Scent: Fresh and uplifting. Notes of Tiare flower and jasmine with soft magnolia petals, violet leaves, green bamboo, and palm fronds evoke the smell of the dewy tea fields of Indonesia at sunrise.
Texture: Buttery, whipped yet fast-absorbing
Color: Cream
Benefits & Features
Features essential fatty acids with omega-rich candlenut, avocado, and carrot seed oils with antioxidant vitamin E and indulgent Illipe butter. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients help protect skin from environmental stress, sun damage, and dry climate.
Has a signature hydrating yet non-greasy feel, leaving skin feeling smooth and velvety.
Directions
This product can be used daily for maximum benefits.Warm the desired amount of product in the palm of your hand, letting it warm just slightly, and then massage creme gently into the skin until it is fully absorbed.
Apply generously on freshly cleansed skin or re-apply any time of day for a boost of moisture.
Ingredients
Candlenut Oil: Moisturizes and softens skin with a non-greasy, velvety feel. Rich in linoleic and linolenic acid, candlenut oil moisturizes and helps mend rough, chapped skin.Rice Bran Oil: Maintains elasticity. Rich in natural Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, rice bran oil intensely hydrate and help maintain youthful elasticity.Avocado Oil: Nourishes and calms. Traditionally used in Indonesia, Avocado Oil is richly hydrating and highly soothing.Illipe Butter: Moisturizes and protects. Provides a cushiony barrier to protect skin from dehydration, hard water and harsh elements.All Ingredients: Water/Eau, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Emulsifying Wax NF, Cyclomethicone, Illipe (Shorea stenoptera) Seed Butter, Candlenut (Aleurites moluccana) Oil, Avocado (Persea gratissima) Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Rice Bran (Oryza sativa) Oil, Dimethicone, Carrot (Daucus Carota sativa) Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenypropanol.
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Natural oils are great at supporting skin health. But can they actually moisturize skin? We break down the science behind oils to show how they can help keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
Key Takeaways
Unlike moisturizers, body oils and face oils don't directly add water to skin.
Instead, oils help your skin barrier lock in moisture, preventing water loss and keeping skin hydrated.
Many oils have other potential benefits, like protecting from oxidative stress, supporting collagen production, and combating acne.
Experts generally recommend using oils in combination with moisturizers, as the oil can lock in the moisture delivered by the moisturizer.
Metta Murdaya, co-founder of JUARA Skincare, says:
"Oils don't hydrate skin directly. But they do moisturize. Body and facial oils support skin barrier function, helping your skin retain moisture and stay hydrated."
It's important to keep your skin hydrated. Dry and dehydrated skin can not only feel uncomfortable, but it is also more vulnerable to irritation and damage.
That's why moisturization is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine.
There's some confusion around the role body oils and face oils play in keeping skin hydrated. In part, that's because two different terms — moisturization and hydration — are often used interchangeably.
Hydration technically refers to the process of absorbing water. Oils are hydrophobic, which means they repel water. So oils don't hydrate your skin, at least by that technical definition.
Moisturization, meanwhile, can refer to adding moisture to the skin. But it also includes maintainingmoisture in the skin.
That's where oils come in. Research shows that natural body oils and face oils can support and even help repair your skin barrier. And one of your skin barrier's main functions is preventing moisture loss.
In other words, natural oils support your skin's moisture barrier. By preventing moisture loss, oils help keep your skin hydrated, healthy, and happy.
After all, one of the best ways to stay hydrated is to avoid dehydration in the first place.
Understanding Dehydrated Skin
The principles of skin hydration are fairly simple.
Over time, water naturally evaporates from the surface of our skin. That process is called transepidermal water loss, or TEWL.¹
"People underestimate how much water evaporates from your skin all day long, and how dry your skin actually gets after a while," explains JUARA co-founder Yoshiko Roth-Hidalgo.
That process is natural and unavoidable. But that doesn't mean it can't get out of control. If TWEL becomes excessive, skin can dry out and become dehydrated.
That's where the skin barrier comes in. A healthy skin barrier locks in moisture, reducing TEWL.
Your skin is composed of many different layers, each with slightly different compositions. It's the outermost layer, the stratum corneum, that is most involved in barrier function.²
The stratum corneum relies on a matrix of different lipids to function. These lipids include ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids.
