Body Butter vs. Lotion vs. Body Oil: Which Does Your Skin Need?

The difference comes down to water. A body lotion is mostly water with some oil, so it's light and sinks in fast. A body butter is mostly plant butters and oils with little or no water, so it's thick, rich and best for very dry skin. A body oil has no water at all and works best smoothed onto damp skin to seal moisture in. Here's how to pick, and how to use them together.

Body lotion vs body butter vs body oil at a glance

When should you use body lotion?

Lotion is the everyday option. It spreads easily over large areas, doesn't leave much residue and works under clothes straight away, so it suits mornings, warm weather and skin that's only a little dry.

Our organic body lotion with rosehip seed oil and shea comes lightly scented or unscented, and the eos Shea Better lotion is a big, lightweight bottle for daily use.

When should you use body butter?

Reach for a body butter when lotion isn't enough: rough elbows and knees, dry shins, hands and feet, or skin that feels tight in cold, dry air. Because butters contain little water, they leave a richer layer on the skin that helps slow moisture loss. That's also why a small amount covers a lot.

• Whipped butters, like our unscented whipped body butter, have air folded in, so they feel lighter and spread more easily. Unscented is also the safe choice if fragrance bothers you or you don't want it to clash with perfume.
• Dense, water-free butters such as the grapefruit shea butter cream are best on very dry areas and overnight.
• The cranberry body butter sits in between: rich, but made to absorb without feeling sticky.

When should you use body oil?

Oil is at its best on damp skin. Water is what actually hydrates; an oil applied right after a shower, while skin is still wet, holds that water in and leaves a soft sheen.

• A dry oil like our silky dry body oil absorbs quickly with no greasy feel, and a drop also tames flyaways.
• A richer oil like the lavender body oil can also go in the bath.

Where does a body scrub fit in?

A scrub removes the dull, dead surface layer so moisturizer works better and skin feels smoother. Most people only need to exfoliate the body once or twice a week; more often can leave skin irritated. Always follow the product's directions.

• Sugar and creamy scrubs, like the honey and almond body scrub, are the gentler choice.
• Salt scrubs, such as the coffee scrub with Dead Sea salt, polish harder and can sting on just-shaved skin or small cuts, so use them before shaving or on a different day.

Skip scrubbing on sunburned, broken or irritated skin.

What order should you apply body products in?

1. Wash with a gentle cleanser in warm, not hot, water.
2. Scrub (once or twice a week) on damp skin, in small circles, then rinse.
3. Pat skin partly dry with a towel; leave it a little damp.
4. Oil first if you use one, while skin is still damp.
5. Lotion or butter on top: lotion for everyday, butter where skin is driest.

For very dry skin in winter, oil followed by butter at night is the most effective combination. In summer, a dry oil or lotion on its own is usually plenty.

Which one should you choose?

• Normal skin, busy mornings: lotion.
• Dry, rough or winter skin: body butter, at least at night.
• Dull skin, or you want a glow: dry oil on damp skin.
• Flaky patches: add a scrub once or twice a week, then moisturize.

You can browse all of these in Bath & Body. If you're choosing for someone else, our spa gift basket guide covers which sets pair a scrub with a butter or oil.