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Body lotion can hold its own on an average day, but once we enter full arctic-tundra mode, the best body butters give your shins, elbows, and everything in between the richer, creamier, more satisfying moisture they’re begging for. What makes them different? Think thick, whipped textures packed with shea butter, cocoa butter, squalane, ceramides—all the good stuff your skin actually drinks up. A great one doesn’t just sit on top; it hugs your skin, keeps it comfy, and, of course, sends dryness and flaky skin packing.
Our Top Body Butters
Frequently Asked Questions
Ahead, you’ll find the picks our editors reach for when their skin is cracking, irritated, or just desperately in need of some serious TLC. Whether you want fragrance-free, ultra-luxe, drugstore, or dermatologist-loved formulas, there’s a butter here for every skin type (and budget).
Best Overall: OSEA Undaria Algae Body Butter
Why we love it: No matter where you land on the skin-type spectrum, OSEA’s Undaria Algae Body Butter has you covered. If you’re noticing signs of aging, the combo of undaria seaweed extract and caffeine helps visibly firm, smooth, and refine texture over time. Dry skin? Shea butter and the brand’s Skin-Identical Moisturizing Complex (a carbohydrate-derived humectant) step in with deep, lasting hydration that leaves your skin ridiculously soft. Sensitive or easily irritated? Oat-derived ceramides and aloe calm redness and replenish the moisture barrier. Even oilier skin types can benefit: This butter sinks in quickly without a greasy feel, helping balance hydration so your skin won’t overcompensate with excess sebum.
Tester feedback from creative producer Sydney Malone
“This body butter smells absolutely divine—it’s got a mild enough scent as to not overwhelm, but rather to make you feel luxurious and moisturized. I appreciate how thick this cream is because with just one application, I feel like I wouldn’t need to use body lotion again until tomorrow! Perfect for dry or winter weather, especially for us dry skin girlies.” —Sydney Malone, creative producer
- Key ingredients: undaria seaweed, shea butter, ceramides
- Who it’s for: people with dry skin or signs of aging (crepiness, loss of firmness)
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Glow: Mutha Body Butter Glow
Why we love it: Mutha Body Butter Glow takes the brand’s beloved original and adds a golden, sparkling twist thanks to finely milled mica, giving you moisture and a subtle bronzy sheen in one scoop. The whipped base of shea, cocoa, and mango seed butters melts instantly, while a blend of coconut, avocado, rosehip, and grape seed oils floods skin with nourishment and keeps it hydrated for up to 48 hours. This same blend of oils is also known for helping improve skin tone, discoloration from stretch marks, and overall firmness with continued use. The tint is universal, blends in effortlessly, and keeps that sun-kissed, vacation vibe going even in the dead of winter.
“If I have to choose between getting 60 more seconds of sleep or applying body lotion post-shower…well, let’s just say I’ll be hitting the snooze button. Unless, of course, I’ve got a tub of Mutha Body Butter Glow on hand. Unlike most body products, this one doesn’t feel like a chore to apply: The whipped formula melts into my skin in mere seconds, leaving behind only a healthy-looking glow and lasting hydration.” —Dianna Singh, features director
- Key ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, mango seed butter, cocoa seed butter, mica
- Who it’s for: people with dry skin, stretch marks, or discoloration
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Long-Lasting: Kiehl’s Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalane Cream
Why we love it: Just like with all their sensitive skin-friendly products, Kiehl’s Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalane Cream keeps things refreshingly uncomplicated. Its formula leans on a trio of extra-gentle, yet hardworking ingredients: Squalane for lightweight emollience, ceramides to help maintain a strong, healthy barrier, and ectoin to support long-lasting moisture retention. Even better: You don’t have to keep reapplying all day to feel hydrated. Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami, previously told Allure that it’s “not too thick,” fast-absorbing, and has a light, non-greasy texture that won’t trigger sensitivity. And for itchy, reactive skin types, it also helps with conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“Moisturizing from head to toe is non-negotiable—or else my skin gets so itchy that it wakes me up in the middle of the night. I’ve used a lot of body butters, some better than others, but what sets this apart is its whipped texture, which is nourishing enough to keep me from scratching, but sinks in immediately. It’s been a godsend as the temperatures rise, since I don’t have to worry about waiting for it to absorb. And a little goes a long way, so I’m hoping the tub lasts me through summer.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce writer
- Key ingredients: shea butter, squalane, glacial glycoproteins, pro-ceramides, ectoin
- Who it’s for: people with dry, itchy skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Scent: Saltair Santal Bloom Multi-Lipid Body Butter
Why we love it: Once you apply Saltair’s Santal Bloom Multi-Lipid Body Butter, you’ll be double-checking your receipt. A 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, this rich, whipped body butter under $25 feels (and performs) like something with a much higher price tag. The formula is packed with barrier-loving ceramides, moisture-replenishing phospholipids, and nourishing coconut and sea buckthorn oils, all melting into skin with a velvety, never-greasy finish. The warm sandalwood-amber-musk scent is downright dreamy, the minimalist packaging is chic enough to leave out on display, and the generous 10-ounce jar feels like it lasts forever. It’s an elevated experience from the very first scoop.
