I’ve struggled with dry, itchy skin and eczema for most of my life. But over the past few years—after losing weight and hitting my mid-fifties—I’ve also started dealing with crepey skin, loss of elasticity, and sagging. Sound familiar?
Because of this, I’ve been on the hunt for lotions and body oils that actually work. I prefer natural, non-toxic products, which often leads me to making my own DIY beauty products. And honestly? Homemade products can be so much better than what you find in stores! One of my favorites is this super easy DIY after-shower body oil. It’s incredibly simple to make—you just combine a few ingredients, and you’re done in minutes!
This body oil is a total game-changer. It’s ultra-light, deeply moisturizing, and leaves your skin with the most gorgeous, radiant glow. Plus, it helps boost collagen production, supports cell regeneration, brightens your skin, and improves firmness and elasticity. And the best part? It absorbs quickly, so your skin feels silky-smooth without any greasy residue. It hydrates like a body butter but feels so much lighter—and the subtle scent is absolutely divine!
I apply it every single day, and let me tell you—it’s the highlight of my routine. It smells amazing, feels luxurious, and truly nourishes my skin. I can’t recommend it enough! If you’re looking for a simple way to pamper your skin and give it the love it deserves, you’ve got to try this. Let me know how it works for you!
What’s in My Body Oil
Most homemade body oil recipes just mix a couple of carrier oils with essential oils—but that’s not how truly luxurious body oil is made! Want to know the secret? Let me show you!
To create a silky, lightweight body oil that feels amazing on your skin, there are a few key ingredients you’ll need:
- A blend of light and ultra-light carrier oils. This is what makes your oil feel smooth and non-greasy!
- A natural, high-slip ingredient. This is the magic that makes the oil absorb beautifully, feel super light, and leave your skin soft and glowing.
- Essential oils. These essential oils don’t just smell amazing—they’re packed with benefits for your skin! They can firm and tighten, boost elasticity, fade those pesky brown age spots, improve circulation, speed up cell turnover, and even increase collagen. It’s like giving your skin a little extra love every day!
- An antioxidant to extend shelf life and keep your oil fresh for longer.
Here’s the thing—without those lightweight carrier oils and high-slip ingredients, you would end up with a heavy, greasy oil that just sits on your skin. But when you use the right combination, you’ll get a body oil that absorbs quickly, locks in moisture all day, leaves your skin silky and radiant, and smells amazing!
1. Carrier Oils
When making body oil, you’ll want to go for “dry” or light oils that absorb easily into your skin—no greasy feel here! Avoid heavier oils like castor, avocado, sweet almond, or olive oil, as these can leave a slick, greasy film that we definitely don’t want.
The carrier oils listed below are amazing for plumping and hydrating your skin, helping it look tighter and more youthful! They’re perfect for skin-tightening DIYs like this homemade firming body oil. Check out the best carrier oils for skin tightening (plus tons of DIY recipes using these powerhouse oils here).
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Did you know rice bran oil is often called “beauty oil”? It’s no surprise—it’s a skincare gem! Born in Japan, a country known for its love of all things skincare, this oil is packed with vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. But here’s the exciting part—it’s loaded with oleic acid, one of nature’s best moisturizers, making it incredibly nourishing for your skin. In fact, it has twice as many micronutrients as popular oils like coconut and olive oil!
What makes it even better? It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly, and works deep below the surface to deliver nutrients that keep your skin soft, smooth, and glowing. Want more elasticity or help lightening dark spots? Rice bran oil’s got you covered.
Apricot kernel oil is an absolute game-changer for your skin! It’s super gentle and perfect for sensitive skin—even if your skin is feeling irritated. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps soothe redness, itching, and irritation like a dream. Plus, it hydrates and plumps your skin, leaving it looking firmer, more youthful, and oh-so-radiant!
This oil is intensely moisturizing and nourishing, working to strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier to lock in hydration all day long. Rich in fatty acids, it absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth without any greasiness. And let’s not forget—it’s packed with vitamins A, C, and E, powerful antioxidants that help protect your skin from aging and sun damage.
What’s even better? Apricot kernel oil is a fantastic anti-aging ally! It can help reduce the appearance of crepey skin, cellulite, and sagging, while also evening out your skin tone and making brown age spots less noticeable. If you’re looking for healthier, happier, more radiant skin, this oil is your new best friend!
