The Best Body Butter

Buying Guide

If your bathroom cabinets are stocked with lotions and moisturizers, you may feel like you’ve seen all the skincare section has to offer. But if you haven’t tried body butter, you might not realize what you’ve been missing.

Body butters take moisturizing to the next level by delivering hydration throughout the day. Unlike lotion, body butter is a thicker cream that slowly seeps into the skin, remaining in place throughout the day. The downside is that it obviously tends to be slower to absorb, so you won’t get the lightweight, airy feeling that lotions, which usually have a higher water content, provide.

The “body butter” name comes in part from its ingredients. Typically, you’ll find some combination of shea, cocoa and/or mango butter in the body butter you choose. Manufacturers may also pack in vitamins and other nutrients to boost skin health.

But you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for slow-release hydration. Some body butters keep the formula lightweight, even creating a whipped, creamier lotion that spreads easily. If you’re looking for a lighter body butter, check to make sure you’re still getting the slow-release effects that thicker creams offer.

Scent is also a primary consideration. The natural ingredients typically found in body butters are pleasant on their own, so artificial fragrances likely won’t be necessary. The fewer chemicals and dyes found in your moisturizing products, the less likely you’ll have something that will counteract the hydrating effects built into the cream.

Due to its heavier formula, you may decide to use body butter at night, perhaps after bathing at the end of a long day of work. You can then use your favorite lightweight lotion for daywear. This will keep you hydrated throughout the day and let the heavier moisturizer do its work at night, while you’re resting.

• It’s best to use body butter immediately following a shower or bath. Simply dry off, leaving a little wetness behind to help your moisturizer hydrate, and massage the butter into your skin using broad strokes.
• Body butter typically combines shea butter with other butters and vitamins A, C and E. These vitamins serve as antioxidants that protect your skin from moisture loss and damage caused by the elements.
• Skin isn’t the only body part that can benefit from body butters. Some people use coconut oil-infused body butter on their hair to moisturize it. To do this, you just need to rub a small amount between your hands, then smooth it over your hair.
• Body butter can be great for battling more serious skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Before starting a new skincare routine, though, it’s important to check with a dermatologist.
• Some people use body butter extensively during the winter months, when humidity levels drop and skin can tend to be dryer. They then may switch to lighter lotions during the warmer, more humid months of the year.
• You might not need to apply body butter every day. Keep an eye on your skin and experiment with skipping a day to see if your skin remains soft and nourished. Those with dry, flaky skin will likely find daily application is necessary.
• If you wear fragrances, apply body butter, then layer your favorite perfume or body spray on top of it. The body butter will actually help the scent last longer.
• Body butter is typically sold in short, wide jars. It isn’t ideal for traveling, so if you frequently need to pack your moisturizers to hit the road, look for a smaller jar made of plastic instead of glass specifically for overnight stays.
• Some body butter is sold as specifically targeted to certain body parts. Chances are, any body butter you buy will be suitable for use on most of your body. However, some body butters can clog pores, so for your face, you’ll probably want to go with a facial moisturizer to avoid breakouts.