Lotion vs Body Butter

Your skin is one of the most delicate parts of your body and whatever the weather or time of the year, it deserves a little loving care and attention. One way to show that you care is to properly moisturize your skin. But with so many body moisturizers to choose from it can get somewhat confusing.

Knowing what to use is important. There’s no point wasting your money on something that’s not going to work. In this post, you’ll discover the difference between lotion vs. body butter, what each is best for, what they have in common, and much more.  

What is the Difference Between Body Butter and Lotion?

You can use both body butter and lotion to help combat rough and dry skin, however, they are not interchangeable. They are similar in that they help to rehydrate and keep your skin feeling supple and looking healthy, but that is where the similarity ends.  

What is Body Butter Best For?

Body butter is creamier and thicker in consistency than body lotion. It includes heavy moisturizers in the form of cocoa butter, mango, palm, or shea butter. In addition, there will be some kind of carrier oil and other specialized essential ingredients. Typically, body butter doesn’t contain water but it will help give you healthy skin.

Body butter contains a carrier oil because this is what holds all the ingredients together and makes it easier to deliver the essential skin-caring ingredients into your skin. The specialized ingredients might be aloe, vitamin E oil, honey, or other essential oils that will nourish your skin.

The benefits of body butter include:

• Deep, long-lasting, and intense hydration

• Revitalizing effect for extremely dry skin that’s more focused

• Moisturizing action that’s long-lasting

• Skincare excellence

• natural ingredients such as cocoa butter and shea butter

You should use body butter for retaining moisture, lubricating, and nourishing your skin. It is likely to stay on top of your skin longer than a body lotion would. Such a characteristic helps reduce moisture reduction. It’s also important to note that body butter is best applied on damp skin, for example, when you’ve just had a shower. 

It’s great for moisturizing feet, hands, knees, and elbows. You won’t need to use as much and it may leave your skin with a slight oily barrier depending on the type of skin you’ve got. 

In more general terms, body butter works best for rough, dry skin. You can use them to help replenish the natural oils in your skin as well as protect it from stressors that exacerbate your skin's dryness or cause irritation. Body butters have a very luxurious feel about them which makes them perfect if you’re after a spot of indulgent self-care. However, don’t let that stop you from using it every day if you want to. 

What is Body Lotion Best For?

Body lotion is a much thinner and lighter moisturizing product than body butter. The water content is higher and it typically has a more liquid consistency. The lightness of body lotion makes it perfect for using every day to keep your skin hydrated. It moisturizes without leaving you with an oily or heavy feeling.

Lotion is similar in composition to body butter but without the natural butter. It typically contains a carrier oil such as apricot, sweet almond, jojoba, or coconut. To make the consistency thinner, an aloe, hydrosol, or herbal infusion is added. Looking at body lotion in the most basic terms, it’s an emulsion of water and oils.

The benefits of body lotions include:

• Rapid absorption

• Lighter feeling

• Excellent for daily use

• Easy to apply wherever you are

• Heals irritated and rough skin

• Leaves you with a healthy glow

• Feels and smells wonderful

There is no greasy feel when you use body lotion and you’ll find your skin absorbs it much quicker. It suits non-dry types of skin, even skin that’s oily. 

If you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer, you should try body lotion. It is particularly good for applying to the face, stomach, arms, and legs. While it feels much thinner than body butter, it still leaves you with relatively moisturized skin. It’s also something that you can apply during the day. 

Choose body lotion when your skin is in need of hydration, but you don’t want a product that leaves you feeling weighed down and heavy. Body lotions are absorbed by the skin very quickly so there’s no problem with using them on the go, whenever your skin feels like it needs some extra moisture.     

What Do Body Butter and Lotion Have in Common?

Lotions and butters are both moisturizers that you can use to help soften, smooth, and reduce fine lines. They are also very useful for easing the following dry skin symptoms:

• Stinging

• Itching

• Pain

• Tingling

• Tightness

Lotions and butters are also very appropriate for people with particularly sensitive skin, however, it does depend on the different formulas of the product. 

How to Decide if You Should Use Body Butter or Lotion?

