If you’re not taking a little bit of time each day to apply a nourishing body product—be that balm, butter or oil—you’re definitely missing out on one of life’s simplest pleasures. Spend some extra time with your favorite potion, paying attention to how and where you apply it. Work it into your skin in long, soft strokes, slowly and lovingly—your senses will thank you for it.
Blue Beautifly Organic Arnica Body Oil Serum
One of the purest and most authentic skincare brands on the market, Blue Beautifly, a USDA Organic, Certified B Corporation, infuses its exemplary products with ancient and modern wisdom. This calming serum is simple and effective, with pure powerhouse ingredients that include organic raw arnica, ashwagandha, comfrey, and gotu kola. I apply this body oil in the evening, pre-bedtime, after a bath.
D’Alchemy Essential Body Balm
Whenever I pump a dollop of this light liquid balm into my palm, I cup my hands together and take a nice deep breath. Its intoxicating aroma—thanks to the addition of neroli flower water and mandarin, grapefruit, and orange oils—smells divine and clears my mind. Leaves skin perfectly hydrated with a subtle glow.
Evolvh SmartBody Ultra-Rich Butter
It’s no surprise that this healthy hair company managed to create an impressive healthy body line. My favorite product among the three clean options is the nourishing body butter. The star ingredient (with a myriad of benefits) is unrefined shea butter, which gives it a great consistency. My body happily absorbs this rich yet light butter each time I apply, and I love the hint of the scent of grapefruit that lingers.
Isun Gemstone Body Oils
This collection of exquisite oils includes Amethyst, Carnelian, Garnet, Lapus, and Rose Quartz—and was formulated by creator Bunnie Gulick long before the current high-vibe beauty craze came to be. Each formula is “keyed to the harmonics of the color vibration and qualities of the stone that carries the product name.” You’ll find a small gemstone in each bottle, added to help hold its subtle energies. Lately, I’ve taken to the Garnet Body Oil, a grounding aroma that’s meant to calm anxiety. Its nerve-soothing ingredients? Herb-infused sesame oil, hemp seed oil, shea butter, turmeric root, and echinacea.
Laurel Sun Body Oil Phyto Defense + Repair
This rich oil, formulated specifically to help prevent UV-induced oxidative damage, is my latest beauty obsession—and was my go-to body oil this summer. I followed the directions and applied it dutifully before and after what I call my occasional “safe-sunning stints.” An addictive combo of numerous nourishing oils (avocado and almond, to name a few) and beautiful botanicals (think sandalwood, frankincense, and ylang ylang), this is a true keeper. Nice touch: The proprietary Gem Essence of citrine, turquoise, aquamarine, sunstone, and amber—the colors of summer.
Olverum The Body Oil
I was pleased to discover that The Body Oil is as equally magnificent as its sister product, The Bath Oil, one of my all-time favorite soaks. Intricately crafted with more than 30 essential and cold-pressed botanical oils, including poppy seed, rosemary, and geranium, The Body Oil is both uplifting and soothing to the spirit. Its rich and nourishing blend absorbs well and leaves skin feeling revitalized with just a hint of its magical aroma. Olverum is ripe with spa culture: The blend was created in 1931 by winemaker Franz Otto Klein and his pharmacologist wife Edith. The couple had fallen in love with an essential oil blend at their favorite spa in Baden Baden, but in 1929, discovered it had been discontinued. The rest is history—lucky for us.
Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm
A longtime beauty staple of mine, this silky liquid balm works wonders on seriously dry skin. Loaded with organic seaweed, raw virgin coconut oil, and lovely essential oils like jasmine, passion fruit, and lavender, the balm relieves dryness and leaves a nice sheen. I always make sure to have this on hand, and in the old days of air travel, I’d apply this pre- and post-flight.
Pino Cherry Blossom Body Oil
I’m a longtime fan of this European line that traces its spa roots back to the Black Forest, where the company first produced essential oils. Pino Natural Spa Therapy has been in business since 1904, and offers some of the best good quality, affordable body oils. The collection is made up of 15 different body oils (Coconut Mint, Chia Orange, and the always-classic Pine, for example), but I’m drawn to the Cherry Blossom, crafted from jojoba, coconut, and soybean oils with just the right amount (not too sweet, not too floral) of cherry blossom extract. It absorbs nicely and does the trick.
Skinny & Co. Body Melt
I reach for this super-clean coconut oil post-at-home sauna, post-shower, when my skin needs some extra attention. And I love it. It’s wild-harvested, 100 percent raw, cold-processed—and the Body Melt includes marula and argan oils, as well. I also use this as a hair mask and have been known to keep it on overnight. A little goes a long way.
Tiffany Andersen Salts Alive Cell Salt Enrich
I first came in contact with Tiffany Andersen’s Gavee Gold skincare line at the inaugural Unfiltered Experience event in Las Vegas, and shortly after that experienced an excellent Gavee Gold facial at the Canyon Ranch Spa at The Venetian Resort. Tiffany is an interesting woman with an interesting story that I will save for another time—and her products are truly unique. Her Salts Alive line includes the Cell Salt Enrich Body Moisturizer, an ultra-light and effective lotion containing organic aloe juice, mineral cell salts, ozonated omega oils, and a long, long list of delicious essential oils. An excellent every-day body lotion, it moisturizes well and feels like it’s doing good things to my skin.
Mary Bemis
Mary Bemis is Founder & Editorial Director of InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. An advocate for all things spa, Mary forged a vocabulary for spa reportage that is widely used by those who cover the issues today. Recently honored as a Top 30 Influential Voice Transforming Wellness by Medika Life, Mary is an inaugural honoree of Folio’s Top Women in Media Award. Her spa media roots run deep—in 1997, she launched American Spa magazine, in 2007, she co-founded Organic Spa magazine, and in between serving on the ISPA and NYSPA Board of Directors, she was on the launch teams of Luxury SpaFinder and New Beauty magazines. Named a "Wonder Woman of Wellness" by American Spa magazine, Mary was honored by the International Spa Association with the distinguished ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. She is a special advisor to the non-profit Global Wellness Day.
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