Think of this layer as a wall, with the components acting like bricks and mortar. When everything is functioning properly, it seals in moisture. But when the barrier is damaged, water can escape more easily, leaving you with dry skin.
It's all very well adding more moisture to the skin. But if you don't address the moisture loss, then you're fighting an uphill battle. Instead, the best approach is to add moisture and reduce moisture loss by supporting the skin barrier with natural oils.
Traditional Moisturizers vs. Facial Oils
That combined approach makes more sense when you explore the different functions of moisturizers and oils.
Add Moisture
Moisturizers, and related products like creams and lotions, moisturize skin by adding a little bit of water and nourishment to it. Many high-quality moisturizers also include other ingredients that help the skin barrier retain water, too.³
For example, JUARA's Sweet Black Tea and Rice Moisturizer includes rice bran oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids to help moisturize and support the skin barrier.
Seal In Moisture
However, moisturizers with too many moisture-locking ingredients can feel greasy or heavy. That's where oils come in.
As we explained, oils help with moisture retention. Research has found they are excellent at this.
For example, a 2024 scientific review noted several studies that found that coconut oil reduced TEWL and improved skin hydration.⁴ A different review from the same year noted that avocado oil can similarly help keep skin hydrated.⁵
One particularly expansive review, also from 2024, cited dozens of studies that found that natural oils can decrease TEWL and support skin barrier recovery. Some oils may provide benefits that last much longer than you might expect. For example, in one of the cited studies, participants who used a blend of oils, including macadamia nut oil, had reduced TEWL for an entire week after they stopped using the product.⁶
How to Use Body Oils For Hydrated Skin
So, moisturizers, creams, and oils have different benefits. These benefits aren't mutually exclusive or competing. They directly support each other.
In other words, the best approach is to use your favorite body oil or face oil to lock in the moisture provided by a moisturizer.⁷ Oils aren't meant to replace moisturizers, and moisturizers alone can't provide the same benefits as moisturizers and oils used together.
That's why JUARA's Moisturizer Plus Duo combines a moisturizer and body oil in one package. When used together in a holistic manner, a moisturizer and body oil can add moisture and help your skin retain it. JUARA’s formulations are developed with overall wellness in mind.
Other Benefits of Body Oils
We've explored how body oils and face oils can help your skin retain moisture, keeping it hydrated and healthy. Natural oils can also provide various other benefits, depending on the ingredients used.
For example, many natural oils are rich in essential fatty acids. These are crucial components of your skin barrier; research suggests that fatty-acid-rich oils can promote barrier repair.⁸ In other words, if your skin barrier is already damaged, oils could be a great way to support the repair and recovery process.
Research has also found that natural oils can improve skin elasticity. Certain oils support your body's production of crucial proteins like collagen, and therefore help support skin suppleness and combat signs of premature aging.⁹
Many natural oils contain other ingredients with powerful potential health benefits.
For example, passionfruit oil and moringa oleifera oil are naturally rich in antioxidants. As a 2025 review of 280 scientific studies noted, antioxidants help protect the body from a specific type of damage called oxidative stress.¹⁰ This damage can cause premature aging, wrinkles, and other damage — and can undermine the skin barrier, causing dehydration.
As the above implies, different oils have different ingredients. Therefore, some may be more appropriate for certain skin types.
Dry Skin
Oil locks in moisture, so it is a great option for people with persistently dry and dehydrated skin. Look for rich oils that trap moisture and deliver intense hydration.
Another thing to look for is oils rich in essential fatty acids. Dryness is often a sign of skin barrier damage. Oils with plenty of essential fatty acids can help in skin barrier recovery, which is important for maintaining your skin's water content.
Examples of rich, fatty-acid-rich natural oils include argan oil, rosehip oil, jojoba oil, and candlenut oil.
Sensitive Skin
People with more reactive skin should look for a gentle oil that will support and not irritate their skin's protective layer. Sensitive skin can be more vulnerable to irritation and damage, making it important to use oils that will help support barrier function and recovery.
