The 9 Best Body Butters Saving Our Skin This Winter

“I used it on my feet (the roughest part of my body) every night and saw significant improvement in softness,” says writer Riley Blanton, MS, LMFT. Blanton appreciated the whipped texture, which helped it spread and absorb more easily. However, like many tallow products, this one does leave a slight residue (blame all those occlusive fatty acids).

Blanton also liked the subtle scent, likely from the manuka honey and rosehip oil, but it could bother fragrance-sensitive individuals.

Dull-looking, ashy skin often goes hand in hand with dryness, but not every moisturizer addresses this concern. This whipped butter from Buttah is different. Writer Maria Cristina Lalonde saw her ashy skin regain its healthy glow after using it for a few weeks. “My skin is notably improved in terms of dryness and ashy appearance,” she says. She also couldn’t stop raving about the butter’s scent.

“I am obsessed with the scent! It’s yummy (I mean it — I almost want to eat this moisturizer) without being overpowering. I always find myself smelling my hands after applying and getting a little mood boost,” she says.

That said, we acknowledge that scent can be a deal breaker for those with sensitive skin and noses. This one also takes a minute to rub in, but it doesn’t leave behind a residue, which we love for a super thick body butter like this one.

Anyone with eczema or reactive skin knows it can be challenging to find a moisturizer that actually makes a difference and won’t cause flare-ups. One reliable indicator that a product is worth a try, however, is when it carries the National Eczema Association (NEA) Seal of Acceptance.

Chatham Natural’s All Over Butter – Eczema Therapy earned the NEA seal because it doesn’t include any allergens or irritants that the NEA recognizes as potential eczema triggers. [Nataional Eczema Association. The Ecz-clusion List. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-products/the-ecz-clusion-list/ .]

It does, however, include a powerful active ingredient — colloidal oatmeal — which can help ease eczema and other minor skin irritations. [Sobhan M et al. The Efficacy of Colloidal Oatmeal Cream 1% as Add-on Therapy in the Management of Chronic Irritant Hand Eczema: A Double-Blind Study. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. March 25, 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7103792/].

“It absorbs very quickly and leaves skin feeling smooth,” says writer Nicole LaMarco, who tested this one. She notes it “melts like butter” into the skin and absorbs quickly. It worked well for her eczema-prone skin, and she wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others with sensitive skin.

When I tested this body butter, I immediately noticed a difference in my skin. It went from ashy and textured to smooth and glowy, and that effect lasted all day. It takes a minute to rub in, but once it absorbs, it feels like you’re walking around in a velvety forcefield. I could not stop touching my skin, it’s that good.

The butter does have a slight fragrance — warmly botanical with woodsy undertones — but it’s not overwhelming. Best part: You get a ton of product for the price, and you don’t need much to cover your whole body.

A luxurious body butter doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. This popular pick from Eos is a prime example. From its delectable scent to its impossibly fluffy texture, it’s on par with many high-end moisturizers I’ve tested.

The most polarizing ingredient is the vanilla cashmere scent. Personally, I enjoy it — it immediately evokes a tropical vacation — but I can see how it could turn people off. The vanilla is quite strong, so if you’re not a vanilla person, it’s probably an automatic “no.” But if vanilla is your go-to scent, you’re going to fall in love with this winter skin-saver.

Picture the perfect mound of fluffy, whipped butter. That’s Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Butter. When I opened the container for the first time, I almost tasted it (reader: I did not, but I really had to stop myself). It’s light to the touch but somehow also dense and even bounces back a bit. I attribute that to all the shea and jojoba butters in the formula, which can help your skin lock in moisture.

I love how easily this body butter spreads over the skin. It feels like it’s melting in like, ahem, butter. That said, if I use just a bit too much (which is easy to do because it feels so good to apply), it leaves a greasy residue that takes time to dissipate. I also don’t love the scent.

While the scent is natural, the honey and soy milk evoke baking rather than a spa (which I prefer). However, it doesn’t last, and I know plenty of people who would be all about it. And frankly, for how amazingly smooth and soft it left my skin, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

Most people’s biggest gripe with body butter is that it can take a while to rub in and absorb into the skin. Body butters are formulated with occlusive hydrators, which have a thicker consistency (ideal for locking in moisture), and thus can sit atop the skin longer. However, this pick from hair care staple Moroccanoil absorbs quickly without sacrificing skin barrier–protecting ingredients.

It’s on the thicker side, but once you warm it between your fingers, it spreads very easily. I was honestly shocked by how quickly it melted into my skin, leaving little to no residue. It left my skin velvety smooth and gave it a nice lit-from-within glow. It even helped soften my super dry skin patches (thanks, dermatitis).

My only complaint is the scent. The spicy, floral notes just aren’t my jam, though scent is so subjective that I could easily see this appealing to plenty of people, especially if you’re not scent-averse.

I know, I know, I just said scent preference is subjective, so what I deem the best scented body butter may not be your favorite. That said, if you enjoy an elevated, spa-like scent, this body butter is for you. And if you don’t, it comes in five other incredible, complex scents, ranging from floral to juicy to fresh. I love layering scented lotions with my perfumes, and the driftwood scent complements the woodsy notes I enjoy so well.

Dry, cold weather can significantly compromise the skin barrier simply by increasing water loss. A good body butter, like this pick from vegan brand Osea, can help mitigate that with emollient ingredients that help seal in moisture.

I felt these benefits pretty quickly when I started using this body butter. It’s the thickest of the ones I tested, but once I warmed it between my fingers, it melted into my skin. After using it for a week or so, I definitely noticed less crepiness, and my dry patches had softened considerably. And the smell is a lovely, light, citrus that evokes brighter days ahead.