Bad news: we haven’t even reached the halfway point of winter. That means there’s still a whole lot of dry air indoors to contend with. But there is a way to combat the moisture-sucking conditions. It’s called body butter.
Sometimes mistaken for a novelty, body butters are actually a necessary step in any hydration routine. We spend so much time moisturizing our face, we often forget that the rest of our body needs love, too. Usually packed with ingredients like shea butter or oils (argan, jojoba, avocado to name a few), buttering up can help keep parched skin at bay, from our elbows to our feet. And thanks to their whipped texture, they’re a lot more fun to apply than traditional lotions.
One of the other body butter benefits is they usually come enriched with irresistible fragrances — think rose or citrus. But if you’re more on the sensitive side, look for one that’s fragrance-free to avoid any adverse reactions.
Here are the 10 body butters that will help you and your skin get through the season.
Best Body Butters
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Josie Maran
Whipped Argan Pro-Retinol Body Butter, $46 at Sephora
Josie Maran definitely knows body butter. And this latest incarnation comes complete with pro-retinol for seriously hydrated, glowing skin. But don’t worry — it still has the argan oil you know and love.
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MUTHA
Body Butter, $95 at Violet Grey
An all-natural velvety body butter that soothes dryness, restores moisture and maintains skin’s elasticity. It boasts organic shea butter, organic mango butter and organic avocado oil. The luxe formula absorbs in a flash and even fights inflammation.
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Clinique
Deep Comfort Body Butter, $34 at Clinique
Soften everything from your elbows to your heels with this best body butter. It absorbs instantly and provides comfort all day long. The dermatologist-tested formula is even appropriate for eczema-prone skin.
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Jergens
Rose Body Butter, $5.99 at Target
Featuring a hydrating blend of shea, cocoa and mango butters, this body butter nourishes and softens skin while restoring moisture. The sweet yet light rose scent only enhances the experience.
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Kiehl's
Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter, $40 at Kiehl's
Despite being dubbed soy milk and honey body butter, this air-whipped formula’s massive moisturizing abilities actually come from shea butter, squalane and jojoba oil. Powerful on their own, pooled together they deliver heightened water-retaining results. Conversely, the quick-absorbing butter is free of three important nemeses: parabens, glycols and silicones.
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The Body Shop
Spa of the World Hawaiian Kukui Cream, $36 at The Body Shop
You already know the benefits of argan, jojoba and marula oils, but have you heard of kukui oil? Frequently exposed to the sun, Hawaiian women favor the oil due to its high content of essential fatty acids and vitamins along with linoleic acid, all key for nurturing, smoothing and moisturizing super parched skin.
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Lush
Buffy Body Butter, $12.95 at Lush
This one doesn’t come in a tub, but in bar form. But don’t underestimate its ability to lock in moisture. Exfoliating ground rice, almonds and beans are set in a creamy cocoa and shea butter base, making this bar a powerful tool against rough winter skin. Just rub the bar on wet skin and massage in all those rich butters before rinsing and patting yourself dry.
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Moroccanoil
Body Soufflé, $56 at Nordstrom
Known for its line of nourishing hair care products, Moroccanoil also makes a mean body butter. Boasting both argan oil and shea butter, the antioxidant-rich formula will provide lasting hydration to get your skin through dry January (and beyond). While you have your choice of rose or orange scents, we prefer the smell of the original.
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Bliss
Grapefruit & Aloe Body Butter, $12 at Bliss
Another butter in unconventional packaging, this product is used in every massage at Bliss Spas so you know it’s a winner. Designed to leave even super scaly skin supple (but never greasy), every day can be a spa day at home as you indulge in its mega moisturizing formula. And its refreshing pink grapefruit and aloe scent will work wonders on your mood.
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Soap & Glory
The Righteous Butter, $15 at Ulta Beauty
Trap moisture in place with Soap & Glory’s butter. On top of its hydration process, it features the brand’s Original Pink Fragrance that combines fresh bergamot, mandarin, rose, jasmine, peach and strawberry with soft musk and amber base notes. After showering, simply smooth on a generous handful and massage lightly until fully absorbed.
