthy sheen, and feels soft and springy to the touch. I noticed crêpiness on my chest was reduced and knees and elbows less crinkled’ • ‘An utter treat to use and I'd defy anyone not to enjoy it – would make a fabulous gift.’

£42 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD The Organic Pharmacy Detox Body Oil

Last year, The Organic Pharmacy won Silver for their Advanced Retinoid-like Body Oil; this year, the detox treatment oil scored high with our testers. If you’re bothered by cellulite, this is probably your top choice, formulated to improve microcirculation, tone, invigorate and eliminate toxins. (FYI we’ve given up specifically testing cellulite treatments for these Awards, because it seems to bother fewer and fewer women.) The base incorporates sunflower, rosehip seed and jojoba oils plus carrot root extract, and the essential oil blend is as lively as you’d expect: eucalyptus, rosemary, fennel and juniper. (Not suitable for use in pregnancy, NB.)

£36.95 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Absorbed REALLY quickly – no tackiness at all and I am therefore able to chuck on clothes straight away (although I do like to leave it so that I can take in the lovely smell before dressing!) This product was truly amazing, I was a little worried when I opened the packaging and saw the word 'oil' – I thought that I would end up with really greasy skin, which would come off on clothes and take a long time to sink in – how wrong was I? I will definitely be purchasing again ... and again ... and again :)’ • ‘Particular improvements to back of my thighs and hands. Earthy-smelling oil which was so lightweight that it absorbed almost instantly yet provided long-lasting hydrating and made the skin more supple and smoother’ • ‘I think this brand may have converted me to body oil, I love how my skin feels as soon as I apply this product, instant gratification - hydrated, healthy-looking skin. I will definitely repurchase this’ • ‘I feel like my skin looks a little plumper and much more hydrated. Really good on my scaly shins, especially after shaving’ • ‘When I just massaged this in with my hands, it was leaving my skin feeling softer and looking smoother. I then tried it alongside dry brushing – and this is where I feel the results really happened. Once I used the two things in combination, I saw a difference in my skin’s elasticity; it improved drastically’ • ‘It helped with tenderness after a C-section and helped improve the look of my stretch marks on my tummy. It has started to help with my cellulite on my thighs as well.’

£36.95 for 100ml - click to buy 

SILVER (JOINT) AWARD To the Fairest Satin Body Oil (Ordre Cosmique)

This is identical in its base formula to Gold Award-winner, but with a different fragrance blend, notching up a Silver Award. The quick-drying, organic argan oil-based oil is fragrant with ‘crisp, metallic top notes of cardamom and shellflower, before revealing warmer notes of cocoa pod at its base.’ Water lily and cedarwood also feature. It’s been described as ‘a charming scent with a light, crisp feel, plus a dash of sweetness and warmth, as well as oodles of positive vibes.’ It’s like wearing a perfume, in its own right – but also makes a great base for To The Fai rest’s Order Cosmique eau de parfum to ‘cling’ to. (Fragrance lasts much longer on well-nourished skin.)

£38 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Skin was glowing, felt soft and pampered. I absolutely love the smell of this’ • ‘This was my favourite product out of all the ones I got sent for this round of Beauty Bible testing. Absolutely adored the smell of it, and it left me feeling like I had been to a spa and been pampered after every use. AMAZING!’ • ‘I absolutely would buy again; it delivers in every area. You can even add a few drops to moisturiser or foundation!’ • ‘Heaven in a bottle – love, love, love! My skin is healthy, loved and moisturised’ • ‘Particularly effective on knuckles, heels elbows. 100% would buy it again. Skin is still healthy and nourished’ • ‘The fragrance is beautiful. It has some gourmand, sweet notes, but these are well balanced and not sickly in any way. It also has some musky and floral notes that combine to give a very nice overall scent’ • ‘I really enjoyed the scent and my boyfriend commented on it too. My mum also said I smelled "delicious" when I was wearing this body oil’ • ‘Very, very effective on dry, flaky shins’ • ‘It's great for making legs look smooth and definitely gives a satin finish to the skin. The back of my hands seemed to benefit the most; they no longer have any dry/rough skin’ • ‘Extremely easy to use – just spray the desired amount onto skin. And it delivers great results; my skin continued to feel very moisturised, soft and supple throughout the trial’ • ‘A luxurious body oil for special occasions that replaces the need for a perfume.’

£38 for 100ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Bathing Beauty Soothe Body Oil

All-natural Bathing Beauty was founded by George Jones, who drew on 20 years as an osteopath to inform her formulations, tapping into her knowledge of anatomy and physiology. With a fairly simple pure lavender scent, it’s powered by St. John’s Wort and calendula in a base of sunflower and peach kernel oils, designed to be used on face, body and scalp, to ease irritation (also good for calming sunburn, they tell us.) Since they launched, over a decade ago, their refillable and recyclable packaging has stayed ahead of the curve; they’re now a B Corp, recognising their commitment to the environment and purpose.

