Body butter and body lotion are two seemingly interchangeable moisturizers, but there are a ton of alternatives available for giving your skin hydration and anti-aging effects. Here are some unexpected differences between these comparable moisturizers, along with information on when to apply the optimal moisturizer for your particular skin type.
What is Body Butter?
One kind of moisturizing cream that is richer than lotion is body butter. In addition to active substances like carrier oils and other specialist chemicals like antioxidants, it is made using compounds like shea butter or cocoa butter. Because the skin on the face is more sensitive and might get oily when using harsher oils and moisturizers, products like body butter are made to be applied to the skin beneath the neck.
Why Use Body Butter?
The benefits of body butter are similar to those of body lotion, just for different skin types. It helps to hydrate dry skin and make skin throughout the body healthier-looking and softer. Hydration with moisturizers are essential to good skincare because the skin is constantly losing moisture to the environment and cleansers that are also essential to keep skin clean and healthy.
When To Use Body Butter?
Body butter can be applied right after taking a shower, even if your skin is still moist, because the texture is a bit thicker than your average body lotion. A tiny bit goes a long way, and you might want to focus on areas of your skin that are very dry, including your knees, elbows, and feet. Depending on their skin condition, some people only use body butter in the chilly, dry winter months.
What Is Body Lotion?
Body lotion is a more average-thickness moisturizer that doesn’t usually contain natural butters. It’s often water-based as opposed to oil-based, and includes more mild hydrating compounds like squalane and carrier oils. Lotions can contain a host of other vital and beneficial ingredients like aloe, herbal supplements, and SPF protection depending on a person’s individual preferences.
Why Use Body Lotion?
Body lotion should be used for the same reason as body butter: to hydrate and make your skin feel and look beautiful. Every skin type needs natural moisturizing, and oils included in lotions are excellent carriers of critical nutrients. Because lotions soak more quickly than body butter, they may leave a slippery layer on the skin until they are completely absorbed.
When To Use Lotion?
Body lotion is great for any time you notice you have dry skin. It’s ideally used by people with normal to oily skin types throughout the day whenever a lightweight boost of moisture is needed.
Which Is Best for Your Skin, Body Butter or Lotion?
Your skin type is the primary determinant of which is best for you, though personal taste may also be involved. While persons with dry skin or those who live in arid locations may choose to use body butter at least once a day, people with naturally normal to oily skin should often stick to lotion as their main moisturizer.
The Best Products by Skin Type
Dry Skin
Dry and dehydrated skin types should find a balanced body butter to help lock in moisture at the start of the day and after cleansing the body. Extremely dry skin types may benefit from additional moisturizing with body butter throughout the day, but others may only need lotion.
Normal and Sensitive Skin
Normal skin types may need only to apply lotion after cleansing in the shower, although they can use lotion throughout the day in problem areas when needed, such as after washing their hands.
For Oily Skin
People with naturally oily skin likely only need a light moisturizer like our Body Lotion moisturizer without being too greasy or clogging pores. They can also try our Coconut Hydrating Milk for even more light-weight moisture.
For Combination Skin
Having combination skin can make it hard to find the right balance of moisture throughout your body, although over time it’s possible to discern what parts of your body need more moisture than others. For the most part, people with combination skin can get away with a middle-range hydrating lotion while reapplying as needed.
Professional Grade Moisturizers
Check out our full line of After Bath moisturizers with luxurious aromas and potent essential oil ingredients by browsing our catalog of Body Care products. We also offer lighter-weight oils that blend seamlessly with skin’s natural oils, so be sure to take our Skin Quiz to find out exactly which body moisturizer is right for you.