Fab5 Body Oil Review

I (Chrissie) am a huge fan of using body oil after a shower as my moisturizer. I started using Neutrogena Body Oil (that sesame scent takes me back!) when I was in high school…so body oils and I go waaaay back. Neutrogena changed the formula/scent somewhere along the way though, and finally, other brands entered the market. So after 30+ years, it was time to make a change!

Right now I have about 7 body oils on my bathroom countertop, with 5 of them being my go-to’s (one is a limited-run and is an affordable product so stock up NOW!). A couple of others I use sparingly as a subtle scent oil. Plus I have one that I just don’t care for as much tucked away in a drawer that I need to give away to someone who likes the scent.

Here are my thoughts on Body Oils:

Why Do You Use a Body Oil?

I feel body oils moisturize my skin. I like how the oils feel and smell! Some of the experts say that oil sits on top of your skin whereas lotion absorbs into it, but I find the oil is moisturizing on its own, although sometimes if I’m super dry I’ll apply lotion to my hands or other areas as needed during the day.  Apparently, if you put the oil on over lotion it helps lock the moisture of the lotion in even more, so you can do that double whammy as well. You can also mix a bit of the oil into your lotion and apply at the same time.

The smell of most of them is not overpowering (I wish they were stronger as I like the fragrances) and I’m not even sure if anyone would notice most of them on me during the day. Sometimes I will put one on my pulse points before going out instead of a perfume though, as I do like the smell of all of them, even though they are all scented very differently.

How Do You Use a Body Oil? 

When you get out of the shower and are still damp you pump some into your hand (you don’t need a lot and I try to make them last a long time so use as little as possible) and just slather it on your body the same way you would a lotion. Pretty easy!

After Applying Body Oil Is Your Skin Too Oily To Get Dressed Right Away?

I put it on right as I step out of the shower and then moisturize my face etc, so it’s a few minutes before getting dressed and I do not have an issue with getting oil on my clothes. If I was putting on a silk shirt I might wait a few more minutes to make sure it’s all soaked in, but otherwise no issues.

Cons of Body Oil?

The primary con is the cost. They are much more expensive than lotions (except for the Trader Joe’s option that just came out). I try to use them sparingly and do find that they last a long time. If I see them on sale during Black Friday etc I’ll stock up then!

Here are the Fab5 body oils I like/use the most. I swap between them depending on my mood and what feel/scent I want that day. I also don’t want any to run out too quickly so I go back and forth to make sure they all last a long time!

Why I like it: I love the fresh, somewhat citrusy smell of it and the feel of it as it goes onto the skin.

Cost: $52 for 5oz

Scent: Grapefruit, lime, and cypress with mango and mandarin notes.

Osea is a clean brand

Primary Ingredients:
Undaria Seaweedm White Lupin (Flower), Botanical Oil Blend- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Undaria Pinnatifida Powder, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Tocopherol, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Citrus Latifolia Peel Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Leaf/Stem Oil, Fragrance / Parfum*

 

Why I like it: Smells great, feels great!

Scent: Plant-based, earthy scent with a bit of ‘zing’ to it. Uplifting but calming. Stays on your skin longer than the other scents.  They have two versions, the original ‘mainstay’ and the ‘warm’ which have subtly different scents. I prefer the original, which is perhaps my favorite of all my body oils’ scents.

Cost: $52, 8oz

Additional Uses Per the Manufacturer: An oil cleanser, natural make-up remover, and moisturizer for your face, body, and hair.

Primary Ingredients: Organic Coconut, Jojoba, Olive, Castor, and Argan Oil, With Mainstay Organic and Wild-Harvested Essential Oils of Palo Santo, Lavender, Geranium, and Clary Sage

 

Why I Like It: The feel of this oil is a bit ‘thicker’ than the other ones and feels a bit more moisturizing. Great scent as well.  For some reason it only appears to be sold at the Avocado Mattress Store – not sure why that is! It should be everywhere as it’s a great product.

Scent: The ‘grounding’ scent comes from an essential oil blend of lavender, sage, cedar, and citrus. It’s an earthy smell that I really like.