“I love a big ol’ tub of body butter—especially when it costs 20 bucks. With its notes of rose, jasmine, and sandalwood, this stuff smells way more expensive than it should; the scent is light and elegant, not sickly sweet like many other drugstore-priced options. The formula is great too: It’s a mid-weight cream that makes your skin feel hydrated, not sticky. I like it best for the spring and fall.” —Kara McGrath, content director
- Key ingredients: ceramides, sea buckthorn oil, glycerin, phospholipids
- Who it’s for: all skin types
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Drugstore: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Cream
Why we love it: You know what they say: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—and Aveeno has been proving that for nearly 70 years with its trusty oat-filled formulas. Their Daily Moisturizing Cream delivers 48 hours of velvety, cushiony hydration, helping dry, tight skin feel like itself again. Oat Butter (a cozy blend of prebiotic oat and shea butter) is the obvious star, but the supporting lineup pulls its weight too with glycerin that draws moisture in and isopropyl myristate that helps seal it in without ever feeling heavy. Still, even with all that richness, it’s still light enough to use on your face and hands.
“I grew up with sensitive skin that would welt when I scratched it lightly—especially during the winter when it was dry. Aveeno’s many creams and lotions have always been what I look for to soothe it. This jiggly formula moisturizes my skin without feeling greasy or sticky and keeps it that way all day.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior editor
- Key ingredients: shea butter, prebiotic oat, glycerin
- Who it’s for: people with dry, sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Lightweight: Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter
Josie Maran
Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter
Why we love it: “Whipped,” “churned,” and “cold-pressed” might read like a dessert menu, but they’re also the perfect way to describe Josie Maran’s luxe Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter—which, if we’re honest, is basically dessert for your skin. The star is her cold-pressed argan oil, which is very rich in vitamin E, which helps keep skin soft and supple and guards the skin against free radicals, says Dr. Gold. Despite how decadent it feels, the formula stays delightfully lightweight, thanks to essential fatty acids that help boost elasticity and counter loss of firmness. It’s blended with avocado oil for even more firmness, shea butter to keep skin soothed and supple, and white and green tea extracts for an antioxidant hit. Plus, it comes in seven fun scents (and a fragrance-free option), so there’s truly one for everyone.
“I slather Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Topless Tangerine all over my limbs (also my butt) every morning. Except when I reach for the Bohemian Fig. It’s always one or the other—unless it’s the Vanilla Bean. Every scent of this luscious cream is more irresistible than the next—not surprising since they were dreamed up by perfumer Jerome Epinette, who also created some of my (and probably your) favorite scents from Byredo, Phlur, Victoria Beckham, and many more.” —Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director
- Key ingredients: argan oil, white tea extract, aloe vera, avocado oil
- Who it’s for: dry and mature skin
- Fragrance-free: no
More body butters we love
Best Multipurpose: L’Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter
L’Occitane
Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter
Why we love it: We love playing scientist and dissecting every ingredient in our skin-care lineup, but L’Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter keeps things blissfully simple: It’s 100% pure shea butter, and that’s all it needs. “If you have sensitive and dry skin, looking for a product with the fewest ingredients possible can be crucial to minimizing irritation. Shea butter goes on silky and can significantly hydrate and soothe the skin,” says Peter Bittar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. You can use it pretty much everywhere, but since the texture is thicker and the tin is smaller, it’s not the kind of cream you scoop and slather. Think of it as a concentrated, go-anywhere treatment balm for lips, cuticles, elbows, heels, and even dry hair ends.