Rosehip seed oil is a skincare superstar! Packed with essential fatty acids, it’s amazing at fighting dryness and smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamins C and E—two powerful anti-aging ingredients that help boost cell turnover and promote fresh, glowing skin. Did you know it’s one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C? That means it supports collagen production, improves skin elasticity, and keeps your skin looking youthful and bouncy!
But that’s not all—rosehip seed oil also helps brighten skin tone, fade age spots, and even diminish the look of minor scars. It works deep within your skin, encouraging new cell growth and leaving you with a healthy, radiant complexion.
Pumpkin seed oil is packed with skin-loving vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. It’s one of those ingredients you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. Let me tell you why it’s a must-have!
First up, it’s loaded with antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, plus carotenoids, polyphenols, and zinc. These work together to fight off free radicals, boost cell turnover, and smooth out wrinkles and dark spots. If glowing, youthful skin is the goal (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that?), this oil has got you covered.
That’s not all—it’s also rich in vitamins B2 and B3, which help balance your skin’s natural oils, smooth texture, and even out tone. Plus, the linoleic acid (omega-6) dives deep to hydrate your skin, calm redness, and lighten those stubborn dark spots like hyperpigmentation or age spots.
For long-lasting hydration, pumpkin seed oil has your back. The fatty acids strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier to lock in hydration, while potassium keeps your skin plump and perfectly balanced by regulating water retention. And let’s not forget the omega fatty acids (3, 6, and 9) that keep your skin nourished, healthy, and totally vibrant.
2. Natural High-Slip Ingredients
Let’s talk about the magic makers! These are the ingredients that elevate your homemade body oil from good to absolutely luxurious. They’re the secret to creating a lighter, non-greasy oil that feels amazing on your skin. Plus, they’re 100% natural! These ingredients mix easily with regular carrier oils but take it up a notch with better spreadability and a silky, high-end feel.
Ever wondered what makes fractionated coconut oil so special? It’s created by distilling virgin coconut oil to remove the long-chain fatty acids—the ones that make coconut oil solid at room temperature. The result? A colorless, odorless, liquid oil that’s a game changer for body oils! Unlike traditional coconut oil, this version stays liquid and feels incredibly lightweight and silky on your skin. It absorbs quickly, leaves no greasiness behind, and is completely unscented.
Squalane oil is a skincare superstar! It’s a 100% natural alternative to silicone that not only makes your body oil glide smoothly but also feels so luxurious on your skin. Even better, squalane is packed with skin benefits. It’s a natural part of your skin’s own sebum, helping to keep your skin hydrated, smooth, and elastic. Plus, it boosts radiance and supports cell growth for a rejuvenated glow. If you want your body oil to feel like a treat and work wonders for your skin, squalane is a must-try!
3. Anti-Aging Essential Oils
Fine lines, wrinkles, cellulite, stretch marks, and sagging, crepey skin are all common problems for many of us, especially as we get older. It happens as our skin loses its elasticity. And with that, our skin starts it lose its tone, firmness, and youthful appearance. The good news is that research suggests that some essential oils may help boost collagen production, increase skin cell renewal, improve elasticity, promote firmer skin, and visibly tighten skin. Read more about the best essential oils for skin tightening (along with more DIY recipes using these powerhouse essential oils here.)
Known for locking in moisture, sandalwood essential oil helps your skin stay plump, firm, and oh-so-smooth. Its natural astringent properties work wonders by brightening dull skin, promoting cell turnover, and preventing those pesky dead skin cells from building up. And, it supports the growth of fresh, healthy skin cells, leaving your complexion looking refreshed and revitalized.
Plus, sandalwood oil is packed with fatty acids that deeply hydrate and nourish your skin, improving elasticity and tackling dryness head-on. And here’s the best part—it also boosts collagen production, giving your skin that radiant, healthy glow we all love.
Rosemary essential oil is rich in antioxidants like carnosol and rosmarinic acid, rosemary oil helps protect skin cells from damage caused by free radicals. This protection can minimize signs of aging, including wrinkles and fine lines. Research has shown that rosemary oil’s antioxidative properties combat free radicals and contribute to reducing skin aging. Source
Additionally, rosemary essential oil has been found to improve skin hydration and elasticity. Source This enhanced hydration leaves the skin looking plumper, firmer, and more youthful. By stimulating blood circulation, rosemary oil can also improve skin tone and texture, promoting a healthy, radiant complexion. Moreover, it may encourage collagen production, further boosting skin elasticity and firmness.
