Forget Lotions. Body Oils Are What Your Skin Is Craving

A few years back, I was introduced to baby oil gel by a stewardess with amazing skin.  Since then, I've been hooked.  Every winter, I stock up on a couple bottles.  But as it gets warmer, I realize that I may need to switch up.

What I needed was a lighter version of my beloved skin gel.  So I began the search for a suitable alternative.  The solution was to replace the gel with oil. But not just any oil would do.
A couple of suggestions came my way after I put out the intention.  The first option showed up on my Pinterest feed.  A few beauty gurus were singing the praises of Neutrogena's Body Oil.  I'm a fan of Neutrogena and I really respect the quality of their products.  But, after trying their body oil, I didn't fall in love.  Once I read the ingredient list, I concluded that perhaps I needed an all natural option.

A short time later, Huda Beauty proudly held up a bottle of Rodin's luxury body oil on Snapchat while proclaiming that it was her absolute favorite oil of all time!  That motivated me to look into the product further.  That's when I learned that a 4 oz bottle required an investment of over $100.00.

I don't mind spending a little more for a quality product but I couldn't wrap my head around justification for the price tag.  Maybe I'll reward myself with a bottle one day, but for now, I needed to find a suitable alternative.

And by suitable, I mean that I wanted an oil that does more than just sit on my skin.  I want my oil to soak in and soften.  I also want it to actually make my skin better!  After a few moments of reflection, two oils came to mind.

Squalane and rosehip seed oil.

These oils were my first choice because of their incredible properties.  Squalane is often referred to as a moisturizer although it contains no water.  That's because of how it feels on the skin (and hair).  It's an emollient that mimics the natural sebum of our skin. Because it's so similar to our own body's natural moisturizer, your skin will drink this up!  When applied after a post-shower air dry, squalane quickly locks in moisture creating instant softness.

But that wasn't enough.  I wanted to experiment with an oil that had the power to actually improve the skin on my body. In my opinion, rosehip oil should be in everyone's possession.  This oil can do things that no other oil can do.   What other oil do you know can regenerate collagen, reduce scars and fight wrinkles? Rosehip is rich in vitamin A which promotes younger looking skin.  People pay good money for prescription strength vitamin A (retin A) for its ability to stimulate cell regeneration. Rosehip oil mimics those results without the annoying peeling.  Beyond vitamin A, rosehip also contains vitamin E, C, and D.  It's also rich in essential fatty acids which feels absolutely ah-mazing on the skin.

The combination of squalane and rosehip are heaven.    Best of all, both are non-greasy.  If I'm exposing my legs/arms, I may add a final layer of coconut oil for a bit more shine and to benefit from a little extra sun protection (coconut oil has a low SPF).   Body oils are ideal because they help preserve hydration while helping my skin to actually become healthier.  Over the next few weeks, I'll continue my search for other oils that improve the health and look of our skin.  I'll let you know if I find anything interesting.

Simply put, the combination of intense scrubbing + nourishing body oils is a recipe for perfect skin.  Lotion can't even compare.