Both body butters and body lotions have a place in any skincare routine and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have both in your beauty cabinet. To help you decide which you should be reaching for when your skin needs hydrating, here are some factors to consider. 

Your Skin Type and Any Skin Concerns

Body butter is filled with heavy moisturizers. This means they provide more intense hydration compared with lotion. 

Body butters are ideal if you suffer from dry skin or if you regularly have to deal with rough patches or dehydrated skin. You can replenish your skin’s moisture levels very quickly.

If your skin is more oily, body butter could leave your skin feeling greasy. For oily skin, lotion tends to be better. Body lotions which are super breathable and lightweight are also best if you’re prone to experiencing body breakouts. 

However, suppose your aim is to boost your skin’s elasticity, for example, by reducing stretch marks or for more mature skin types. In that case, body butter containing cocoa or shea butter s probably better. This is because body butters tend to be made using more elasticity-boosting ingredients. 

The Time of Year

During the winter months, the dry, cold air zaps moisture from your skin. This leaves it feeling really dehydrated and dry. You might need to apply body butter on a more regular basis, possibly even daily, if you want to keep your skin moisturized and feeling healthy. 

When the weather warms up, humidity also tends to be higher. Along with the more moderate temperatures, these weather conditions allow your skin to hold on to its moisture more naturally. 

During the warmer months, a rich body butter formula is likely not so necessary. For daily use, the best choice is going to be a body lotion. 

What is the Feel You’re Looking For?

Everyone’s skin is different and yours might not be oily or dry. If this is the case and you’re blessed with normal skin, you’ll probably find that you can use both body butter and body lotion to regularly hydrate your skin. 

In such cases, it also means that the choice of which body moisturizing product to use will come down to the feel you prefer. 

Body butter tends to leave your skin feeling very silky because it’s much richer than body lotion. However, it takes longer for the body butter to be absorbed into your skin. This is because they are designed to create a protective barrier and provide more intense hydration. 

A good time of the day to use body butter is just before you go to bed. You’ll give your body time to absorb the body butter and boost moisture levels while your skin is recovering overnight. 

On the other hand, if you’d prefer a moisturizer for your body that doesn’t leave a distinct feel on your skin, the better choice would be a body lotion. The ingredients used to make lotion include fast-absorbing things such as aloe, glycerin, and water. They deliver a daily hydration dose, but at the same time feel weightless. 

You don’t have to wait for a lotion to soak in, which makes them the perfect choice first thing in the morning, just before you head out for the day.    

Can You Use Body Butter and Lotion Simultaneously?

Body butter and lotion do much the same thing, although they tend to differ in intensity. Each product kind of serves much the same function. In other words, they both rehydrate your skin, so there’s very little need to use both lotion and body butter at the same time. 

That being said, you could choose to alternate between using body butter and body lotion. For example, you’d use body butter when your skin is feeling drier than it would usually and then stick with using body lotion on a more regular basis. 

Conclusion

No two people have the same skin type. When you’re looking for a moisturizing product it all comes down to picking the product that suits your skin type. If you’ve got oily skin, you might prefer a lightweight body lotion as it feels more refreshing. For dry skin that requires strong hydration, body butter may be better. 

However, don’t forget that there’s no reason why you should choose one or the other. You don’t have to limit yourself to either body lotion or body butter. It’s perfectly acceptable to incorporate both moisturizers into your skincare routine. 

When you do this, you’re giving your skin everything it needs for deep hydration, gentle daily care, and nourishing vitamins. With such features, you can be certain your skin will stay subtle and attractive. Now you know the difference between body butter and lotion, you're better informed and more comfortable in making the decision.  

FAQs

Are body butter and lotion effective for sensitive skin?

It is possible to use both if you have sensitive skin, however, you should take care that the product you’re using has no added fragrance as this can irritate your skin. People with sensitive skin should avoid fragranced lotion or butter to prevent any unnecessary irritation. 

Can body butter replace lotion?

Both body butter and lotion have an important part to play in any skincare routine. One cannot replace the other because body butters are better for people with very dry skin who are looking for a more intensive moisturizer. Body lotion, on the other hand, is better for daily application.