Trust Me—This Underrated Shower Savior Helps You Achieve Baby-Soft Skin Year-Round

Here's what your routine has been missing.

My move across the country to the East Coast has inspired many opportunities for me to reconsider my body and skincare lineup in recent months. There will always be products I swear by that have continued performing just as they did while I lived in the Pacific Northwest, but I had to give up a select few once I noticed the skin on my body stopped soaking in the promised benefits. The most obvious changes to it happened once the temperature began to take a dip, and crepey dry, skin began to make appearances. That's when I knew it was time to finally unpack my essential shower oils and double down on applying them during my showers.

If the skin on your body has undergone similar changes (especially during the dry, cool months), take this as your sign that it may be time to invest in a shower oil to help boost hydration levels. Not sure which products you should be shopping for? Below, I've identified the 12 best shower oils for you to consider adding to your shopping list and, ultimately, your hydrating bodycare routine.

Emma Horeau through a steamy shower door

(Image credit: @emmahoreau)

What Is a Shower Oil?

If you have a well-rounded post-shower routine, there's a good chance you've found ways to restore hydration to the skin by layering body oils, creams, lotions, and balms to help the skin barrier retain a healthy level of moisture. But the process of replenishing and locking in hydration should also be happening in the shower as you cleanse your body of dirt, oils, and other environmental aggressors. When used correctly, shower oils are a type of cleansing product that can be used in place of the traditional shower gel or soap to cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

While you can reap the benefits of shower oils year-round, you may find that they're especially helpful for keeping the skin hydrated during the cooler months (when your skin is more prone to dehydration). Shower oils can be used daily for individuals who have dry skin that needs some extra TLC, and a few times a week for other skin types. In addition to providing extra hydration to the skin, shower oils also help lock in moisture by filling in the cracks of dry, damaged skin. In the end, it will be left smooth and soft.

Finding the Best Shower Oil

The best nourishing shower oils on the market are often formulated using a blend of naturally derived, nourishing oils like jojoba, tea tree, coconut, argan, and olive oil. That said, it's best to shop for shower oils according to your skin's individual needs. For example, those with acne-prone skin should consider only using noncomedogenic formulas that exclude coconut oil. Those with dry and sensitive skin may benefit the most from shower oils that are filled with ultra-hydrating argan and olive oils. Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are also popularly used in shower oil formulas, as they help soothe and hydrate the skin.

Wondering which shower oils this Who What Wear beauty editor loves to elevate her bodycare routine with? Keep scrolling for 12 options I've been loving lately, backed by five-star reviews from customers across major retailers.

The Best Shower Oils, Listed

L'Occitane Cleansing and Softening Refillable Shower Oil

La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil

Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Moisturizing Shower Oil

Sabon Shower Oil

Kate McLeod The Pebble Solid Bath and Body Oil

Dana Emmanuelle-Jéan Nozime visits the Aire Baths

(Image credit: @dananozime)

Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash

Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil

Kopari Hydrating Vitamin C Shower Oil

Kiehl's Creme de Corps Smoothing Oil-to-Foam Body Cleanser

Korres Instant Smoothing Serum-in-Shower Oil

11. Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil

12. Eucerin pH5 Shower Oil

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Maya Thomas
Associate Beauty Editor

Maya Thomas is an Associate Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.