Body Butter

Body Butter — a rich, thick moisturizer built around a high concentration of plant butters and oils to deeply soften and seal dry skin. Its dense, occlusive texture makes it well suited to very dry or rough areas that need more intensive nourishment.

Key points

  • Body butters are formulated with a high proportion of butters like shea or cocoa plus emollient oils.
  • Their thick, occlusive texture helps slow water loss and is often chosen for very dry or rough skin.
  • They generally contain less water than lotions, so they feel richer and take longer to absorb.
  • Applying body butter to damp skin can improve spreadability and help lock in existing moisture.

Frequently asked

Is body butter good for very dry skin?

Yes, the rich, occlusive texture of body butter is often well suited to very dry, rough, or flaky skin. Its butters and oils help soften the surface and reduce moisture loss.

Why does body butter feel greasier than lotion?

Body butter contains a higher concentration of oils and butters and less water than lotion, which gives it a richer, heavier feel. Using a smaller amount can help it absorb more comfortably.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter CosmeticsInfo Regulatory and safety cosmeticsinfo.org
  2. Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics Cosmetic Ingredient Review Regulatory and safety cir-safety.org
  3. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. A review of ethnomedicinal uses of shea butter for dermatoses in Sub-Saharan Africa PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Asteatotic Eczema (Eczema Craquelé) DermNet NZ Clinical guidance dermnetnz.org
  6. Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Causes, Treatments, and More DermNet NZ Clinical guidance dermnetnz.org

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.