The best body oils for softening dry, scaly legs, tested by 320 women

Score: 84/100

Founded by two sisters experiencing the negative effects of a hectic lifestyle on their skin, the Balance Me range is on a mission to soothe skin and minds, as well as doing good for the environment – three big ticks. This award-winning firming body oil was one of the first products the brand developed, and it’s come a long way. It claims to firm and smooth the skin, and our testers confirmed it did just that.

“It made my skin feel smooth and look less crepey, especially around the upper arms,” said one. Another noted a “visible improvement in the décolleté area.”

But what’s the secret? Well, the formula contains juniper to help boost blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, leaving skin feeling and looking more lifted. Macadamia oil works to moisturise the skin, and antiseptic bergamot clears it. The oil has also been bolstered with some aromatherapeutic geranium oil, to help soothe and ease stress.

Score: 84/100

Replenish dry, lacklustre skin with this luxurious body oil, which testers loved for how quickly it absorbed without leaving behind any sticky residue. This is thanks to the lightweight Kalahari oil, a blend of macadamia, borage, mongongo and kukui, which are packed full of fatty acids and antioxidants that help repair and replenish hydration levels.

Not only was this one a hit with our panel for its ability to soften, but it also achieved almost full marks in the lab for lasting hydration. The scent, made from lavender, neroli, rose and mandarin, also proved popular. "It left my face feeling moisturised and soft,” said one tester, while another gave this one-word review: “Divine”.

Score: 83/100

A few sprays of NEOM’s dry oil will have your skin gleaming, straight from application, according to our testers who told us it alsoabsorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave any sticky residue behind. “My hands didn't even feel greasy after application,” said one panel member.

Alongside a nourishing five-oil blend, including coconut, jojoba, sunflower, soybean and olive fruit, the star ingredient in this one is Vitamin D3. It helps to prevent photo-ageing and encourages the synthesis of collagen, which is what keeps the bounce and structure in our skin. The result? A more youthful and radiant appearance. And with most testers agreeing that their skin appeared brighter, softer,and more supple after the trial period, we can vouch for its effectiveness.

Score: 83/100

The star of the show in this body oil is sweet almond oil, alongside three other key skin-saving ingredients. The formula is rich in omega 9 fatty acids, which help to nourish skin and increase suppleness. It also contains squalene, an emollient that keeps the skin barrier protected, and therefore looking more toned, as well as antioxidants vitamin E and beta-sitosterol, both great for minimising any reduction in skin elasticity.

The oil made a big impact on our testers’ skin, with many loving the long-lasting nourishment and hydration it provided. “It leaves skin glowing and moisturised for the whole day,” said one happy panellist.

Score: 83/100

As the name suggests, this oil's scents of coconut, mandarin and sandalwood will take you on a sensory trip to the Caribbean, hydrating the skin with jojoba and avocado oils as you go. Like you would a piña colada on a bright, white beach, our panellists' skin lapped this up and loved the “gorgeous, subtle summer smell” as much as we did.

A few mentioned the bottle had a slightly loose lid, with one tester saying they couldn't take it in their hand luggage as a result. But when it came to the actual formulation, this holiday-in-a-bottle oil gained a whole new fan base, as all our testers said it hydrated skin throughout the day.

Score: 82/100

The Eight Hour range from Elizabeth Arden is nothing short of legendary in the skincare game. The products are known for their versatility and effectiveness, and this hair and body oil is no exception. One tester said it smoothed their dry and coarse split ends (their words!), and it left another panellist's skin feeling “moisturised but not oily.” Now there’s some multi-purpose magic.

It uses a mix of Tsubaki and grapeseed oil, both rich in omega 6 and 9, which are great at reducing inflammation and protecting the skin barrier.

The spray bottle dispenses a fine spritz, which testers said was useful for targeting specific areas. Some found that this oil wasn’t as effective at treating extremely dry patches, such as on the legs, but most agreed that it was a great option for face and hair.

Score: 82/100

Body oils have historically been seen as quite rich and heavy, but this lightweight option from Gisou completely debunks that theory. “It easily buffed into the skin and didn’t make my clothes greasy,” said one of our testers, so it's great for applying after your morning shower, even when you’re in a rush. Despite it being lightweight, it still delivered a heavy dose of “all-day hydration to very dry skin,” according to another panellist.

Its honey-infused formula is rich in replenishing fatty acids and leaves a sweet, lingering smell on the skin. It’s also available in a shimmer version to provide a perfect festive glow.

Score: 82/100

This shimmering body oil received glowing reviews from our panel for the subtle, yet radiant gleam it gave them. So, it looks good, and it feels good too – one tester said it left their skin “hydrated and softer after applying”. Isn’t that exactly what you want from a body oil?

It reflects the light beautifully, especially along the collarbones and the décolletage area. The added sweet white tea and lotus flower aromas make it the perfect night-out option, too.

Score: 81/100

Omorovicza Shimmer Oil is, quite literally, liquid gold. It’s formulated with complexion-clearing colloidal gold, which works to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and age spots. There’s also soothing calendula oil, and collagen-boosting vitamin E for a rejuvenated look.

