Do You Need A Shower Oil? HELL YES!

Tap in sisters, we're chatting body care

Listen, I know I harp on about my years of working at Glossier — but bitch, we had a damn time! I learned about more than just the business of beauty — I learned more about myself and truthfully, my taste for luxury products came from my time working at G.

Here is where I learned to level up my shower routine. Admittedly, prior to coming to the G, I was using drugstore and Sephora body wash. (I’m not gonna hold you, Sephora’s now discontinued body wash was the TEAS! — They need to bring that shit BACK!) — Anyways, my routine was very poor.

And then, on my first day of working at Glossier, I received a goodie bag and one of the products that piqued my interest was the Body Hero Oil Wash.

Girl, I was shocked, almost in tears even. I was so shame. At The age of 26, I had never heard of a shower oil — hell, I didn’t even know what a shower oil did, really. All I knew is that I didn’t want a stankin’ ass, so my ultimate concern was to use washes that ensured my natural gender didn’t show outside of my petite frame.

My co-worker gave me the run down and told me that a shower oil wouldn’t be as frothy as a body wash — but was more moisturizing and would still leave me clean.

So for those who don’t know the difference between a body wash and shower oil, like I didn’t — let’s get into the nitty gritty of it all ahead:

@kyyahabdulIf you hate the feeling of your body air drying but you still want to use oil to lock in moisture, @LOCCITANE has a great shower oil!! Also Naturium has a great gel to oil body wash! #bodywash #skincare #loccitaneshoweroil

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Body Wash

• Composition: Water-based cleanser with surfactants that create foam or lather

• Cleansing action: Removes dirt, sweat, and oil more thoroughly

• Texture: Gel-like or creamy consistency that foams up

• Best for: Oily skin, hot weather, or after workouts

• Moisturizing level: Moderate, depending on formulation

Shower Oil

• Composition: Oil-based cleanser that emulsifies with water

• Cleansing action: Gentle cleansing while maintaining skin's natural oils

• Texture: Oil that turns milky when mixed with water

• Best for: Dry skin, winter months, sensitive skin

• Moisturizing level: High, leaves skin more hydrated

Key Differences

1. Cleansing Mechanism: Body wash uses surfactants to remove dirt and oil, while shower oil uses gentle oil-based cleansing.

2. Hydration: Shower oils are typically more moisturizing and leave a protective barrier on the skin.

3. Skin Feel: Body wash leaves skin feeling clean but may be slightly drying, while shower oil leaves skin feeling soft and nourished.

4. Lather: Body wash creates significant foam, while shower oil produces minimal lather.

Note: In the winter time, for extra cleanliness + to lock in moisture — I’d recommend using body a body wash as the first step and finishing with a shower oil (make sure you rinse the skin throughly tho!)

In the spring/summer, I only use a shower oil because I don’t need as much moisture but I want to keep my skin plump and hydrated.

However, please use what’s tolerable to your skin!

Now that we’ve got the beauty expert chat out the way, I’m dropping a few reccos of shower oils I swear by in addition to the Glossier one.

Thank me later!

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil

A cult favorite that transforms into a lavish foam while leaving skin deeply nourished with sweet almond oil.

• Key benefits:

  • Rich in vitamin E

  • Suitable for all skin types

  • Leaves skin soft and supple

Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil

Perfect for sensitive and dry skin, this dermatologist-recommended option provides 24-hour hydration.

• Key benefits:

  • Fragrance-free

  • Non-comedogenic

  • Prevents moisture loss