The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (2024)

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (1)

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

The perfect end to a long day looks a little something like this: soaking in a hot bubble bath with flower petals and bath salts, then drying yourself off and massaging all your pressure points with an aromatic body oil to soothe sore muscles. An even better end to a stressful day is receiving a full-body rubdown from your SO in your humble abode that’ll help boost intimacy and bring you two closer.

Oils are the best for massages because they're lightweight—so it doesn’t leave a sticky, thick residue—and help your hands glide seamlessly across your body. The best ones have longer-lasting skincare benefits (like radiance-boosting effects) and make you say “aah” with their calming scents. Click through to see the best massage oils recommended by the experts who use them daily for when you (or your partner) need a self-care moment.

Clarins Contour Body Treatment Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (2)

Massage proCamila Perez uses Clarins Contour Body Oil and Tonic Body Oil to give lymphatic drainage massages to her clients. “They are helpful due to their plant extract benefits, aiding inblood and lymph circulationand skin tightening and the overall aromatherapy results,” she says. Her process: “I start stimulating the lymph nodes, to ‘empty them,’ then begin movements that encourage the excessive fluids to get inside the vessels, following the lymphatic watershed, leading the lymph filtered and flushed out.”

Best for Pain Relief

Now Foods Arnica Warming Relief Massage Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (3)

Laura Piteo, director of massage at Oasis Day Spa, has an arsenal of oils she rotates daily. Arnica oil is a star player in the lineup for its"naturalpain-relieving and anti-inflammatory benefits and great for giving your regular massage oil a therapeutic kick."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Chillhouse Have a Chill Night Body Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (4)

Kimberly J Holmes-Cardona, Lead Massage Therapist at Chillhouse, loves reaching for the brand'sHave a Chill Night Body Oil. “Being a dry oil, it allows for a bit of slip without being overly greasy,” she says. “The spray applicator also means you are spending less time moving the oil around to lubricate the skin since it has a broader area of coverage in one spray. All of this, paired with calming ingredients such as hemp seed and blue tansy flower oil, will leave you feeling silky and relaxed all around.”

Best for Maximum Relaxation

Espa Skincare Soothing Body Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (5)

You'll find it challenging to stay awake after inhaling this blend of primary essential oils like sandalwood, frankincense, and myrrh. Fanny Duarte, lead massage therapist at SoJo Spa Club, says ESPA's Body Oil is "perfect for coaxing both mind and body into deep relaxation. The anti-inflammatory properties of all three essential oils are also the perfect boost to a relaxing massage."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best for Moisture

Now Foods Organic Jojoba Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (6)

Jojoba oil is used a lot in spas because it "closely resembles the natural oils in human skin," Piteo explains. "It's ideal for restoring moisture to dry skin."

Best for Sensitive Skin

Colavita Natural Grapeseed Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (7)

A great alternative for those who are extremely sensitive to scents and oil blends, Piteo says she reaches for grapeseed oil because it doesn't have anoverbearing scent and soothes sensitive skin.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best Slip

MAJESTIC PURE Fractionated Coconut Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (8)

We use coconut oil to cook with but it works as a great massage oil as well becauseit’s a bit more slippery than other oils. "For deep tissue work,it’s not ideal," Duarte explains. "But if you like that coconut scent, it's a readily available, all natural and hydrating product to work with."

BioTone Pure Touch Organics Massage Gel

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (9)

The Zeel massage network—which brings massages straight to your home—uses products from Biotone. “After more than 1.5 million appointments we've learned that it's always best to assume that everyone has sensitive skin in one way or another and these products don't inflame allergies, cause irritation, or bother those with sensitivities to strong smells,” says co-founder Alison Harmelin. This oil-infused gel from the brand moisturizes and nourishes as it is kneaded across skin.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Best for Stress Relief

Aura Cacia Relaxing Lavender Aromatherapy Body Oil

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (10)

Now 12% Off

The intoxicating smellsmell of lavender draws you in at first, and then you slip into a deep sleep. That's because lavender is a healing essential oil, Duarte says."I love giving relaxing massages and lavender is perfect for promoting relaxation and stress relief along with combating inflammation."

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (11)

Nerisha Penrose

Beauty Commerce Editor

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (12)

Jesa Marie Calaor

Jesa Marie Calaor is a Beauty Editor at HearstMade. She creates beauty and grooming content across all of Hearst's sites. Follow her on Instagram (@jesamarie_).

The Best Oils To Give Yourself (Or Your Partner) An At-Home Massage (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Prof. An Powlowski

Last Updated:

Views: 5650

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. An Powlowski

Birthday: 1992-09-29

Address: Apt. 994 8891 Orval Hill, Brittnyburgh, AZ 41023-0398

Phone: +26417467956738

Job: District Marketing Strategist

Hobby: Embroidery, Bodybuilding, Motor sports, Amateur radio, Wood carving, Whittling, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Prof. An Powlowski, I am a charming, helpful, attractive, good, graceful, thoughtful, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.