Best 9 Body Butters for Hydrated Skin

Body butters have become a staple in every skincare enthusiast’s routine, thanks to their ultra-hydrating and rejuvenating properties. Whether you make your own body butter or buy your favorite one at the store, the benefits are undeniable.

What sets body butter apart from regular lotions is its rich and creamy texture, packed with a high concentration of natural emollients and moisturizers. Ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil work in harmony to deliver intense hydration, promote elasticity, and lock in moisture for hours on end. This list of body butters will transform your skin and leave you feeling pampered from head to toe.

Best body butters overview:

• Best overall: Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter 
• Best budget: Tree Hut 24 Hour Intense Hydrating Shea Butter
• Best splurge: Augustinus Bader The Body Cream
• Best unscented: Hanahana Unscented Shea Body Butter
• Best for sensitive skin: Paula’s Choice Ultra Rich Soothing Body Butter
• Best for hydrating: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Skin
• Best for stretch marks: Mutha’s Body Butter
• Best with SPF: Supergoop! Body Butter SPF 40
• Best natural: Weleda Skin Food Body Butter

How we chose the best body butters

To compile this list, we researched manufacturer specifications, including sensitive skin, SPF, budget, and more to create a short list of the top body butters. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best body butters for each category.

Our picks for the best body butters

Josie Maran has crafted a truly indulgent body butter that encapsulates everything you want in a body butter. With its whipped consistency, it effortlessly glides onto the skin, striking the perfect balance between being light and airy while still providing the deep nourishment that dry skin craves.

At the heart of this body butter lies argan oil, a lightweight and non-comedogenic oil renowned for its high vitamin E content, which works wonders in soothing the skin and defending it against premature aging. Complementing this star ingredient are aloe vera, shea butter, and glycerin, forming a natural blend that not only hydrates but also creates a protective barrier. 

This body butter is remarkably versatile, suitable for all skin types as a reliable everyday option, although it may not provide intense repair for severely dry skin. Even those with sensitive skin can confidently try it out, as it offers an unscented version alongside a range of fragrances.

Main ingredients: Argan oil, Avocado oil, White tea extract | Scent: Unscented, Fresh Berry Breeze, Peachy Vanilla, Vanilla Apricot, Sweet Citrus, Vanilla Bean, Vanilla Fig, Lavender Citrus | SPF: No | Benefits: Revitalizes, nourishes

Body butters are typically more expensive than creams due to their higher oil content and lower water content, which increases production costs. However, Tree Hut offers affordable yet impressive options that won’t break the bank. 

These body butters feature organic shea butter as a prominent ingredient, ensuring its nourishing benefits are front and center. Alongside shea butter, you’ll find other delightful botanical emollients like safflower oil and cocoa butter, working together to provide deep moisturization. With the addition of glycerin and water, these body butters can hydrate the skin effectively. 

What sets Tree Hut apart is their ability to create an impressively silky and non-greasy texture. They achieve this by incorporating light synthetics into the formula, which lend an airy and velvety feel to the product. This intelligent blend of natural oils and elegant synthetics allows their body butters to feel luxurious on the skin, all while maintaining an affordable price point.

Main ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Extracts, Safflower Seed Oil | Scent: Coconut & Lime, Mango Puree, Moroccan Rose | SPF: No | Benefits: Hydrating, fast absorbing

Indulge your skin in a well-deserved pampering experience with this body butter by Augustinus Bader. From its elegant blue packaging to the luxuriously creamy texture of the formula, every aspect convinces us that the high price tag for The Body Cream is well worth it. 

Enriched with nourishing shea butter, soothing bisabolol, and Augustinus Bader’s renowned TFC8 technology that promotes skin renewal, this body butter delivers the results your dry skin craves. With regular use, the brand says you’ll notice firmer, toned, more even skin.

Main ingredients: Shea butter, Bisabolol, TFC8 technology | Scent: Unscented | SPF: No | Benefits: Skin renewal, hydrating, soothing

The key benefit of Hanahana Unscented Shea Body Butter lies in its deeply hydrating formula. Shea butter works wonders in replenishing moisture and nourishing the skin, leaving it feeling supple and revitalized. The rich and creamy texture of the body butter allows for easy application and absorption, making it a go-to product for providing long-lasting hydration. 

Additionally, the natural ingredients of the product ensures a gentle experience for even the most sensitive skin types, with fewer potential irritants. While the product is marketed as being unscented, some reviewers note that the cocoa butter does give the body butter a scent.

Hanahana’s commitment to ethically sourced shea butter further adds to the appeal of this body butter, making it a choice that not only benefits your skin but also supports sustainable and responsible practices.

Main ingredients: Shea butter, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter, Avocado Oil | Scent: Unscented | SPF: No | Benefits: Moisturizing, hydrating, ethical

For those with sensitive skin, this body butter from Paula’s Choice is an absolute must-have. Specifically formulated to cater to sensitive skin needs, it provides a gentle and eczema-friendly solution that will leave your skin feeling nourished and cared for.

Harnessing the power of a unique blend of plant oils, emollients, and shea butter, this body butter works diligently to soothe and alleviate rough patches, delivering a remarkable transformation that leaves your skin irresistibly smooth and silky soft. 

The carefully selected ingredients work in harmony to provide deep hydration, helping to restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier and promote a healthier, more resilient complexion.

Main ingredients: Shea butter, Avocado Oil, Squalane | Scent: Unscented | SPF: No | Benefits: Restores skin’s moisture barrier, smoothing

Directly sourced from laboratories in France, this luxurious body moisturizer comes to you exclusively from Beauty Pie. Unveiling a truly deluxe experience, it effortlessly blends invisible micro-droplets of oil into water, resulting in a remarkably lightweight yet profoundly nourishing formula. 