Try to avoid oils with synthetic ingredients, like artificial fragrances. These can irritate sensitive skin. For example, a 2025 study found that synthetic chemicals used in perfumes are associated with skin irritation.¹¹
Instead, stick with light, natural oils, like grapeseed oil, squalane oil, avocado oil, or macadamia nut oil. Many of these oils, such as those found in our Candlenut Glow Body Oil, have a natural scent that leaves the skin nourished, smooth, and smelling heavenly.
Acne-Prone Skin
Believe it or not, research has found that many natural oils can help manage acne.
For example, a 2025 review found that tea tree oil helped people manage acne.¹² An earlier study concluded that oils can do this for various reasons; some have antimicrobial properties, others protect against free radical damage, and some help control the production of sebum, which can contribute to acne.¹³
Where to Get Body Oils
There are dozens of natural oils out there, and plenty more that are mixed with synthetic ingredients. When choosing your oil, consider your specific skin type and needs.
For example, if you think you could benefit from more antioxidants, consider an antioxidant-rich oil like passionfruit oil. If you want to focus on barrier repair, consider a rich oil packed with essential fatty acids, like candlenut oil.
If the main purpose of oils is supporting and protecting the skin barrier, it's important to use an oil that won't irritate that barrier. A gentle, natural, high-quality oil is generally the best option to achieve this.
JUARA selects ingredients based on both clinical guidance and botanical research. That's why our Radiance Vitality Oil blends antioxidant-rich passionfruit oil with nutrient-rich candlenut, macadamia, and avocado oils. And it's why our Candlenut Glow Body Oil combines fatty-acid-rich candlenut oil with passionfruit oil and moringa oleifera.
Conclusion
Natural oils might not "hydrate" in the strict sense of the term. But they are crucial for skin hydration.
Oils support skin barrier function and repair. By supporting a healthy skin barrier, oils can help your skin retain moisture. And less water lost means better hydration.
To maximize the benefits of oils, use them after your favorite moisturizer to lock in that extra hydration.
Natural oils also provide plenty of other potential benefits. They can protect your skin from environmental stressors, support collagen production, soothe inflammation, and much more.
You can. Some individuals may prefer just using oil instead of a moisturizer.
However, experts generally recommend against replacing moisturizers with oils. That's because oils and moisturizers provide different benefits.
Moisturizers deliver water to the skin. Oils help the skin prevent that water from being lost.
In other words, the two aren't interchangeable. Instead, consider using them together. A high-quality oil can lock in the moisture provided by your moisturizer, boosting skin hydration even further.
Is It Better to Use Oil or Lotion for Dry Skin?
Whether you use oil or lotion depends on your skin type, needs, and personal preferences. Generally, experts recommend using both.
That's because lotions and oils work in different ways. Lotions hydrate your skin by delivering water to it. Oils help your skin retain that water, avoiding dehydration.
When used together, lotions and oils can be more effective than either used individually. Consider applying your favorite lotion on damp skin, then following it with your favorite oil.
Is Oil More Hydrating Than Water?
Technically, no. Hydrating refers to adding water, which oil doesn't do.
But oil does keep skin hydrated. It helps your skin barrier function properly and recover from damage, meaning your skin loses less water. In other words, oil helps lock in water.
When you drink water, it's very hydrating. But when water touches your skin, it can actually be dehydrating, especially if it's hot.
So if you compare the two in that way, oil is more hydrating than water.
Juara Skincare incorporates ancient rituals with Western skincare science, creating the ultimate beauty experience. We aim to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating scents, and powerful, skin-improving formulas. All of our products are nutrient-rich and botanically based. We are proud to be certified cruelty-free. Get the latest skin care tips and info on Juara products by learning more about our founders and following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Metta Murdaya
Co-founder and CEO
Metta Murdaya is co-founder and CEO of JUARA Skincare, a skincare and beauty company inspired by the Indonesian wellness traditions of Jamu. Her award-winning book, Jamu Lifestyle, captures the essence of the Jamu philosophy, emphasizing the power of healthy, intentional, and joyful living. Guided by a deep commitment to societal betterment, Metta inspires individuals to thrive in mind, body, and spirit. As a wellness speaker and retreat guide, she contributes to the Global Wellness Institute’s Aesthetic Health Initiative and serves on the board of Mentari, supporting trafficking prevention and education initiatives in Indonesia and wellness programs in the U.S.
