12 Best Body Butters to Hydrate Parched Skin, Reviewed by Dermatologists & Editors
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If the swing between frigid outdoor temps and too-dry heaters is wreaking havoc on your skin (same), it’s time to consider adding the best body butters to your routine. Not only can these moisturizers help boost hydration and lock in moisture, but their smooth and velvety texture is ideal for nourishing skin during the winter months, when cold, dry air can cause excess flakiness and itchiness (and exacerbate sensitive skin conditions like eczema or keratosis pilaris). Here, we tested over a dozen different body butters and narrowed it down to our 12 favorites that leave the skin feeling ultra nourished. Our top pick overall was the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream, a cult-favorite of Glamour editors and contributors alike because it hydrates for hours (thanks to the cupuaçu butter infused in the formula) and smells incredibly delicious with notes of salted caramel and pistachio.
The best body butters, at a glance
- Best Overall: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream, $48
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Nécessaire The Body Cream, $48
- Best for Dry Skin: Youth To The People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter, $48
- Best for Bumpy Skin: Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment, $32
- Best for Calming Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid-Boost Body Cream, $48
- Best for Firming: Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter, $48
How we chose the best body butters
How we tested
We tested body butters by evaluating their consistency, how hydrated they made our skin feel, and how long the scent lasted (if they had fragrance). We paid close attention to how they lathered onto the skin, how quickly they absorbed, and if they left our skin feeling soft post-application, with no stickiness or residue left behind. Collectively, we’ve tested over a dozen body butter throughout our editorial careers, and these were the picks that rose to the top.
Meet the experts
- Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, NYC board-certified cosmetic dermatologist
- Hadley King, MD, NYC board-certified dermatologist
- Michele Green, MD and cosmetic dermatologist
- Pooja Rambhia, MD, New-Jersey based dermatologist
Best Overall: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream
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Sol de Janeiro's Bum Bum Cream has gained a cult following—and for good reason. (In fact, Glamour’s art director, Allie Folino, praised the the Delícia Drench Body Butter as her favorite Sol de Janiero body butter of all time.)
The Bum Bum Cream has coconut oil, cupuaçu butter, Brazil nut, guarana, and acai oil that work together to soften and tighten skin for a visibly supple appearance. Glamour’s commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary is a massive fan of this body cream because it makes her skin feel extremely soft and has a long-lasting scent. “I’ve probably gone through 10 of these tubs over the span of my beauty career. It smooths out my dry patches and leaves behind the most delicious scent that makes me look forward to moisturizing every time I step out of the shower. I always bring a mini tub when I’m traveling to keep my skin nourished and crack-free post-plane TLC, especially when I’m headed somewhere cold.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Nécessaire The Body Cream
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If you have sensitive skin, dermatologists recommend a fragrance-free body cream. “The texture is rich but absorbs well, making it great for very dry skin without feeling greasy. Most body creams do contain fragrances, so for those with very sensitive eczema prone skin, this is a great option,” says Dr. Rambhia. This luxurious pick also combines niacinamide and hyaluronic acid plus ceramides for an ultra-hydrating and velvety finish. It’s also non-comedogenic, which makes it suitable for acne-prone skin.
“I deal with breakouts on my back sometimes, so using a non-comedogenic moisturizer in these areas has made a huge difference. The formula of this one is lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly, so you don’t feel greasy or sticky post-application. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who has body breakouts but still wants to ensure that their skin is hydrated and silky,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best for Dry Skin: Youth To The People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter
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If your skin needs a boost of moisture, look to this creamy body butter that will soften and smooth your skin. It has a blend of niacinamide, cupuaçu butter, yuzu and green tea to eliminate redness and uneven texture. Glamour’s Kilkeary loves this butter for when her legs are looking particularly dry. “I like to slather this all over my legs if they’re looking cracked and dull, and it instantly adds a layer of shine without grease or oiliness. It also smells so good you’ll feel like you just got a massage.”
Best for Calming Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid-Boost Body Cream
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“This is a luxurious, fragrance-free cream-butter hybrid that's clinically proven to improve skin barrier function. It contains a patented triple lipid complex, peptides, and shea butter. What makes it stand out is its combination of barrier-supporting lipids with active ingredients like peptides and seaweed extracts for both hydration and skin firming,” says Dr. Rambhia.
“Though a bit more like a cream in consistency than a thick body butter, this product is highly moisturizing,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. “You do have to really rub it in, but it really penetrates skin for lasting hydration. Great for feet and elbows, especially since the finish isn't greasy.
Best for Firming: Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter
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Osea's body butter promises up to 72 hours of hydration thanks to ingredients like undaria seaweed, shea butter, and ceramides which replenish the skin's moisture barrier and makes the skin look and feel more resilient and firm.
“I really like the texture of this product,” says Earley. “It's thick like a traditional body butter, but absorbs faster and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or waxy. It has a really pleasing citrus-like scent that lingers, but isn't potent enough to interfere with any fragrance you may want to wear.”
Best for Bumpy Skin: Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment
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If you deal with rough patches or uneven skin tone, you'll want to pick up this gentle and KP-friendly formula from Paula's Choice. Using a special blend of butters and retinol, this body butter will soothe even the roughest patches for a smooth and silky soft finish.