£19.50 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Skin felt plump and healthy looking; it took away the ashy dry look on my knees and shins. Not much of a sheen but a definite appearance of moisturised skin. Yes, yes, yes, and yes, I would buy again!’ • ‘My skin looks smooth and supple and feels beautifully soft and moisturised. It’s excellent on the skin but also on the mind; I found that using this after my evening shower I felt calm and relaxed. I also found that taking a deep breath after warming the oil in my hands made me feel very relaxed and sleepy. This will be a product I will be buying on repeat’ • ‘The first time I used this was actually on my face after I'd got a bit wind burnt – my skin was bright red and sore. I massaged this in and it instantly calmed it down and returned my skin to normal. I loved using on my body too and it has dramatically improved the skin on my legs’ • ‘Such a multi-tasker. I love the packaging and the fact that it is recyclable; the oil is created from organic ingredients and pure essential oils so I'd happily use it on the kids too’ • ‘An all-round winner for me. LOVED IT! Really helped on my dry elbows and knees; I put it on my hands at bedtime and they felt lovely in the morning. Reduced flaking and chapped skin over my elbows’ • ‘A delightfully easy product to use which I was a little hesitant to try but so glad that I did. The lavender small was pleasant and not too much.’

£19.50 for 100ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Luna Daily Everywhere Oil

It’s called ‘Everything Oil’ because – well, you can use it everywhere (and we mean EVERYWHERE): a lightweight oil that ‘is proven ‘to visibly reduce ingrown hairs, scars, stretch marks, dark spots, redness and bumps, for smooth, soft skin.’ Rather than being fragrant with essential oils, it has a light, allergen-free perfume, infusing the base of sunflower, grapeseed, sweet almond, apricot, jojoba and coconut oils. Luna Daily began when two friends discovered a ‘feminine hygiene wash’ in a bathroom cupboard, sparking a conversation about why we’re so shy to talk about our bodies; they offer many gentle options for keeping your vulva clean and healthy – but this winner is for all-over use. 

£12 for 10ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘My daughter said it made me look younger – this is high praise from a teenager who normally points out my flaws’ • ‘One of the best products I have come across in years. It is a bit like Vaseline in that it can be used for many different areas and works its magic wherever it lands. I love it on my hair, my body, my face and my hands. I can't fault this one – just buy it! ’ • ‘Fabulous on anything that’s a bit dry: hair, skin, soles of the feet. The elixir of youth in a bottle’ • ‘This is a little wonder in a jar. It is luxurious but isn’t going to irritate you in your delicate regions. I love that it’s so flexible - and can be used all over from heels to hidden spots!’ • ‘Good for dry areas that needed an instant fix - heels, elbows, bikini area. Saw an improvement to legs, feet and ankles, where skin was dry after being on sunbeds’ • ‘Skin felt smooth and soft, with a nice sheen, no residual stickiness, didn’t transfer to clothes’ • ‘I feel confident that this wouldn't interfere with my body chemistry in private areas.  Some skin experts say don't use products in those areas but honestly, especially as you get old, it's good to have a gentle product.  I had a caesarean 16 years ago and sometimes my scar still feels a bit sore; this is perfect for there: calming, gentle and effective and it feels trustworthy to use safely, yet it still packs a punch for efficacy both for remoisturising and for desensitising.’

£12 for 10ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD ARK Skincare Conditioning Body Serum

Fact: we have to check the ingredients list of every ‘serum’ entered into the Beauty Bible Awards for both the bodycare and skincare categories, because some are… well, what we’d definitely consider to be oils, instead. That’s the case here: this body OIL is a blend of Abyssinian, Sacha Inchi and sweet almond, together with bisabolol (a tree-derived ingredient that’s soothing to troubled skin), and antioxidant vitamin E, making it suitable for sensitive types. The floral scent was in part what seduced our testers, swirling with rose, jasmine, mandarin, orange flower and a touch of grounding patchouli – and testers loved, loved, loved it.

