If you think body butter is just for dry hands in the winter, you’re in for a surprise! A good, clean ingredient body butter is one of the most versatile things you can (and should) keep in your skincare routine.
And once you know all the ways it can work for you, it’ll be hard to imagine your skincare routine without it:
7+ Best Body Butter Uses for Your Skin
Whether you’re dealing with a specific skin concern or just want something that pulls double duty, body butter helps more than you realize. Here are the 10 best uses of body butter to help care for and protect your skin:
#1. Soothe Eczema-Prone Skin
Body butter won't cure eczema, but if your skin is prone to flares, a clean, fragrance-free formula can go a long way toward keeping it comfortable. The short ingredient list means fewer potential triggers, and the fatty acids in plant butters like shea and kokum help support your skin barrier.
Apply generously to affected areas, especially right after a shower while your skin is still slightly damp.
Note: this is not medical advice. Always consult your dermatologist for eczema treatment.
#2. Support Skin During Pregnancy
Your skin stretches a lot during pregnancy, and keeping it well-moisturized helps it stay soft and supple through those changes.
Body butter is a popular choice for stretch mark prevention because of how deeply it hydrates and how well it supports skin elasticity. Consistent daily use on the belly, hips, and thighs is the way to go!
#3. Heal Dry, Cracked Hands and Feet
Cracked heels, rough knuckles, dry cuticles — you can target all of it directly without getting product all over your palms first using a solid body butter stick.
Apply to your feet before bed, put on a pair of socks, and let it work overnight. For hands, a quick swipe on dry spots throughout the day keeps things from getting to the cracked and painful stage in the first place.
#4. Moisture After Shaving
Shaving removes a layer of skin along with the hair, which leaves it more sensitive and prone to irritation. Body butter is a great post-shave option for legs, arms, and anywhere else you shave because it soothes and replenishes without the alcohol or synthetic fragrance that makes a lot of conventional aftershave products sting.
This goes for everyone, by the way, not just women. If you shave your face or anywhere else, your skin will thank you for skipping the harsh stuff and reaching for something clean instead.
#5. Calm Skin After Sun Exposure
Sun exposure pulls moisture out of your skin even when you don't get a full sunburn (or sit in direct sunlight). After a day outside, your skin is working harder than usual to recover, body butter applied after sun helps replenish that lost moisture and supports your skin barrier while it repairs.
Keep it in the fridge for an extra-soothing effect on warm summer evenings, the cooling sensation on sun-tired skin is genuinely one of the better feelings out there.
Read also: 5 Ways to Keep Your Skin Healthier This Summer
#6. Apply Right After Shower
The few minutes right after you get out of the shower are actually the best time to moisturize. Your skin is still slightly damp, your pores are open, and the product (body butter) absorbs more readily.
Applying body butter before you fully dry off locks in that water and keeps your skin hydrated for hours longer than if you wait until your skin is completely dry.
#7. Care for Your Cuticles
Dry, ragged cuticles are one of those things that are easy to overlook until you literally can’t anymore. A body butter stick vs traditional body butter is perfect for cuticle care because you can swipe it directly across each nail without making a mess.
The same nourishing butters that soften dry skin on your body do the same work on cuticles!
#8. Natural Lip Care
The ingredients in a good body butter and the ingredients in a good lip balm have a lot in common. Shea butter, kokum butter, and beeswax are staples in both for a reason.
If you're ever in a pinch, a clean body butter stick can absolutely double as a lip treatment.
You Probably Didn’t Know Body Butter Could Do All That (And More)
Most people pick up body butter for one reason: dry skin, a recommendation from a friend, a specific problem they're trying to solve. And then they find out it works so well for that one thing that they start reaching for it everywhere else too.
That's kind of the point. When your ingredient list is clean and simple, you don't have to wonder whether it's safe for sensitive skin, or around your newborn, or on a post-shave irritation, or anywhere else you need it. You just know.
Ready to try body butter for yourself? Our solid body butter sticks are the perfect starting point:
Ready to give your skin the relief it's been asking for?
Grab your Body Butter Stick — including our fan-favorite Unscented formula, gentle enough for newborns, eczema-prone skin, and your favorite pets.
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