Did you know lavender essential oil is a powerful antioxidant that fights off pesky free radicals, helping to protect your skin from damage? Plus, it boosts healthy circulation by increasing blood flow, which means your skin gets all the oxygen and nutrients it needs to repair and renew itself. Amazing, right?
This process helps replace old, tired skin cells with fresh, new ones, leaving your skin smoother and more radiant than ever. And lavender essential oil is packed with natural anti-inflammatory superstars like linalool and linalyl acetate, which work wonders to calm and soothe irritated skin.
4. Antioxidant to Extend Shelf Life
Vitamin E is a potent natural antioxidant with a dual purpose: it prolongs the shelf life of body oils by slowing down oxidation and offers remarkable anti-aging benefits for the skin. Known for combating free radicals, including those caused by sun damage, Vitamin E helps smooth and firm the skin, diminish hyperpigmentation (such as age spots), and protect cells from damage.
Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties support a youthful, radiant complexion, making it an essential ingredient for maintaining healthy, vibrant skin.
How to Make Your Own Firming Body Oil
Step 1: Using a funnel, carefully pour the carrier oils and vitamin E oil into an 8 oz bottle.
1/4 cup rice bran oil
1/4 cup apricot kernel oil
2 tablespoons pumpkin seed oil
2 tablespoons rosehip seed oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
Step 2: Add these essential oils to the bottle
8 drops rosemary essential oil
36 drops lavender essential oil
18 drops sandalwood essential oil
12 drops vanilla oleoresin (aka vanilla essential oil)
Note: The total concentration is under 2%, providing just enough essential oils to create a beautiful, subtle fragrance. This low dilution level is safe for topical application on larger areas, such as the arms and legs.
Exercise Caution When Substituting Essential Oils: While you’re welcome to swap out the essential oils in this recipe for alternatives, it’s important to choose wisely. Be mindful of phototoxic essential oils, which can trigger adverse skin reactions such as blisters or severe sunburn. Examples include bergamot, grapefruit, bitter orange, as well as cold-pressed lemon and lime oils. Additionally, some essential oils, known as “hot oils” (like cinnamon, clove, black pepper, and ginger), can cause irritation and should only be used topically in very low concentrations. Always prioritize safety when experimenting with substitutions.
Step 3: Add the super-slip ingredients to the bottle, securely close the lid, and gently shake to ensure the body oil is thoroughly mixed.
2 tablespoons fractionated coconut oil
1 tablespoon squalane oil
Step 4: Allow the body oil to rest for at least 3 days before use.
This resting period gives the essential oils time to fully infuse into the carrier oils, allowing the scent to mature and develop its full richness.
Click here for free a printable of Firming Body Oil recipe & how to use it
How to Use
- Before using any essential oil DIY for the first time, it’s important to perform a patch test. Apply a small amount of the body oil to the inside of your wrist and wait 24 hours to check for any signs of redness or irritation.
- Apply daily after your shower or bath while your skin is still damp and pores are open, ready to absorb these nourishing oils. The water helps the oils penetrate deeply into your skin, ensuring faster absorption and locking in intense moisture for lasting hydration.
- To prevent your floor from becoming slippery, apply body oil directly to your hands before massaging it into your arms and legs. Remember, a little goes a long way. Since this formula is water-free, you’ll need less oil compared to traditional lotions. Even though this body oil is ultra-lightweight and quickly absorbed, using too much can leave your skin feeling greasy.
Tip: With proper care, homemade body oils can last a year or longer. Follow these steps to maximize shelf life:
- Opt for fresh, unopened carrier oils whenever possible. If using older oils, check the expiration date to ensure they still have a good amount of usage time remaining.
- Always use clean, sterilized tools, such as bottles and funnels, when preparing your body oil.
- Store your body oil in a cool, dry, and dark place, away from direct sunlight.
Where to get supplies
note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
8 oz bottle —amber plastic bottles, amber glass bottles, clear glass bottles
vanilla oleoresin (aka vanilla essential oil)
Click here for free a printable of Firming Body Oil & how to use it
Check Out These Other Essential Oil Recipes You Might Enjoy
DIY Exfoliating Sugar Scrub Cubes {with essential oils}
DIY face serum for your skin type {dry, oily, sensitive, mature, acne-prone, and normal}
3-Ingredient DIY Peppermint Foot Cream {to refresh tired feet}
soft & silky whipped body butter
shower steamers and melts made with essential oils
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Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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