DIY Pregnancy Glow Body Oil

Last updated: August 2026

In This Recipe:

• What This Recipe Helps With
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Application Tips
• Customisation Ideas
• Storage & Shelf Life
• Voice Search FAQ
• Try These Next
• Disclaimer

Pregnant skin has a way of looking dull right when you'd most like it to glow — the stretching, the hormonal shifts, and the sheer volume of lotion some people apply can leave a heavy, filmy finish instead of radiance. This lightweight body oil takes the opposite approach: fast-absorbing shea and baobab oils that sink in within minutes rather than sitting on the surface. It draws on the same trusted Baraka ingredients used throughout our Mother & Baby DIY Skincare Hub, and comes together in under 10 minutes with no heating required.

What This Recipe Helps With

• Boosting the look of dull, tired pregnancy skin with a fast-absorbing oil
• Supporting skin elasticity across the belly, hips, and thighs as they stretch
• Providing a lightweight alternative to heavier body butters for warmer weather
• Layering easily under clothing without a greasy after-feel
• Giving a fragrance-optional option for scent-sensitive first-trimester days

Why This Is a Great DIY Recipe

This oil uses just 5 ingredients and comes together with no heating required — the most forgiving format in Baraka's pregnancy library. Skill Level: Beginner. Commercially, "glow oils" marketed for pregnancy are often mostly mineral oil with a shimmer additive and a synthetic fragrance blend; this version is built from single-source oils that are traceable to a Baraka cooperative, with no shimmer, filler, or added fragrance chemicals. Yield: approximately 150ml. This recipe is expanded from our Pregnancy DIY Skincare Hub, which covers additional first-trimester and later-pregnancy formulations.

Why These Ingredients Work Together

Shea Oil and Baobab Oil are both lightweight, fast-absorbing oils that mimic skin's natural sebum, so together they sink in without leaving a heavy film. Traditional Coconut Oil adds slip that helps the blend spread evenly over larger areas like the belly and thighs, and vitamin E oil rounds out the mix with additional antioxidant support. A touch of neroli or another pregnancy-safe essential oil adds a light, natural scent without relying on synthetic fragrance.

Hero Ingredient Benefits

• Shea Oil: Lighter than shea butter while offering similar nourishing properties, absorbing quickly without a greasy residue.
• Baobab Oil: Rich in vitamins A, D, E and F, supporting collagen production and skin elasticity in a lightweight texture.
• Traditional Coconut Oil: Adds slip so the blend spreads evenly over larger areas of skin.

Ingredients

• Shea Oil — 60 ml (2 fl oz)
• Baobab Oil — 60 ml (2 fl oz)
• Traditional Coconut Oil — 30 ml (1 fl oz)
• Vitamin E oil — 5 ml (1 teaspoon)
• Neroli essential oil — 15 drops (or your preferred pregnancy-safe essential oil)

Directions

1. Warm the coconut oil gently if solid, until just melted.
2. Combine all oils in a clean glass bottle with a secure cap or pump dispenser.
3. Add the essential oil and shake well to combine.
4. Store in a cool, dark place and shake before each use.

Application Tips

Apply to damp skin right after showering or bathing — this is when skin absorbs an oil most readily, and a little goes further than it would on dry skin. Warm a small amount between the palms before applying to the belly, hips, and thighs so it spreads evenly rather than sitting in patches. Shake the bottle before each use, since the oils can separate slightly on standing. This oil layers well under clothing within a few minutes, unlike heavier butters that need longer to fully absorb.

Customisation Ideas

• Skip the essential oil entirely for a fragrance-free version if your sense of smell is especially sensitive.
• Swap the neroli for lavender or another essential oil your midwife has confirmed is pregnancy-safe.
• Decant into a smaller bottle for a travel or desk-drawer size that's easier to reapply midday.

Storage & Shelf Life

Store in a cool, dark place in a capped glass bottle for up to 3 months. Shake before each use, as the oils may separate slightly over time.

The Impact of Your Purchase

When you make skincare with Baraka ingredients, you're supporting women's cooperatives who earn fair wages and preserve traditional processing methods. According to Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report, this direct trade model provided income for over 1,000 women and prevented 47 metric tons of CO2 emissions. You also gain complete transparency — knowing exactly what touches your skin and your family's skin, without hidden synthetics or uncertain supply chains.

Meet one of the women behind these ingredients in this short film: Daree Akosua on Celebrating Mothers.

Shop the Baraka Ingredients in This Recipe

Pure. Natural. Ethically sourced. Hand-crafted by women's cooperatives. These are the ingredients trusted throughout Baraka's DIY guides and recipes.

• Shea Oil — Shop Now — The liquid form of shea butter — delivers deep conditioning benefits in a smooth, easily absorbed format.
• Baobab Oil — Shop Now — Fast-absorbing and nutrient-dense, ideal for improving skin softness without heavy residue.
• Traditional Coconut Oil — Shop Now — Lightweight and versatile, softens balms and absorbs well.

Voice Search FAQ

What's a good body oil for pregnancy glow?
A lightweight blend of shea oil, baobab oil, and traditional coconut oil absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy film, which is what gives skin a natural-looking glow rather than a heavy sheen. Apply to damp skin right after showering for the best absorption.

Is shea oil safe to use during pregnancy?
Yes — shea oil is generally considered safe for topical use during pregnancy and is one of the lighter, faster-absorbing forms of shea. It works well as a body oil where a heavier butter would feel too rich, particularly in warmer weather.

Can I use this body oil without essential oils?
Yes — the essential oil is entirely optional and the recipe works well unscented if your sense of smell is heightened during pregnancy. The shea, baobab, and coconut oils do the moisturising work on their own without any added fragrance.

How often should I use a pregnancy glow oil?
Apply daily to damp skin after bathing, focusing on the belly, hips, and thighs where skin stretches most. Shake the bottle before each use, since the oils can separate slightly when left standing between applications.

Try These Next

If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like:

• DIY Pregnancy Facial Moisturizer for Hormonal Skin — a facial counterpart using the same lightweight shea and baobab base.
• Shea Butter for Pregnancy — a deeper look at how shea butter and shea oil support the whole pregnancy journey.
• Top 6 Baobab Oil Skin Benefits for Mothers & Babies — more on the second hero ingredient in this blend.
• The Best Baby Oil Scents to Include in DIY Blends — useful background if you're deciding whether to scent this oil at all.
• From Kitchen to Nursery: Essential Tools for DIY Mother & Baby Skincare — useful if you're just getting your DIY setup started.

About These Ingredients

This recipe is expanded from Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby, which explores additional formulations for supporting the pregnancy journey.

Disclaimer

The recipes and ingredients on this page are intended for cosmetic use only — for application to the skin, hair, and nails to cleanse, condition, and beautify. They have not been evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other regulatory authority. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. If you have a medical condition, skin condition, or known allergies, consult a qualified healthcare provider before use. Always patch-test new ingredients before full application. Keep all products away from eyes and out of reach of children. Results will vary between individuals.