£35 for 150ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Like a mini spa on demand! My favourite product out of the selection this year! I put it in my gym bag and used it as an all-over body oil after my shower there. It's easy to dispense, rubs in easily and the scent is so heavenly, spa-like, sooooo calming and made me feel so centred, ready for whatever the day would throw at me. It would also work great at the end of a stressful day’ • ‘My husband has commented on the lack of scaliness on my elbows (!) It’s lovely; not a brand I know, but wow, it's a powerhouse of moisture.  I never thought I'd crack the scaly elbows, but this product got rid of them so quickly - I will be forever in its debt’ • ‘The fragrance is just so heady and luxurious. Massaging it into my décolletage, shoulders and arms before bed helps me sleep like a baby’ • ‘10/10 – a real find. It has transformed my skin and is going to be on my bathroom shelf for a long time to come’ • ‘I didn't receive any unprompted compliments, but everyone has commented once I insist they touch my arms to see how soft they have become!’ • ‘Really enjoyed using this oil, so much so that I rationed it to my upper body so I didn’t run out too soon’ • ‘I’d definitely buy this again, especially for summer when the beauty of the fragrance. Additionally, when I took it to Croatia, I didn’t get bitten too much. On checking the ingredients list, I saw it contained citronellol and I believe it helped to repel insects.’

£35 for 150ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD Cosmetics à la Carte Overnight Renew Body Oil

Cosmetics à la Carte may be best known as a make-up brand – one that we’ve loved for many a decade – but they offer a full line-up of skincare and bodycare, too. (If you get the chance, it’s a treat to explore this in their flagship Chelsea boutique, an eyelash curler’s throw from Peter Jones in Sloane Square.) A true treatment oil, formulated by founder Lynne Sanders, it is ‘best applied at night to let your skin luxuriate in it while you sleep.’ Gently fragranced with rose, orris, cloves, patchouli and cedarwood, it offers an elasticity-boosting, firming blend of olive squalane, jojoba, coconut and prickly pear oils, plus an enzyme-boosting complex to target wrinkles.

£59 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘If you want something classy, easy to use that will give you a result that doesn't take forever and a day to apply and use, this is it! ’ • ‘My chest area felt lovely and soft. I think with long term use it could be a top-half game changer, but also good on my legs – they do take a bashing at times! Now they definitely look and feel smoother! Upper chest area and neck are really smooth and look firmer too; although it wasn't specifically a neck cream, I think my neck looks better. Even though it wasn't specifically to target that area, I feel it is softer and less saggy/ turkey-skin-looking. This is one product that I'm going to miss’ • ‘My husband thought it was a lovely scent, but what he did comment on was that my legs looked "different” – he also said they were smoother, LOL! ’ • ‘A gorgeous, lightly scented beautiful body oil which keeps my dry, eczema-prone skin looking and feeling fabulous, with a beautifully light silky texture. Easy to smooth over my skin, leaving it feeling soft and non-greasy, with no dragging. It left my skin feeling soft , silky and lightly scented’ • ‘This body oil has the most delicious fragrance which you won't find overpowering and would work well alongside  feminine floral parfums. And a little goes a long way’ • ‘I loved going to bed smelling this body oil on me.  It was lovely to use after a bath/shower as it sank in quickly, left a nice glow to the skin, left my skin feeling  hydrated.’

£59 for 100ml - click to buy 

BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD To The Fairest Body Oil (Cécile)

Here we have To The Fairest’s argan-rich formula, again – but this impressive THIRD winner in the body oil category for the indie fragrance house is a bodycare incarnation of their debut eau de toilette, Cécile. The scent, created by renowned British perfumer Penny Williams for founder Rebecca Rose, is described as ‘sophisticated and summery’; it’s citrusy – think bergamot and mandarin – but also offers warm notes of rose absolute, absolute and a touch of coconut.

£38 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Skin looked even, felt incredibly soft, did not feel at all dry; the feeling lasted until the next shower’ • ‘Loved the fragrance, just right for a body oil, not overwhelming, a clean, fresh scent’ • ‘A friend noticed the perfume and went out and bought some! Skin feels wonderful, too – soft and silky, no bumpiness’ • ‘A beautiful oil that smells divine and leaves skin feeling soft and silky. I would use this if I was going somewhere nice; it smells so exquisite’ • ‘Great on legs for a glow; all round, a lovely indulgent body oil, effective yet non-greasy’ • ‘I have been complimented on my skin. People were very interested in the product when I was using it after showering at the gym!’ • ‘Very good texture, absorbed very quickly, no dragging. A pleasure to massage into skin’ • ‘I has a lovely refreshing exhilarating scent, which I really like’ • ‘The oil has physical properties but also it has therapeutic properties, the lovely scent of the oil is calming and makes you feel relaxed’ • ‘An easy-to-use body oil, with a subtle fragrance. Makes your skin feel super supple and smooth after just a few uses. I would purchase this product again –I've never used a body oil before, as never really sure how effective they were but I was pleasantly surprised, and would use again. That said, the product lasts a long time, which is really good’ • ‘Really affective on my elbows – these are really dry, so I made a conscious effort to make sure I used the product every day on them, and I noticed that my skin felt really moisturised quite quickly, and very smooth - especially when using the product after shaving. Overall, made my skin feel amazing, fresh and new! And I noticed the difference after just a few short days.’

£38 for 100ml - click to buy