I've always considered bodycare a special part of my routine. Even before I started writing about beauty and was purely shopping at the drugstore, I still looked for the most luxurious lotions and body creams I could find because I loved a head-to-toe glow. I've come a long way since then, upping my bodycare game to include exfoliants and youth-preserving treatments, but I still constantly include hydration heavy hitters without fail. My elbows and knees tend to get super ashy, and sometimes, it feels like the lightweight stuff just doesn't do it for me.
When a really good bodycare launch comes around, just know I will not be skipping it. I picked up celebrity makeup artist Billie Gene's recently launched eponymous bodycare line, and it seriously delivered. The line consists of a suite of ultrahydrating body oils that are like the finest silk for your skin. Not only that, but the names of each are incredibly cheeky, making it the saucy, silky skincare that definitely deserves a spot on your vanity. Most importantly, as a fragrance girlie, I can say with my full chest that these body oils smell divine. The brand totally perfected each scent profile. TBH, they even rival my most expensive fine fragrances—not an easy feat.
Gene is a renowned artist who has worked with the likes of Kerry Washington, Chrissy Teigen, and Love Island USA star Olandria Carthen. After accruing years of skincare and makeup knowledge, Gene knew it was time for a launch of his own. "I always dreamed of having my own line," he shares. "Initially, I thought it would be a beauty line, but I realized that space felt crowded. My work in beauty has always been driven by a desire to make people feel sexy, confident, and uplifted. I wanted to bring that same energy into bodycare. Bodycare felt like an opportunity to create something more intimate, more personal—something that starts before the makeup even goes on. So I wanted to make 'feel-good products.' When you put it on, you feel good."
Key notes: Bergamot, grapefruit, mint, peppercorn, nutmeg, cedarwood, orris, cardamom, jasmine, moss, patchouli, amber, frankincense, musk
The base of each body oil consists of shea butter, sweet almond oil, and safflower oil to deeply hydrate the skin. While the formulas are lightweight, they don't lack in the long-term-hydration department. My driest areas have never felt softer after using them. This scent called 90210 is a gorgeous ode to Los Angeles that evokes a summery vibe.
Gene intentionally took a fragrance-first approach when creating these oils. "My love for fragrance started with that feeling we all know. You're dressed. Glam is done. You look amazing, but something still feels incomplete," he says. "Then you spray your favorite fragrance, and suddenly, you feel as good as you look. Fragrance transforms your mood instantly. I thought, 'Why not begin the getting-ready process with that sensory moment?'"
Key notes: Pear, pink peppercorn, bergamot, mandarin, pink jasmine, orange blossoms, vanilla, amber, caramel, musk
This rich girl body oil contains literal champagne seeds and chardonnay oil in addition to delicious and floral notes like orange blossom, vanilla, pear, and caramel. I'm convinced this body oil is going to help me manifest my dream life. It's exactly how future me wants to smell all the time: rich and inviting.
Gene knew what he was doing when he crafted this masterpiece. It's so good that it's almost surprising his background is in makeup and not luxury fragrance. As far as making that jump goes, it was smoother for him than he thought it would be. "It was definitely a major transition from being a makeup artist to stepping into bodycare, but being a makeup artist taught me everything about listening," he says. "I've spent years understanding what makes people feel confident, what they desire, and what makes them light up. When crafting this brand, I approached it the same way—by listening to the consumer. I want everyone who touches the line to feel confident."
Key notes: Mandarin, lemon, cardamom, pink peppercorn, lavender, star jasmine, patchouli, amber, exotic spices
This alluring fragrance strikes the perfect balance between ambery and floral. Like Gene's other formulas, this body oil wraps you in sophistication, and the hydration it offers is next-level. Honestly, I can't wait to see what Gene and the brand come out with next. I'm hoping for a body cleanser, a body butter, and even an exfoliant in the near future.
Gene's Other Beauty Favorites
"I'm a huge fan of the d'Alba Piedmont White Truffle First Spray Hydrating Glow Mist Serum. I use it at the end of glam to create this surreal, luminous glow. It revives the makeup and melts everything together beautifully. I'm honestly obsessed."
"This moisturizer is my splurge. It gives you that glass skin effect with such a velvety texture. It's great when wearing makeup for the perfect canvas or without."
"This pencil is elite. The black is rich and intense, and the brown is the perfect shade. It glides on effortlessly with incredible color payoff."
"These are stunning. I use them as toppers or on their own for a glamorous eye. The micro glitter particles create this beautiful, diamond-like effect that catches the light perfectly."
"I genuinely think everyone needs this in their bag. It's a translucent, universal, on-the-go finishing powder that blurs pores and absorbs shine instantly. It gives a flawless finish."
"White Diamonds by Elizabeth Taylor will always be special to me. It reminds me of my mom in the '90s. She loved that fragrance, and it brings back such fond memories of watching her get ready."