These nourishing ingredients encourage a natural glow, but the oil also includes some gold particles for good measure. You’ll glisten without feeling greasy too, as the oil absorbs quickly. Take care when dispensing, though, as some testers found it comes out quite fast.

Score: 81/100

With 99.65% naturally derived ingredients, Mirror Water does the job of softening your skin, without using any harsh chemicals. Instead, it’s made up of three nourishing oils: Grapeseed oil to soothe; fatty acid-rich marula oil to soften; and camellia oil to rehydrate dry skin.

Testers said it softened their skin immediately on application and lasted all day. It's quite thick in consistency, which some testers didn’t enjoy, but it works a dream on dry and cracked patches. It’s also fragranced with smoky, woody essential oils, to help you find your zen.

Score: 79/100

Dodging a damaged skin barrier is a hard feat these days, as there are so many things that are out to get it – from environmental aggressors such as UV or pollution exposure, to natural ageing, and even pH-disrupting skincare products. The result can be dry, scaly, inflamed skin.

That’s why Byoma founder Marc Elrick extensively researched the skin barrier before he developed the brand’s patented Barrier Lipid Complex. It’s formulated with sphingolipids, which maintain the barrier and encourage the production of ceramides, to better draw in and retain moisture.

But how did it perform on test? Well, to sum it up in three words, one panellist said it left their skin “hydrated, moisturised and softer.” Another said it helped soothe their “dry, itchy and cracked feet” too, an area particularly susceptible to dryness.

Score: 78/100

Like all the brand’s products, this Aveeno oil uses the power of oats to relieve and repair skin. It’s rich in ceramides, a humectant that’s highly effective at absorbing and retaining moisture in the skin. The impact of this key ingredient was evident in our feedback too, as many claimed it smoothed, hydrated and plumped their skin.

Some did find that it took longer to absorb, though, as its consistency is on the heavier side, so it may be more effective for those with extra dry skin. But at under £10, it’s an easy-to-apply, nourishing and affordable body oil. What’s more, it scored the same for long-lasting hydration in the lab as some of the more expensive options on our list.

Score: 77/100

Lightweight in all senses of the word, our testers thought this conveniently packaged spray oil was perfect for travel. “The packaging is portable, so I’ve been taking the oil to work, and while I’ve been travelling,” said one – massage on the move anyone? However, some did find the spray quite strong, so be sure to aim close to the skin to save you from losing the deposit on the Airbnb.

Overall, it revitalises and hydrates without clogging the skin and causing breakouts. Instead, our testers with dry legs said it “noticeably improved” their skin. It’s naturally fragranced with essential oils, so the lovely scents of lavender, rosemary and orange will follow you around after application.

Score: 77/100

When a brand claim rings true with our panel, we have to shout about it. And for one tester, this body oil left a “noticeable difference in the firmness of my skin after using it”. Simply massage in and let the exfoliating black pepper extract do its repair work, while grapefruit extract encourages the production of plumping collagen, for a tighter and more toned look.

A little goes a long way too – testers agreed that the pump was effective at dispensing just the right amount of the rich and nourishing formula.

Score: 77/100

As much as we love a golden tan, we all know the damaging effects the sun can have. This body oil uses ingredients to minimise the photoaging effects on the skin as much as possible. This is thanks to the high SPF 50 protection, along with rice and rosemary extracts, which help to brighten your complexion and protect cells.

It soothed and hydrated all our testers’ skin, with one saying it “provided intense hydration that lasted all day.” This was clear in the lab test results too, as it scored nearly full marks for retaining moisture over a four-hour period.

Score: 76/100

It wouldn’t be a Sanctuary Spa oil without the presence of golden sandalwood, an anti-inflammatory that help to smooth your skin, as well as coconut and shea butters to soften.

But with a unique mousse-to-oil formula, we were intrigued to see how it performed on test. Some of our panel enjoyed it – one said it effectively “locked in moisture” – but others thought it had “no benefit whatsoever”, and instead made it harder to judge how much to dispense.

Bodycare is booming right now, but it’s always been core to the Sol de Janeiro brand, and it shows. If you don’t have sensitive skin, you’ll likely love your body moisturisers and oils to be as indulgent and deliciously scented as they are effective – and its formulas do all three.

This one is enriched with cacay oil, which encourages collagen and elastin production much like the best retinol serums do, supporting cell renewal and leaving you with firmer, smoother skin, without increasing photosensitivity.

The texture is silky and light and sinks in so easily, instantly making skin feel plumper and more hydrated. We’ll be using it to bring our flaky limbs out of hibernation this summer. The glass bottle even has a removable rubber coating on the base to stop it falling over – they really do think of everything.

From one of our favourite modern fragrance brands, Phlur, comes this irresistible body oil. Packed with rosehip, jojoba and vitamin C to brighten and strengthen the skin against environmental aggressors, it’s also lightweight and sinks in in just a few seconds.

It features the brand’s cult ‘Missing Person’ scent, which is super fresh with delicate notes of jasmine expertly blended with more heady notes of bergamot. Now that we’ve waved goodbye to winter, we’ve been lathering this on in the office, and are impressed with its lingering scent – we’ve even had “Ooh, what are you wearing?” comments in the late afternoon after a full day of wafting around the building. Not bad.