Let’s Just Get to the Point:
This light and silky, woods- and citrus-scented balm is like moisturizing with your own personal ball of sunshine. It’s 97 percent organic and made with over 80% extra virgin olive oil, squalene and refreshing botanicals for an invigorating lift.
If You Want to Know More:
For as long as I can remember, my mother has nagged me to moisturize my elbows. Dry, cracked elbow skin is allegedly a genetic trait, and over the years, I’ve received countless texts “just checking in” on the state of my elbow skincare routine. Both readers and my mother will be thrilled to know that thanks to ODE’s Citrus Oro Olive Oil Body Balm ($20), I’m finally giving my poor, overlooked elbows the attention they deserve. This body balm is so soothing and enjoyable to apply that I actually wish I had more body parts.
You May Also Like: NewBeauty 2019 Award Winners: Best Body Products
ODE comes out of McEvoy Ranch, a Northern California farm that started out selling certified-organic extra virgin olive oils. As a beauty ingredient, olive oil has antioxidants, hydrating properties, and free radical-fighting polyphenols. ODE’s olive oil is the body balm’s star ingredient, but it’s also formulated with jojoba, Vitamin E, squalene and beeswax. The end result is a light, smooth hydrator that melts beautifully into the skin while intensely hydrating, protecting and softening skin. It’s the perfect time of year to nab this soft balm, which helped me buff away the dry, scaly legs of winter and prep for glowy, bare-legged spring.
Unlike body soufflés where you can scoop out half the product just trying to lotion one leg, this balm is solid and silky. All you need is a few fingers of product, and the binding beeswax means I’ve barely noticed a dent in my jar after a week of solid use. It’ll last you for months—which is a gift, because the brand’s description of it as an “exhilarating mood-lifter” is no exaggeration.
If the best part of this balm is the formula, a very close second is the scent. Its name Oro Blanco comes from a specific breed of grapefruit, and it’s also infused with essential oils like rose geranium, pink peppercorn, patchouli, and amyris. If you typically moisturize at night, this balm will make you want to switch to the mornings. The patchouli and peppercorn notes have an energizing effect, while the citrus is warm and comforting.
Best of all, the lovely earthy-luxe fragrance turns application into a mindful experience. Instead of treating moisturizing like just another chore on my beauty to-do list, with one eye on The Office and another on my skin, the energizing scent remind me to focus on and enjoy my daily moisturizing routine. Treating myself to a mini massage using this product after the bath or shower is now a daily ritual. You’ll notice skin that’s softer, happier, and glowing like the name “oro” implies, with a side effect of self-care.
