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This DIY body oil is simple to make and will leave your skin glowing, soft, smooth, and beautiful. Made with a combination of carrier oils and essential oils, this body oil recipe is perfect for all skin types.

A bottle of homemade body oil laying on a striped towel with dried lavender buds.
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On an annual “girls’ weekend” with my mom and sisters, we were shopping in the cutest little store, which sold mostly products related to skincare and beauty.

I knew I was in the right place when I walked to an essential oil diffuser diffusing in the corner! ๐Ÿ˜‰ I love looking at stores like this for inspiration and ideas.

One item did stand out, it’s one that viewers ask about from time to time, and that is a body oil. Body oil serves many purposes. For example, it can be used as a massage oil or lotion to restore glowing skin and soften dry, flaky skin.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Great for the skin: This homemade body oil is packed full of nourishing oils that restore and moisturize the skin! When I use this body oil, my skin feels and looks soft, healthy, and lustrous. You may find the same results and your skin will certainly be well-moisturized.
  • Affordable: Body oils can be quite expensive. I don’t like spending a lot of money on skincare products when I know I can make my own so easily. This recipe costs far less than most commercial body oils, which adds up quickly when you make all of your own products.
  • Simple ingredients: You won’t find any unpronounceable ingredients or potentially harmful additives in this recipe. It calls for just 5 simple, natural ingredients. Plus, you can easily substitute ingredients to make the oil your own!
A bottle of homemade body oil sitting on a striped towel with twine and dried lavender buds.

What Goes Into This Recipe

The first step in making body oil is gathering your ingredients. You will notice this recipe calls for several carrier oils, all of which are used to provide you with the ultimate body oil full of moisturizing and hydrating properties.

Ingredients for homemade body oil.

Substitutions and Variations

If you don’t have all the oils mentioned in the recipe, you can substitute them for a different carrier oil. Carrier oils are any vegetable-based oils that are cold-pressed or expeller-pressed. Check out my post on the 10 best carrier oils for appropriate substitutions.

You can also substitute the lavender essential oil for a different essential oil if you prefer. I suggest using other soothing scents, such as sandalwood, chamomile, or clary sage. You may also want to use some of the best essential oils for anti-aging to give your body oil some added anti-aging benefits.

If you don’t have dried lavender buds, feel free to add in any dried herbs or flowers. Just make sure they are dried! Fresh flowers and herbs will spoil quickly.

How to Make Homemade Body Oil

Pouring oil into an amber glass spray bottle using a metal funnel.

Step 1. Add equal parts of grapeseed oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil into a small glass spray bottle or dropper bottle.

Dropped vitamin e oil into an amber glass bottle.

Step 2. Add vitamin E oil and essential oil. If you’re using them, add the dried lavender buds. Secure the lid and shake well.

How to Use

For best results, apply body oil to damp skin. Right after a shower when the pores are cleansed is a great time to use it.

Be sure your skin is free from makeup, dirt, and other products before applying the body oil.

Apply a small amount to the palm of your hand and rub it into the skin. If you are using a spray bottle, you can spray directly onto the skin before rubbing it in. Use the oil in place of homemade lotion or cream, or use it in place of my DIY massage oil.

I like to use it anywhere I have dry skin, including my face and neck. The oils in this body oil are gentle and soothing, leaving my skin feeling moisturized.

Pro tip: For dry skin, use this product daily for the best results! If you have oily skin, I suggest 2-3 times a week or as needed.

Dropping body oil into the palm to apply it to the skin.

Expert Tips

  • It’s always a good idea to do a patch test before applying new products to your skin. Rub a little bit of oil into the inner arm and watch for adverse reactions.
  • Consider your skin type and adjust the oil if needed. I formulated this recipe to be suitable for all skin types, but you can always customize it based on your needs! If you know some oils work really well on your skin, feel free to substitute those.
  • Apply the oil right after a warm shower for maximum benefits to the skin.
  • Use this oil to soothe and hydrate the skin after exfoliating with homemade sugar scrub.
  • While this body oil would be fine to use it in the hair, I suggest using a dedicated homemade hair moisturizer for optimal results.
Homemade body oil in amber colored spray bottle laying on white and gray striped towel with lavender buds sprinkled around it.

Recipe FAQs

What is body oil used for?

This DIY body oil is made out of lightweight oils meant to nourish and protect the skin. When applied to the body, it can provide a protective barrier and lock in moisture.
Body oil is used to relieve dry, itchy skin to leave the skin glowingly smooth. It is commonly used during the colder months when skin is dry from the changing weather or when skin is damaged from harsh cleansers or skin imperfections.

How often should I use body oil?

According to Eden’s Garden, body oil can be used daily. If you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts, 2-3 times weekly or as needed is fine.

Does body oil expire?

Over time oils can break down, becoming less effective, but they don’t really expire.
Some carrier oils will have an expiration date printed on the bottle but are usually good for at least several years. Essential oils never expire, though they can lose potency over time.
When in doubt, run a smell test. If it smells off, dump it out and make a new batch. If you use this oil daily or even a few times a week, you should easily finish it before it goes bad.

Can I use body oil on my face?

Yes, this body oil is made with gentle oils that are suitable for your face. Of course, it’s always a good idea to do a patch test before applying new products to your face. You may also like my homemade facial oil!

Can I use coconut oil in this DIY?

Coconut oil is an excellent option; however, you should use fractionated coconut oil rather than cold-pressed coconut oil.

Related Content

If you tried this DIY Body Oil or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let me know how it went in the ๐Ÿ“ comments below. Thanks for visiting!

4.68 from 25 votes

DIY Body Oil for Glowing Skin

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Yield: 1 bottle
This DIY body oil is simple to make and will leave your skin glowing, soft, smooth, and beautiful.

Equipment

  • 4 ounce spray bottle or dropper bottle
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Add each of the carrier oils, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil into the bottle.
  • Next, add in 5 drops of vitamin E oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil. If using dried lavender, add 1 teaspoon to the bottle.
  • Secure the lid, shake well, and it's ready for use.

Notes

  • To apply the oil, drop some into the palm of your hand and rub it into the skin. If using a spray bottle, spray the oil directly onto the skin before rubbing it in.
  • I would use this stuff daily if I could! Realistically, I use it about 2-3 times a week. Feel free to adjust more or less often to suit your skin type!
  • Feel free to substitute other liquid carrier oils if you prefer.
  • Body oil is best used right after a shower when the pores are open and the skin is cleansed.ย 
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.68 from 25 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




14 Comments

  1. Clare says:

    5 stars
    Wow โ€ฆ.this recipe is awesomeโ€ฆthank you for sharing this! I have perioral dermatitisโ€ฆmy skin is hard to please but this recipe works great for me โ€ฆI so appreciate itโ€ฆI use it all over including my face itโ€™s my new favorite moisturizer!
    Thank you and Bless you ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Laura says:

      So happy you are pleased with it!

  2. Shunnique says:

    Can you provide your body oil formula in grams, please? How many grams of the first carrier oil? How many grams of the second carrier oil? How many carrier oils do you use? How many grams of fragrance oil? Where do you buy your fragrance oils and carrier oils?

  3. Anta Joan says:

    How to mix f
    or black skin (Africa skin)?
    And which oils are used for enlarging boot and hips?
    Where can I buy original products?