At 46, I have a lot to remember when it comes to skincare, and very little space in my bathroom cabinets. Naturally, anything that firms the face earns a prized spot in my collection. But 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:
– Best Overall: Costa Brazil Kaya Jungle Firming Oil, $98
– Best for Crepey Skin: Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil, $52
– Best for Arms: Maёlys Get-Taut Body Firming and Hydrating Mousse to Oil, $49
– Best Dry Oil: Nécessaire The Body Oil, $52
– Best for Puffiness: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil, $52
It all clicked during a recent chat with Karina Freedman, a master esthetician and founder of the skincare spa and retailer KarinaNYC. “Why body care is still treated as 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 help achieve a tighter 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 that Vogue editors and skincare experts personally buy.
In This Story:
– Do firming body oils really work?
– What are the best oils to tighten skin?
– What to Look for in a Firming Body Oil
– How We Tested
– Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Costa Brazil Kaya Jungle Firming Oil
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Costa Brazil Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil, $98 (BLUEMERCURY, NORDSTROM)
Why We Love It: A nearly unanimous Vogue editor favorite, Costa Brazil’s silky, lightweight oil is made with a mix of ingredients sourced from (where else?) the Brazilian jungle. Its proprietary blend 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 glow.
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’s, and global director of Vogue Runway Nicole Phelps’s. In fact, this body oil is so popular that a perfume was made to match its scent in response to demand. The oil is definitely thicker, which makes it all the more luxurious. A little goes a long way!” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
More to Know:
Key Ingredients: Kaya oil, cacay oil, breu branco, Brazil nut oil, murumuru butter, tucuma seed oil, buriti oil, cupuauPaqui Seed Oil
Finish: Silky with a subtle glow
Size: 3.4 fl oz
Best for Crepey Skin: Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil
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Osea
Undaria Algae Body Oil
$52 BLUEMERCURY
$52 NORDSTROM
Why We Love It: Designed to treat crepiness with firming seed extracts and elasticity-boosting seaweed, Osea’s cult-favorite body oil has earned praise from skincare pros and supermodels alike. “I really love this body oil,” says Kristyn Smith, esthetician and founder of Practise NYC, who previously told Vogue, “It’s great for elasticity and barrier replenishment.” And during her Beauty Secrets feature, Abby Champion admitted she uses it on her neck because, “I don’t want neck wrinkles.” That alone is reason enough to apply it generously—but even the packaging gets a thumbs-up from dermatologists. “To get that smooth, hydrated look people want from body oils, you need to apply a generous amount over a large area,” says Humphrey. “I like this one because it comes in a pump bottle, making it much easier to dispense and apply enough product.”
Editor’s Experience: “This is richer than many body oils I’ve tried, and it takes a bit more time to massage in. But once it’s fully absorbed, it leaves a soft, healthy-looking glow without feeling greasy. The bright, citrusy scent—a mix of grapefruit, cypress, and lime—makes applying it (well, smelling it) especially enjoyable.” —Jenny Berg, contributor
More to Know:
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Key Ingredients: Undaria seaweed, white lupin, passion fruit oil, acai oil, babassu oil, rice bran oil
Finish: Silky, radiant
Size: 5 fl oz
Best Mousse-to-Oil: Maёlys Get-Taut Body Firming and Hydrating Mousse to Oil
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Maëlys
Get-Taut Body Oil
$49 AMAZON
Why We Love It: With a formula that transforms from a fluffy mousse into a velvety oil, this hybrid product has gone viral on TikTok. Made with glaucine to help skin look tighter and more contoured, it’s been shown to tone saggy skin on the arms after several weeks of regular use. It also contains sachi inchi peptide, a smoothing, firming ingredient that Freedman recommends. “Sachi inchi is packed with omega-3s to nourish the skin and strengthen the barrier,” she says. “It’s one of the ingredients I look for in any great body oil.”
Editor’s Experience: “This is one of those products that’s just fun to use—it feels like a little magic trick as it quickly changes form. Once the whipped-cream-like mousse turns into oil, it dries down with a dewy finish. In the summer especially, I love its uplifting, tropical-fruit scent. It’s practically made for topping off a post-beach shower.” —J.B.
More to Know:
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Key Ingredients: Sacha inchi peptide, glaucine
Finish: Dewy
Size: 6.7 oz
Best Dry Oil: Nécessaire The Body Oil
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Nécessaire
The Body Oil
$52 AMAZON
$52 NORDSTROM
Why We Love It: Nécessaire’s toning oil features 2% capsaicin as its main ingredient. Capsaicin, the same active compound that gives chili peppers their heat, can boost blood flow and cause temporary micro-swelling. This helps create a taut, plumped-up look almost instantly. The formula also includes peptides and ceramides to support the skin barrier, plus pure grapefruit oil for a fresh, citrusy scent. Despite its active ingredients, the oil is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
Editor’s Experience: “The brand warns you might feel some heat on your skin for a moment after applying it, because of the capsaicin, but I barely noticed anything. What I did notice was how soft and gleaming my skin looked, and I love the scent. It’s citrusy, summery, and refined—I’d buy it as a perfume if they made one.” —J.B.
