Is It Dangerous To Wear Body Oil In The Sun? I Asked A Derm

First thing's first: “It is dangerous to tan, with or without body oil,” board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, M.D., FAAD, tells mindbodygreen. 

Tanning increases your risk of skin cancer and signs of premature aging, she says, like hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Still—does body oil raise this risk?

Unfortunately, yes. “Using body oil, even those with high-quality ingredients, can interfere with the absorption of sunscreen and can even attract and intensify the sun's rays, increasing the risk of sunburn,” Marcus explains. 

So while you may want your skin to look extra glowy at the beach or walking around on a sunny day, it might be better to stick with a water-based lotion and leave body oil for later.

Look for antioxidant-rich formulas with ingredients like sunflower seed oil, squalane, fruit extracts, vitamin C, and so on. Your skin will be extra sensitive to products after extended sun exposure, so skip the extra fragrances and chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs. 

Additionally, keep an eye out for body oils rich in omega-3s and other fatty acids. "These fatty acids are part of the seal that sits in cracks between cells in the outer skin layer," board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., previously told mbg. In simpler terms, he explains to think of these as similar to the grout that sits between your bathroom tiles.