“I sometimes get rough skin patches on my arms and legs when my skin is ultra dry in the wintertime,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “This retinol-packed body lotion does a great job at calming these areas, helps rid of redness and uneven skin texture or tone. I also love that it has vitamin C to brighten and even out areas of discoloration over time.”
Best Lightweight Moisturizer: Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream
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Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist, calls this body-care product a must-have because the “super-moisturizing” formula features a slew of all-star ingredients like mango butter, sunflower oil, coconut oil, glycerin, and shea butter for intense hydration and a nongreasy finish. The delicate fruity aroma is just a bonus.
“This body butter is such a treat. I love to slap it on post-everything shower and let it seep into any dry areas (which typically takes no more than a minute). It leaves my skin silky smooth and also doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin post-application. It blends right in with little finesse and rubbing, and I’ve also been loving pairing it with self-tanning drops for extra glow,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Scent: Kopari Ultra Restore Body Butter
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There’s lots to love about Kopari’s Ultra Restore Body Butter, from its hyaluronic-acid-spiked formula to its downright intoxicating coconut-milk scent. It’s made with coconut oil and skin-softening mango butter, which, according to Dr. Green, “contains more fatty acids than shea and cocoa butter to provide extra moisture for a smoother, softer skin.”
“I love opening up this body butter because it smells so good. It also actually keeps my body moisturized throughout the day (or night). Between the winter and using a space heater in my bedroom, my body has been extremely dry. This moisturizer keeps my body smooth and soft for hours upon hours. It is tricky to lather on though. You really have to rub it in because the texture is super thick,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best Luxury: Glossier Crème de You Dry-Touch Body Butter
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So you want to layer your body butter with perfume? This luxurious pick is a Glamour editor staple. “I’ve always loved the Glossier You perfume, which is kind of like a mood ring–it smells different on everyone, in a great way–so I was especially drawn to this new lotion, which has a similar fragrance but in a dreamy body butter form,” says Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz. And it didn’t disappoint, she says. “It’s not at all greasy, and once it’s fully absorbed, it doesn’t leave a residue and I’ve been using it every day for a few months, so I can’t wait to restock.”
Best Barrier-Repairing: Ouai Melrose Place Moisturizing Body Cream
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If you want to hydrate your skin and repair its barrier, this body cream is chock full of butters, squalane and coconut oil to help you do so.
“Melrose Place is one of my favorite scents—so much so that I have it as a perfume, body wash, and body butter,” says Glamour commerce editor Malia Griggs. “Most fragrances give me headaches, so when I find one that doesn't, I hold on fast. It's a fairly strong fragrance, with bold floral rose notes, and feels very... ‘date night’ to me. The body butter is lightly hydrating, easily absorbs into the skin, and doesn't leave a greasy feeling behind. I often apply a heavier cream before, since it's not intensely moisturizing. Its scent lasts for hours, so I get whiffs of it as I move. To make the tub last, I only use the butter on special occasions (evenings out with friends, for instance).”
Best for Glowing Skin: Sunday Riley C.E.O Vitamin C Brighten + Tighten Body Butter
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Add major glow to your skincare routine with this brightening body butter that has vitamin C, oat lipids, shea butter and more. It helps boost elasticity, brightness, and helps correct dark spots.
“I’ve been using this body butter on areas of my legs and arms that have discoloration for a brighter, smoother finish. After application, my skin almost immediately has a glow-up thanks to vitamin C and E, and looks and feels more bouncy and revitalized,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best Drugstore: Cerave Moisturizing Cream
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This unscented pick proves that a lush body butter doesn’t have to break the bank. It has a combination of hyaluronic acid and ceramides for major moisture and hydration for hours, and is completely oil-free and non-comedogenic. “This lotion is super lightweight, hydrating, and absorbs quickly. I like that it’s also a quick, mess-free application. It has no scent and is safe for even the most sensitive skin types. I even apply it to my face sometimes,” says Glamour's Calle.
Your body butter questions, answered
How is body butter different from body lotion?
While body lotions and body oils are great for lightweight hydration throughout the year, sometimes skin needs an extra dose of protection to feel comfortable and smooth, which is where body butters come in. These are often packed with humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to hold in moisture as well as emollients like jojoba, almond, olive, and avocado oil to keep skin soft and smooth. Dr. King tells Glamour that most formulas are also rich in occlusives like mango, cocoa, and shea butter to lock in moisture.
Who should use body butter?
Most people can use body butters daily—the key, however, is to apply them “immediately after a bath or shower, before the skin is dry, to lock in moisture,” Dr. King says. Plus, thanks to their emollient and occlusive properties, body butters are a great choice for people with exceptionally dry skin. “Body butters are particularly beneficial for individuals with dry, rough patches (like elbows and knees), or during winter months, while lotions are better suited for daily use, especially in warmer weather or for those who prefer lighter products. The choice between the two often depends on your skin's needs and personal preference for texture,” says Dr. Rambhia.
Can you use body butter everyday?
“For most people, it’s perfectly fine to use body butter every day for most skin types,” says Dr. Engelman. “I recommend using it right after the shower, while your skin is still damp, to really lock in moisture. There is an exception: someone with very oily and/or acne-prone skin may not want to use body butter daily (or at all), as it could clog the pores and lead to acne breakouts.” Dr. Rambhia also offers a tip when storing body butters: “Make sure to store them in a tightly-sealed container in a cool, dry and dark place. Keep it out of the light and heat, as this could melt the formula.”
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