Oil, Lotion, or Cream? How to choose!

When it comes to massage, the right oil, lotion or creme can make a big difference in both technique and client experience. Here is a quick guide to help you choose between lotions, creams, oils, and gels, along with tips on how to care for your linens.

Lotions

What are they?
Lightweight and easily absorbed due to the fact that they are mostly water and less oil than a creme at a ratio of 70% water to 30% oil.  Lotions are great for lighter, frequent reapplication techniques like Swedish massage, physiotherapy styles of treatment.

Pros

• Fast-absorbing and non-greasy
• Ideal for general massage work and hydrating the skin
• Washes out of linens easily

Cons

• Needs frequent reapplication
• Doesn’t provide enough glide for deep tissue work

Creams

What are they?
Thicker than lotions for the very reason that a Creme has a higher content of oil a ratio of 50/50 is most common. Creams offer a balance of glide and grip, making them ideal for deep tissue or targeted muscle work.

Pros

• Good for deeper work with long-lasting hydration
• Less likely to spill or absorb too quickly

Cons

• Can feel heavier on the skin
• May leave a slight residue

Oils

What are they?
Oils provide excellent glide and deep moisture, perfect for relaxation-focused massages and techniques like hot stone or cupping therapy and swedish massage techniques.

Pros

• Great glide for smooth, flowing strokes
• Oils quickly warm up to body temperature in cooler climates and seasons
• Oils can heated before use providing a therapeutic benefit
• Oils can be modified in viscosity depending on which carrier oils are used in the formulations
• Oils are easily upgraded with essential oils and other nourishing ingredients for therapeutic benefits for the skin

Cons

• Can leave a greasy residue on skin, clothing and linens
• When using a holster and pump they can spill on flooring and require more intense clean up than lotions
• Requires prompt washing to prevent oil build-up in linens

Gels

What are they?
Gels have a smooth, gliding texture but absorb faster than oils, making them great for clients who do not like greasy residue.

Pros

• Smooth texture, less residue than oils
• Hypoallergenic and low friction on sensitive skin

Cons

• Absorbs quickly, requiring reapplication
• May not offer enough resistance for deep tissue techniques
• Most often the ingredients are chemical based (think ultrasound gel!)

NB. ViVi Therapy only sells Oil based Gel ( Sacred Earth Organic Gel) therefore avoiding the chemical base that can irritate and dry out skin with no real benefit to the dermal layer. Our Gel is very popular offering a thicker oil like susbstance that nourishes the skin and provides viscosity and resistance for deeper massage techniques.

Fractionated Coconut Oil

What is it?
A lightweight, odorless oil that is great for extended glide, especially in hot stone or cupping massages.

Pros

• Non friction, hypoallergenic, and great for sensitive skin
• Perfect for long glide techniques without feeling heavy

Cons

• Does not moisturize as deeply as other oils (coconut oil is a cleanser)
• Can be expensive this is a high end product and sought after as carrier oil as well as for massage

Check out our blog post on why choose Fractionated Coconut or MCT Oil over Holly Oil Here

Which Should You Choose?

• For lighter work: Lotions are affordable and quick to use leaving less residue on the skin and other surfaces, linens and clothes
• For deeper work: Creams, oils, and gel (sacred earth gel) provide better glide and longer-lasting hydration
• For less mess: Cremes and lotions will not stain linens and are easier to clean
• Value for money: our pick is Creme because it goes like a lotion but acts like an oil. Has more staying power therefore less is more

At ViVi Therapy, we offer a range of oils, lotions, creams, and gels, all carefully selected to meet the needs of massage therapists. Our clinic favourite has been Restructuring Cream! Not sure which to try? Stop by our store or request samples with your next order!

Happy massaging!

Looking for more tips? Check out our YouTube!