How to Use Body Butter (and the best ones)

It’s starting to get cold, and my skin is dry and dehydrated. Every fall winter I struggle to find a moisturizer hydrating enough for my SUPER dry skin. Both my kids have the same issue. In fact, we have humidifiers in all three of our rooms to help with dryness because it’s so bad. I’m pretty good at taking care of my dry skin after all these years, and there’s one trick that seems to help the most: body butter.

I’m talking about the thick, luxurious, rich moisturizing cream that you scoop out of a tub. Not the thin body lotion that comes in a pump. We want thicker than that. The thicker, the better.

Today, I’ll explain what body butter is for and when to use body butter to moisturize your skin. And, of course, the best body butters for dry skin!

How to Use Body Butter Properly

While applying body butter might sound self-explanatory (I mean, you just put some on, right?), there are actually a few tricks to getting the most hydration out of it. There are a few FAQs at the bottom of the post too.

What is Body Butter Used for?

Body butter is known for being dramatically more hydrating and effective than typical body lotions and usually contains ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, or other vegetable-based oils. They’re thick and may leave a slight layer on your skin that will absorb over time (e.g. overnight) for continued deep hydration. Here’s a few things body butter helps with:

• Very Dry and/or Irritated Skin: They’re perfect for dry skin since the intense moisture helps keep skin soft. They also great for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or simply irritated, flaky skin.
• Skin Protection: The thick texture creates a barrier on the skin to help it retain moisture. They can also help with environmental stressors — like wind or cold — to prevent chapped skin.
• Improved Skin Elasticity: Regular use can help improve your skin’s elasticity, so it looks and feels more supple — and younger!
• Preventing Stretch Marks: They can reduce the appearance of stretch marks by keeping the skin hydrated and elastic. I used body butter on my belly during pregnancy religiously.

The Best Body Butter Creams

Oliveda Body Balm

The Oliveda Grapefruit Rose Extra Virgin Body Balm is a favorite of mine because it seriously smells amazing and helps my skin improve over time, not just masking an issue when it’s on my skin.

Like all Oliveda products, it’s made with extra virgin olive oil and the hydroxytyrosol helps hydrate and improve skin’s appearance over time. (Read more about Oliveda’s products here and what makes them different.) If you’re very prone to skin issues like eczema and psoriasis, this is the one I’d recommend, along with their i01 anti-inflammatory tonic that you ingest daily.

The balm’s rich, creamy texture absorbs easily so this is a great one to use during the day.

Primally Pure Body Butter

Primally Pure’s Body Butter is FANTASTIC and my #1 pick for nighttime use. Not only does it feel thick and super hydrating, but Primally Pure is a clean beauty brand, so there are no sketchy ingredients in this. I’ve used it for years and I have nothing but great things to say about it. You can buy it in three different scents (I prefer the Lavender and Eucalyptus) or you can buy a trio with three smaller containers, and try all three scents before committing to a larger size. Read my full review of Primally Pure here.

This body butter includes organic mango butter, shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil and extra virgin olive oil.

OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter

I love OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter as well. It’s super hydrating and smells amazing. This is another one that I can use during the day since it’s not too oily. It’s not as hydrating as the ones above but it’s a great option if you have dry skin but don’t need something extreme! It also just looks very cool in the jar when you first open it!

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter

My employee loves the Kiehl’s body butter, and she’s not alone. People are OBSESSED with this. I mean, there are 4.5/5 star 600+ reviews on Nordstrom! It comes in an 8oz tub, which is a lot of product for $40. Kiehl’s products are made in the USA (I love that!) and great for all skin types.

Dime Beauty Biome Body Butter

Dime is a great place to look for more affordable beauty products that are still made with clean ingredients. I have a full review of DIME Beauty here, but the Biome Body Butter is brand new to their product line. It’s made with shea butter to soften and smooth dry skin, vitamins A and E, which reduce redness and irritation, and probiotics, which help restore the skin’s natural barrier.

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter is my favorite budget pick for a great body butter. It’s under $10, you can find it on Amazon, and it has decent ingredients. The ingredients aren’t as clean as Oliveda, Primally Pure or OSEA but it is free of parabens, so that’s a start.

Homemade Body Butter

I’ve never taken this route, but there are plenty of recipes online for homemade body butters using jojoba oil, mango butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, essential oils, and other great fatty acids, butters and oils.

When should you use body butter?

The best way to seal in moisture from body butter is by applying it a few minutes post-shower (or even in the shower once you’ve turned the water off!). Hot water is very drying for your skin, so it’s important to keep your shower water warm, but not too hot, so you don’t make the dehydration worse. Then, once you’ve finished showering, lock in moisture by applying your body butter directly after. I even apply it sometimes while my skin is still slightly damp or lightly towel dried to capture that moisture.

You may also want to use body butter overnight, as this is the best time to lock in hydration without accidentally wiping it off. Since we move less in our sleep than we do throughout the day (or at least, some of us!), massaging body butter into your skin where you’re especially dry, and then going to sleep, is the best way to keep it on for the longest amount of time. I like it overnight because some of my thickest, most hydrating body butters are a bit greasy so they aren’t practical during the day.

How often should you apply body butter?

How often you use body butter depends on how dry your skin is. If you’re severely dry (like me!), you might use it daily after your shower in the fall and winter. I apply it all over to my arms and legs at night and during the day, just to my ankles, knees, elbows, and shoulders, since these places get extra dry. I also apply it to the backs of my hands and cuticles once I’ve finished with the rest of my body, since the back of your hands show aging easily if they aren’t hydrated enough.

If your skin isn’t as dry, just use it as needed or desired, 2-3 times a week.

Can I use Body Butter on my face?

You can use body butter on your face, but there are better options. Body butter is richer and designed for thicker body skin, so it may feel heavy or clogged pores, especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. It can work well as an occasional fix for very dry or sensitive skin, especially in winter or on dry patches, but use it sparingly and avoid areas prone to breakouts. A moisturizer or facial oil designed specifically for your face is a better choice. (You can see my full skincare routine here.) But if you really want to use it on your face, look for unscented or natural options, as fragrances can irritate facial skin.