Editor Tip: This shower oil is also safe for use on the face, so consider this your sign to ditch that expired cleanser sitting on your bathroom shelf once and for all.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, coconut esters, sunflower esters
Allure Editor-Approved: L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
Why It’s Worth It: Featuring fatty acid-rich sweet almond oil and a pleasant almond scent, the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil is an Allure-editor favorite. Senior beauty editor Paige Stables previously wrote, “By the time I step out of the shower and into my robe, my skin feels like satin.”
Editor Tip: This Allure staff-beloved shower oil can also be spotted in dermatologists’ body care routines. Divya Shokeen, MD a California-based, board-certified dermatologist, told Allure that she loves how the shower oil “transforms into a silky foam, leaving skin soft and supple.”
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil
Best Foaming Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Anti-Irritation Cleansing Oil
Why It’s Worth It: La Roche-Posay is renowned for its innovative, gentle, and sensitive-skin-approved formulations, making the brand a favorite amongst derms across the country. Dr. Shokeen refers to this Lipikar pick as a “gentle, nourishing shower oil [that] is free from soap, sulfate[s], and parabens,” making it a great choice for sensitive skin. In addition to glycerin and niacinamide, this foaming shower oil also contains conditioning shea butter to combat dry skin.
Editor Tip: For ultra-smooth skin, slather on the Lipikar AP+M Triple Repair Body Lotion after showering, which is also suitable for sensitive skin types.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, shea butter, thermal water, ceramides
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a shower oil do?
Before you even begin browsing the best shower oils, you may be wondering what they are or how they work — which is why we tapped California-based, board-certified dermatologist Divya Shokeen, MD. Per the dermatologist, shower oils are a “type of cleansing product used in place of traditional soap or shower gel.” She also tells Allure that the best shower oils are designed to cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils, “leaving it feeling nourished and hydrated.”
When narrowing down the best shower oils, consider your specific skin type. For example, Dr. Shokeen tells Allure that those with acne-prone skin should consider shower oils with jojoba or tea tree oils while steering clear of coconut oil, which is comedogenic (pore-clogging). Similarly, folks with sensitive or dry skin may opt for ones with argan or olive oil. Individuals with eczema-prone skin, on the other hand, may choose a shower oil that contains coconut oil. Also, according to New York-based board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD, “The inclusion of other ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid can help calm and hydrate skin, respectively.”