What Is Body Butter? How to Use It for Dry Skin
Body butter is a rich moisturizer made for areas that need more emollience and staying power than a lightweight lotion may provide. It is especially popular for legs, arms, elbows, knees, hands and heels when skin feels dry or rough.
Body butter vs. body lotion
Body lotion typically contains more water and has a lighter, faster-spreading texture. Body butter is generally richer and more occlusive, so it can leave a more substantial protective feel on the skin surface.
Body butter vs. body oil
Body oil mainly adds emollience and helps reduce moisture loss. A butter has a thicker structure and may combine butters and oils for a creamier application. Which one feels best is personal.
How to use body butter
- Shower or bathe with warm rather than very hot water.
- Pat skin until it is still slightly damp.
- Warm a small amount of body butter between clean hands.
- Massage it over dry areas, adding more only where needed.
- Allow it to settle before dressing.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends moisturizing soon after bathing to help trap moisture in dry skin.
How much body butter do you need?
Start small. Rich products spread farther after they warm against the skin. Using too much can create unnecessary residue without adding a proportional benefit.
Can body butter be used every day?
Yes, if your skin tolerates it. Some people use body butter daily in dry weather and switch to lighter lotion when humidity rises.
Is body butter for the face?
Not automatically. Body products can be richer or differently fragranced than facial moisturizers. Use a facial product if your face is acne-prone, reactive or simply prefers a lighter texture.
Glimmer Goddess® Whipped Body Butter
Our current Organic Whipped Body Butter for Extremely Dry Skin 8 oz. is designed as a rich body moisturizer for dry skin.
For a comparison with lighter moisturizers, see Body Lotion for Dry Skin: How to Choose a Better Moisturizer.
FAQ
Is body butter better than lotion?
It depends on your skin and texture preference. Very dry skin may prefer a richer butter, while lotion can feel better for large areas or warm weather.
Should I exfoliate before body butter?
You can gently exfoliate rough areas if needed, but daily aggressive scrubbing can irritate dry skin.
Does body butter need to absorb completely?
Rich body butters may leave a light protective feel. Applying less usually helps if the finish feels too heavy.
Source
American Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologists' Tips for Relieving Dry Skin
