Why Essential Fatty Acids Are The Key To A Good Body Oil + What To Look For On The Ingredient List

Beauty is personal, and the sort of products we resonate with are deeply individualized. So I typically hesitate to declare any one characteristic as the definitive "best." The best skin care products are the ones that you enjoy using! 

However, when you look at various body oils, the ones that tend to be most universally appealing and good for most skin types share a very distinct characteristic. And no, it's not a scent preference or even textural differentiator. It's actually the concentration of omega fatty acids in the ingredients themselves. 

The ones that are able to do this—meaning, your skin feels soft, moisturized, and supple all day long—usually contain omega fatty acids. 

The best fatty acids for the essential fatty acids omega-3 (linolenic acid) and -6 (linoleic acid), as well as the nonessential omega-9 (oleic acid). The first two—the essential fatty acids—are often referred to as Vitamin F. (The title is a touch confusing, as these aren't an actual vitamin.) Together, linolenic and linoleic acid create a natural seal over the skin—trapping water and nutrients underneath. 

"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., told us about fatty acids. In simpler terms, he explains to think of these as similar to the grout that sits between your bathroom tiles. "Natural fats maintain the integrity of the outer skin layer," he says. Essentially, these fatty acids help your skin barrier do its job.

How does one go about finding out if their body oil contains these fatty acids? Some brands infuse these directly into the formula, so you can look for oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid on the ingredient list. Or you can use plant oils that are naturally high in vitamin F.