At 46, I have a lot to remember when it comes to skincare, and very little space in my bathroom cabinets. Naturally, anything face-firming gets a prized spot in my stash. But if I haven’t always made it a priority to keep the best firming body oils in rotation. Consider me a convert!
Vogue’s Favorite Firming Body Oils:
It all clicked in a recent chat with Karina Freedman, master esthetician and founder of skincare spa and retailer KarinaNYC. “Why body care is still treated like an afterthought in the U.S. is something I’ll never understand,” Freedman admitted. “We invest so much in our faces, yet the skin on our body deserves just as much attention—especially now, with so many people using GLP-1 medications and noticing changes in skin firmness and elasticity.” The solution? “One of the best things you can do for your body is use a high-quality body oil.”
Freedman explained that a good formula can replenish the skin with essential lipids and antioxidants, keeping it soft, resilient, and supple. “My favorite trick is to apply the oil right after your shower while your skin is still damp,” Freedman said. “Massage the oil over the water droplets, and it absorbs beautifully, leaving your skin silky instead of greasy.” While that all sounds great for silky, dewy skin, where does the actual firming come in?
Part of it comes down to the massage itself. Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in California, suggests rubbing the oil into the skin using an upward, circular motion toward the heart. “This isn’t mystical,” she notes. “It’s simply using mechanical pressure to temporarily boost local circulation, which is part of why skin looks tighter right after application.”
And here’s another secret: While certain ingredients, such as caffeine, may temporarily firm up the skin, ingredients that simply support the skin barrier can also support a tighter skin look. “If you want firmer-looking skin, I would invest in a body oil that provides excellent hydration and barrier support,” says Shannon Humphrey, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Vancouver. “Well-hydrated skin naturally appears smoother, plumper, and healthier.” Compelled to firm up your own post-shower routine? Ahead, find the body oils Vogue editors and skin-care experts personally shop.
In This Story
Best Overall: Costa Brazil Kaya Jungle Firming Oil
- Why We Love It: A nearly unanimous Vogue editor favorite, Costa Brazil’s silky, lightweight oil is made with a bushel of ingredients culled from (where else?) the Brazilian jungle. Its proprietary complex of Amazonian botanicals can improve the look of firmness, elasticity, and overall skin texture. Meanwhile, Tucuma-seed and buriti oils soften the skin and boost its radiance for a subtle, youthful gleam.
- Editor’s Experience: “If there was a superlative for body oils, Costa Brazil’s Kaya Jungle firming oil would be voted most popular—the earthy scent is a favorite of mine, beauty shopping editor Kiana Murden’s, senior beauty and wellness editor Margaux Anbouba, and global director of Vogue Runway Nicole Phelps. In fact, this body oil is so popular that a perfume was made to match its scent in response to popular demand. The oil is definitely more viscose, which makes it all the more luscious. A little goes a long way!”—Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
