We’ll admit it: although we love a good spa moment, nothing can compare to taking a hot, soothing bubble bath in the comfort of your own home. It’s one of life’s little luxuries for decompressing our minds and our skin when they need it most. But, as you may know, additives like bath bombs can be spiked with fizz-inducing ingredients that may dry out your skin. So, if your skin is feeling tight and dry after bathtime, we suggest swapping your usual bath fizzies for a capful of the best bath oils that we’re currently loving.
No, these oils don’t create a fizzy lather or turn your bath water into a cosmic-colored creation as other bath products do. Instead, they’re filled with skin-conditioning ingredients (hello, sweet almond and jojoba oils) so your skin feels plumper, smoother, and suppler after your soothing soak.
However, not all oils work for every skin type, according to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD. If you have sensitive skin, Dr. King suggests avoiding blends with essential oils, which she says are common causes of contact dermatitis. “If you have acne-prone skin, avoid potentially comedogenic oils like coconut oil,” she adds.
With all this being said, we’ve made sure that there’s a bath oil for everybody on this list. Get ready to de-stress your mind and your skin with the following bath oil blends that we can’t get enough of.
As its name suggests, the SheaMoisture Lavender and Wild Orchid Calming Bath, Body & Massage Oil is a multitasking formula that can be used in and out of the bath, but that’s not the only reason why Dr. King gave it her seal of approval. She loves that it’s formulated with a slew of skin-softening ingredients, including shea butter, vitamin E, and oils derived from rice bran, olives, safflowers, and jojoba. “These ingredients support the skin barrier, lock in moisture, and soothe the skin,” she says.
Another bathtime favorite of Dr. King’s is Aromatherapy Associates Support Equilibrium Bath and Shower Oil. This bath soak contains triglycerides, which Dr. King says support the skin barrier to seal in much-needed moisture, and she also says its scent profile of invigorating eucalyptus, earthy frankincense, and floral geranium is absolutely divine (but not suitable for sensitive skin types, by the way).
As you can expect from the Kneipp Relaxing Lavender Herbal Bath Oil, this pick’s main scent is herbal lavender. Along with its aromatherapeutic benefits, this bath oil also has a blue tint that’ll transform your bath water into a unique experience without staining your tub.