When the cold winds start blowing in the winter, everyone thinks of moisturizing their skin. Isn't it? A couple of decades back, a cold cream or a tub of Vaseline was the simplest way to get skin moisturized. However, the scenario has changed now. There are tons of moisturizing body care products like body lotion, body butter, body cream, body yoghurt, body oil and what not, to keep your skin well nourished and hydrated.
Today though, I am focusing on body butter and body lotion. The reason for choosing these two, is because I often come across many shoppers scratching their heads over questions like 'Is body butter and lotion the same thing?' or 'Which is better body lotion or body butter?' or 'What is the difference between body lotion and body butter?'.
Read on this article, while I clear your doubts regarding these two skincare products and help you decide which one is more suitable for you.
Body Butter vs Body Lotion: What is their difference?
For a start, let me tell you that body butter and body lotion are both moisturizers that are meant to reduce dryness and make your skin look & feel more healthy, smooth and soft. Though this is the biggest and known similarity between these two skincare products, knowing a few key differences - with respect to their ingredient list, texture and other features is vital.
What is Body Butter?
Body butter is a thick butter-like skin moisturizer that contains a combination of natural butters like shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, etc., and plant-based natural oils like jojoba oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil, etc. or coconut oil. Some body butters also contain essential oils to add a wonderful natural fragrance and healing properties to it.
With respect to their texture and consistency, body butters are thicker and heavier than lotions.
Benefits of Body Butter
Also Read: Review: Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore Body Lotion
- Body butters offer deep and long lasting moisturization by penetrating into the skin and keeping it healthy-looking and soft for long hours.
- They also help in improving skin elasticity and skin rejuvenation, besides reducing premature signs of ageing.
- Healing and reducing wrinkles, stretch marks, itchy and flaky skin, sunburns, rashes and skin issues like eczema and psoriasis are other benefits of using body butter.
- Since body butters offer intensive moisturization, they are in great demand during winters and ideal for people with dry skin, very dry skin, rough / dehydrated and flaky skin.
If you find your elbows, knees, hands, legs or any part of your body looking extra dry and parched like a desert, then I highly recommend that you buy a tub of Plum Body Lovin' Vanilla Vibes Body Butter or mCaffeine Naked & Rich Choco Body Butter (both are 100% vegan and cruelty-free products) or The Body Shop Strawberry Softening Body Butter (effective but costly) and apply/massage it directly on your skin after a shower or bath.
Likewise, if you are a would-be-mom or just out from pregnancy and want to reduce dryness and belly stretch marks, then I suggest you try out The Moms Co. Natural Body Butter. Its an amazing product with rave reviews from actual users. By the way, non-pregnant ladies can also try this luxurious body butter.
For best results, apply body butter at night, before sleeping. This gives this body moisturizer ample time to penetrate into your skin and restore it to its healthy glow. Since body butters are rich and heavy, they have the tendency to turn greasy and clog your pores. So do not use more than needed. Also avoid applying them on your face and during hot / humid weather.
What is Body Lotion?
Body lotion is a light-weight skin moisturizer that is typically made from a mixture of oils and water. It also contains moisturizing ingredients like squalene, aloe vera, honey, ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, etc. and other chemicals/preservatives.
Texture-wise body lotions are light-weight and have a thinner consistency than body butter.
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| Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Body Lotion |
Also Read: Review: Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore Body Lotion
Benefits of Body Lotion
- Body lotions are typically non-greasy and non-sticky. So they are very easy to apply and get quickly absorbed by the skin.
- Since body lotions have a good amount of water content, they are an excellent choice to maintain the skin's hydration level and keep the skin soft, nourished and supple through daily use.
- Be it moisturizing your body post bath, relieving itchiness, smoothening calluses on your feet or soothing rough spots on your skin, a body lotion can prove to be very handy in improving your skin's health and beauty.
- Being typically light-weight, body lotions can be applied anytime of the day or season and a perfect choice for people with normal, oily, combination and even sensitive skin type.
Right now the beauty market is flooded with different brands of body lotions. But if I had to recommend you'll from amongst the best body lotions in India, then my choice would be Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Body Lotion (great for all skin types), Parachute Advansed Deep Nourish Body Lotion (fabulous for dry skin) and Nivea Body Lotion (for very dry skin).
Apart from these, you can reach out to any of your favorite lotions and use them after a shower for nourished and healthy-looking skin.
What is Best For Your Skin - Body Butter or Body Lotion?
What type of body moisturizer is best for your skin, depends on your skin type and skin issues if any. As mentioned above, lotions are ideal for people with oily, normal and combination skin types while people with very dry skin or rough/flaky skin will find body butters more effective.
Apart from this, climatic conditions can also play a role in helping you choose a perfect moisturizer for your body. In general, lotions work better in humid climates and summers while body butters work best during winters and in cold/dry climates.
However there is no hard and fast rule that you can pick only one type of moisturizer at a time. Many people prefer using both in their skincare routine, as there are parts of our body like knees, elbows etc., that are more drier than the rest of the body. Some people on the other hand stick to one amongst these two.
Now that you know the subtle differences between body lotions and body butters, go ahead and choose what meets your skincare needs the most. Also do tell me in the comment section which one do you use most often - body lotion or body butter and your favorite ones if any.
Loved your blog.I recently purchased Body butter from a brand called Plum in vanilla flavour.I loved the texture,and has a sweet aroma in it.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Shruti Shetty
Thank you for the reply. Yes. I have heard good reviews about Plum Body Lovin Vanilla Vibes Body Butter. Glad it works for you :)
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