More to Know:
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Key Ingredients: 2% capsaicin, pure grapefruit oil, marula oilil, cacay oil, rosehip oil, castor oil, sunflower oil
Finish: Dry
Size: 5.1 fl oz
Best for Puffiness: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil
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Sol de Janeiro
Bum Bum Firmeza Body Oil
$52 AMAZON
Why We Love It: “This has a lovely, bright, summery scent that makes it enjoyable to use,” Humphrey says. But the firming oil’s appeal goes beyond its famous Cheirosa 62 fragrance. Made with a special blend of bioactive Brazilian extracts—including Guaraná, a plant high in caffeine—the formula can visibly firm and reduce puffiness in the skin when applied. It also contains açai oil, which is rich in skin-conditioning fatty acids, and microalgae extract for extra de-puffing. The brand recommends applying it using a lymphatic-drainage technique, starting at the belly button and moving upward and outward toward the ribcage, then downward and outward toward the bikini line.
More to Know:
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Key Ingredients: Guaraná caffeine and complex, Brazilian olive oil, microalgae extract
Finish: Radiant
Size: 3.4 fl oz
Everything You Need to Know
Do firming body oils really work?
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“Body oils can absolutely improve the appearance and feel of skin firmness, but it’s important to understand what they’re actually doing,” Humphrey says. She explains that the oils work mainly by smoothing the skin’s surface, which improves how light reflects off it, making skin look healthier, more radiant, and more supple. “Well-hydrated skin also looks plumper, making fine lines and crepiness less noticeable,” she says.
She adds that body oils also help support the skin barrier by reducing water loss through the skin, which improves hydration. “In addition, the massage involved in applying a body oil can temporarily increase local circulation and reduce fluid retention, creating a short-lived feeling of tighter skin,” she notes.
However, Humphrey warns that consumers should be skeptical of any claims that a body oil alone can tighten loose skin or reverse skin laxity. “If the formula contains active ingredients such as retinoids or certain botanical extracts, there may be some longer-term benefit related to collagen stimulation,” she says. “However, an oil by itself provides temporary cosmetic improvement through hydration, barrier support, and the effects of massage, rather than true structural tightening.”
What are the best oils to tighten skin?
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“Squalane and jojoba oil are my first picks because their fatty acid profile closely mimics skin’s own sebum, so they absorb well and reinforce the barrier without feeling heavy,” says Dr. Shokeen. “If firmness is genuinely the goal, look for a body oil that also contains a low-percentage retinoid or bakuchiol, since those are the active ingredients with real scientific support for stimulating collagen production over time.” Finally, “Caffeine is worth mentioning because it does have documented effects on fluid handling in fat cells, which is why it appears in almost every ‘toning’ formula—but that’s a temporary, cosmetic effect, not structural firming,” she says.
What to Look for in a Firming Body Oil
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“Look for a short, functional ingredient list where you can identify why each ingredient is there, an actual active ingredient, and a barrier-supporting oil,” Dr. Shokeen says. “I’d also look at where the active ingredient sits on the list: if the ‘firming’ ingredient is at position twelve, it’s there for the label, not the result.”
How We Tested
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When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we rely on Vogue’s vast network of experts, from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians, to gain professional insight into the industry’s standout products—those these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices.We carefully selected the best body oils based on ingredients, scent, finish, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we tested each formula, combined with expert advice and reviewer feedback, to decide which ones to recommend. Read more about our testing process.
Meet the Experts
Shannon Humphrey, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder and medical director of Humphrey & Beleznay Cosmetic Dermatology in Vancouver.
Karina Freedman is a master esthetician and founder of the skincare spa and retailer KarinaNYC.
Divya Shokeen, MD, is a California-based, board-certified dermatologist and founder of OSVI Dermatology and Surgical Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about firming body oils for dry crepey skin written in a natural tone with clear answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly is crepey skin
Its thin loose skin that looks a bit like crepe paperoften with fine lines and a lack of firmness Its usually caused by aging sun damage or rapid weight loss
2 How is a firming body oil different from regular lotion
Firming oils are richer and more concentrated They focus on deeply moisturizing and improving skin elasticity while lotions are lighter and mostly just hydrate the surface
3 Will this oil actually make my skin tighter
Yes over time These oils dont tighten like a corset but they plump and hydrate the skin which reduces the look of sagging and helps it feel smoother and more resilient
4 Can I use it on my face
Most are designed for the body only Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive so check the label Look for a separate face oil if you want to treat crepey skin there
5 How often should I apply it
Daily ideally right after a shower when your skin is still slightly damp This locks in moisture and helps the oil absorb better
Advanced Questions
6 What ingredients should I look for to fight crepey skin
Look for hyaluronic acid vitamin E peptides and essential fatty acids to restore the skin barrier
7 Why does my skin feel greasy after using firming oil
You might be using too much Start with just a few drops Also some oils are heavier Try a lighter oil like grapeseed or squalane if greasiness is a problem
8 Will this help with stretch marks too
It can help fade them and improve texture but it wont erase them The moisturizing and firming action makes stretch marks less noticeable over time
9 Can I mix firming oil with my regular body lotion
Absolutely Mix a few drops into your lotion for a boost This is a