Cost: $48 for 6.5oz

Clean product.

Ingredients: Powerful antioxidants, calming maracuja seed oil, and renewing ingredients. Chamomile flower and moringa oil condition, soften and lock in moisture with a sensual, plant-based scent. Avocado oil indulges skin with essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C, D, and E.

Why I Like It:  This is a new product to me (just started using it a couple of weeks ago) and thus far I am really liking it! It is $$ though which may keep me from using it more – we’ll see. They also make a product called Splash Salve that’s terrific alone or used in tandem with the oil. The salve is like a smooth ‘paste’ that you rub on your hands to warm up while in the shower, then put on your skin at the end of the shower, and then just quickly rinse (not rub) off before you get out, so it’s still on your skin. You can use the Splash Salve alone for moisturized skin, but if you put the oil on after the Salve it’s a double moisturizing benefit and is great. This combo is the most moisturizing of all the options I use, and even at the end of the day my skin still feels soft and moisturized. Plus I like the scent and wish it stayed on longer!

Cost: $34 for 3.14oz for oil, and $34 for 8.8 oz for Splash Salve

Scent: LOVE the scent. Hard to describe, but it’s light and fresh and great smelling. I wish it was stronger or that they made a perfume of it!

Ingredients: – Jojoba Oil,  Baobab Seed Oil, Buriti Fruit Oil

This is a new one to me, and as it looks like it may be a limited-run product, I need to stock up!  I like it AND it’s so much more reasonably priced than other body oils! It may not be quite as moisturizing (as it is a bit ‘thin’ and doesn’t feel as ‘thick/substantial’) as some of the others, but at this price, it’s a great one to have on hand for overall, everyday use! They have a matching Body Butter you can combine it with for an even more moisturizing effect.

Why I Like It: Beachy scent, feels good and is affordable!

Cost: $6.99 for 4oz

Scent: ​​Salted Caramel and Pistachio (matches their Brazil Nut Body Butter)

Ingredients: Brazil Nut, sunflower, olive, macadamia, and jojoba oils. Squalene and Guarana Extract.

Other Oils I Have But Use Less Frequently 

This San Francisco-based company has lots of scents from which to choose. I have the Vertier scent. It comes with a glass dropper, vs a pump, and this is one I use on pulse points for scent, or just on neck/chest/arms vs as an all-over body oil. Also good in a bath.

Cost: $36 for 4oz

Scent: They make TONS of scents from which to choose. I have the Vertier which is earthy, woody. ‘An original creation of heavy vetiver, balanced with light citrus tones and green tints of bergamot from the peels of nearly ripe fruit.’

Ingredients: jojoba and sweet almond oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, PEG 8 Dilaurate.

 

This organic one is from England and I ran out of it, but really liked the rose-scented oil and need to reorder!

Why I Like It: Crisp rose scent, organic, and feels great.

Cost: $24 (on discount) for 3.38 oz.

Ingredients: Organic wild rosehip seed oil and naturally derived olive leaf extracts plus a nourishing blend of organic oils including avocado, coconut, and jojoba.

This one I don’t use as often as it’s a little bottle with a small hole for dispensing the oil so it’s hard to get a lot out at one time. Plus it’s a small bottle and wouldn’t last too long if I used it for all-over. So I use it more as a scent on my pulse points or just my arms/decolletage than as an oil for my whole body. I probably won’t reorder this one again, but it was a gift that I loved.

Why I Like It: Great scent, although a bit subtle.

Scent: Beautiful scent, light and fresh….but very subtle.

Cost: $38 for 3.38oz

 

One That’s Popular But Sits In My Drawer

 

Details: This one is from France and is very popular. People love the feel and the scent, but I don’t like the scent. I’ll have to give it to someone as the smell doesn’t suit me and the oil just doesn’t feel as ‘smooth’ and moisturizing to me as my others.

Cost: $25 for 1.6oz (it’s $$!)

Scent: orange blossom, magnolia and vanilla

Ingredients: Tsubaki Oil, Argan Oil, Macadamia Oil, Borage Oil, Camellia Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil

 

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Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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