- Key ingredients: shea butter
- Who it’s for: anyone with dry skin, cuticles, or lips
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Firming: Murad Retinal ReSculpt Firming Body Treatment Cream
Murad
Retinal ReSculpt Firming Body Treatment Cream
Why we love it: It’s rare to see a retinoid in a body butter—retinol usually isn’t stable enough for the classic jar format of most body butters—but Murad’s Retinal ReSculpt Firming Body Treatment Cream pulls it off. The secret is encapsulated retinal, which “is a stronger version of retinol that can help fight wrinkles, smooth fine lines, and even out texture,” says Dr. Bittar. Because it’s encapsulated, it delivers potent vitamin A deeper into the skin with far less irritation. The whipped, shea-butter base also gets a high-performance upgrade with milk thistle to firm, bentonite clay-encapsulated shea butter to tighten and refine crepiness, plus avocado extract and squalane for silky, all-day moisture. Best of all, as Dr. Bittar points out, it “goes on rich and smoothly,” the kind of texture dry and mature skin absolutely drinks up.
- Key ingredients: encapsulated retinol, milk thistle, bentonite clay-encapsulated shea butter, avocado extract, squalane
- Who it’s for: people who have saggy or crepey skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Barrier Repair: Sol De Janeiro Delicia Drench Body Butter
Sol de Janeiro
Delicia Drench Body Butter
Why we love it: Leave it to Sol de Janeiro to take the mundane task of applying body lotion and turn it into a full-on ritual of self-confidence, lush tropical scents, and skin that feels ridiculously pampered. Delícia Drench is their most indulgent body butter yet, whipped to a fluffy, cloud-like texture that sinks in fast while locking in moisture and restoring your skin barrier. It’s loaded with a Brazilian Soothing Complex (copaiba resin and passionflower seed oil) to calm cranky, stressed-out skin, plus prebiotic hibiscus to support a happy, balanced microbiome. The scent is inspired by their Cheirosa ‘59 perfume, a warm, cozy blend of velvet plum, sugared violet, vanilla orchid, and sheer sandalwood. One dollop and you’re basically on vacation.
- Key ingredients: bacuri butter, shea butter, hibiscus, copaiba resin, passionflower seed oil
- Who it’s for: all skin types, especially very dry skin
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
How does moisture loss affect the skin barrier?
“The function of the skin is to be a protective barrier of the underlying tissues, protecting the internal organs from infections and irritation,” Birmingham, Atlanta-based board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, explains. “Desiccation and stress disruption of the protective barrier can lead to the increase of transepidermal water loss, and therefore conditions that are associated with skin, dryness, and irritations.” So essentially, the more you skip out on moisturizing your face and body, the more prone you’ll be to flaking, itching, and other irritation to the skin barrier.
Who should use body butter?
Most dermatologists agree that very dry skin would benefit best from body butter, which Dr. Hartman describes as “a waterless, thicker version of a body lotion.” However, especially during the drier, winter months, anyone could benefit from a heavier formula. In general, it’s great for anyone to use a body butter, but especially if your body wash is more drying, which might be the case if you’re using one formulated with exfoliating ingredients like AHAs, retinol, and salicylic acid.
What ingredients should I look for in body butter?
Look out for familiar, hydrating powerhouses, Dr. Hartman notes, “such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and oils like coconut and avocado, as well as vitamin E, which softens skin and protects the skin’s moisture barrier.” (Spoiler: You’ll notice that most of the picks listed below will boast shea butter, a rich emollient that heals cracked skin, thanks to a composition that includes vitamins A, E, and F.) Dr. Hartman also adds that it’s best to avoid any ingredients that will dry out the skin, like alcohol or witch hazel.
How do I use body butter in my skin-care routine?
Since there’s very little to no water in body butters, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Julie E. Russak, MD, says the best time to use one is when you’ve just stepped out of the shower—when your skin is damp. “Pat the skin dry, and while the skin is still moist, apply body butter to all the areas that are rough and dry, including feet, hands, ankles, and elbows,” Dr. Russak says. “This locks in the moisture obtained from the shower, decreases trans-epidermal water loss, and helps repair the barrier.”
Meet the experts
- Peter Bittar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Miami Dermatology & Laser Institute, based in Miami
- Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
- Michael H. Gold, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Nashville
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology based in Birmingham, AL
- Julie E. Russak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best body butters, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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