This exceptional moisturizer boasts a fusion of carefully selected ingredients, including sustainably harvested cold-pressed Hibiscus Flower, Meadowfoam Oils, Liquid Shea Butter, and a captivating blend of Orange, Tangerine, Geranium, and Tonka Bean Essential Oils.

Pampering your skin, this body moisturizer has been recognized by British Vogue Beauty Awards, earning the title of ‘The Body Transformer’ in 2021. This accolade solidifies its status as a truly exceptional product, for its transformative properties and ability to enhance your body care routine.

Main ingredients: Hibiscus Flower, Meadowfoam Oils, Shea Butter | Scent: Hints of Orange, Tangerine, Geranium and Tonka | SPF: No | Benefits: Nourishing, restores the skin’s moisture balance

Mutha’s Body Butter offers a plethora of incredible benefits that make it a standout in the list of body butters on the market. Crafted with precision, it’s enriched with a range of nourishing ingredients that work together to transform your skin. With its velvety texture and exquisite formulation, Mutha’s Body Butter provides intense hydration, making it an ideal choice for those with dry or dehydrated skin. 

The rich blend of natural oils, butters, and antioxidants deeply penetrate the skin, replenishing moisture and restoring the skin’s natural barrier, leaving it supple, smooth, and radiant.

It also has potent anti-aging properties that help combat fine lines and wrinkles. The infusion of antioxidants helps neutralize free radicals, protecting the skin from environmental damage and promoting a youthful complexion. 

The formula is also designed to improve skin elasticity, providing a firmer and more toned appearance. With regular use, Mutha’s Body Butter not only hydrates and nourishes your skin but also promotes a more youthful and revitalized overall look.

Main ingredients: Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter, Vitamins A and E | Scent: Subtle citrus notes | SPF: No | Benefits: Anti-aging, hydrating, all-natural

SPF is a non-negotiable step in your skincare routine, regardless of the season, but when it comes to the summer months and the heightened UV index, Supergoop! Body Butter with SPF 40 is a top tier body butter with sunscreen. 

This multitasking product not only deeply hydrates your skin but also provides daily sun protection with its broad spectrum SPF 40. With the added bonus of sea buckthorn fruit extract, rich in vitamins A and E, it helps minimize the visible effects of sun damage. It doesn’t have the typical sunscreen scent, which is a plus for some and a negative for others. It’s the ultimate two-in-one solution for all your summer skincare needs.

Main ingredients: Sea Buckthorn, Avobenzone, Octisalate, Octocrylene | Scent: Eucalyptus, clove, and vanilla | SPF: Yes, 40 SPF | Benefits: Sun protection, minimizes visible sun damage, and hydrating

This body butter is formulated based on Weleda’s iconic Skin Food cream. Fans of the original rich cream will probably enjoy this body butter, which has a similar herbaceous scent and the same rich, skin-repairing texture.

It’s made with high quantities of sunflower oil and cocoa butter, which give it a very rich texture. It’s especially impressive at repairing severe dryness, although for those with normal skin, it might be overkill.

The formula also includes the botanical extracts Weleda is known for, like soothing calendula and chamomile. These ingredients are fantastic for sensitive skin, although if you have issues with fragrance, it may not work for you.

Main ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter | Scent: Herbal | SPF: No | Benefits: Soothing, repairing, hydrating

Your body needs a body butter

Whether you’re looking for intense hydration, firming benefits, or a gradual tan, there’s a body butter out there to suit your needs. Take into account your skin type, preferences, and desired results, and don’t hesitate to explore the wide range of body butters available. By selecting the right body butter tailored to your skin’s needs, you can nourish, pamper, and transform your skin, ultimately adding indulgence to your self-care routine.

How to pick the right body butter for you

When choosing the right body butter for your needs, it’s essential to consider factors such as ingredients, skin type, and desired benefits.

Ingredients

• Shea butter: Shea butter is an ingredient featured in most body butters for its hydrating and nourishing properties.
• Coconut oil. Coconut oil is known for its moisturizing properties and ability to improve skin elasticity.

Skin type

• Dry. If you have dry skin, opt for a body butter that offers intense hydration and replenishment.
• Combination. For combination skin, consider a lightweight formula that balances moisture without causing excess oiliness.

Benefits

• Stretch mark reducing. If reducing stretch marks is a priority, select a body butter that contains ingredients like cocoa butter or rosehip oil, known for their skin-repairing and collagen-boosting properties.
• Firming. For firming effects, seek out body butters enriched with ingredients such as caffeine or algae extracts that help improve skin elasticity and tone.

FAQs

Are body butters better than lotions? 

Whether body butters or lotions are better depends on individual preferences and specific skincare needs. Body butters typically have a thicker and more emollient texture, providing intense hydration and creating a protective barrier on the skin. They are ideal for dry or dehydrated skin and can be especially beneficial during colder months. On the other hand, lotions have a lighter consistency and are easily absorbed, making them suitable for daily use, especially in warmer climates or for those with normal to oily skin.

What butters are better than shea butter?

Comparing body butters to shea butter, it’s important to note that shea butter is actually a key ingredient found in many body butters. While pure shea butter offers its own unique benefits, body butters often combine shea butter with other nourishing ingredients, resulting in a more comprehensive skincare solution.

What’s the best body butter for firming skin?

When seeking body butters for firming the skin, a product that contains ingredients such as caffeine, retinol, or peptides can be highly beneficial. Caffeine stimulates circulation and promotes collagen production, while retinol helps improve skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of sagging. Peptides aid in firmness by promoting collagen synthesis. Look for body butters that incorporate these key ingredients for optimal firming results, and consider consulting with a skincare professional to find the best product that suits your specific needs and concerns.