These Body Butters Will Pamper and Revitalize Your Parched Skin

If the swing between frigid outdoor temps and too-dry heaters is wreaking havoc on your skin (same), it’s time to consider adding the best body butters to your routine. Not only can these moisturizers help boost hydration and lock in moisture, but their smooth and velvety texture is ideal for nourishing skin during the winter months, when cold, dry air can cause excess flakiness and itchiness (and exacerbate sensitive skin conditions like eczema or keratosis pilaris). Here, we tested over a dozen different body butters and narrowed it down to our 12 favorites that leave the skin feeling ultra nourished. Our top pick overall was the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream, a cult-favorite of Glamour editors and contributors alike because it hydrates for hours (thanks to the cupuaçu butter infused in the formula) and smells incredibly delicious with notes of salted caramel and pistachio.

The best body butters, at a glance

How we chose the best body butters

Best Overall: Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream

Sol de Janeiro’s Bum Bum Cream has gained a cult following—and for good reason. (In fact, Glamour’s art director, Allie Folino, praised the the Delícia Drench Body Butter as her favorite Sol de Janiero body butter of all time.)

The Bum Bum Cream has coconut oil, cupuaçu butter, Brazil nut, guarana, and acai oil that work together to soften and tighten skin for a visibly supple appearance. Glamour’s commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary is a massive fan of this body cream because it makes her skin feel extremely soft and has a long-lasting scent. “I’ve probably gone through 10 of these tubs over the span of my beauty career. It smooths out my dry patches and leaves behind the most delicious scent that makes me look forward to moisturizing every time I step out of the shower. I always bring a mini tub when I’m traveling to keep my skin nourished and crack-free post-plane TLC, especially when I’m headed somewhere cold.”

Best for Sensitive Skin: Necessaire The Body Butter

If you have sensitive skin, dermatologists recommend a fragrance-free body butter. “The texture is rich but absorbs well, making it great for very dry skin without feeling greasy. Most body butters do contain fragrances, so for those with very sensitive eczema prone skin, this is a great option,” says Dr. Rambhia. This luxurious pick also combines niacinamide and hyaluronic acid plus ceramides for an ultra-hydrating and velvety finish. It’s also non-comedogenic, which makes it suitable for acne-prone skin.

“I deal with breakouts on my back sometimes, so using a non-comedogenic moisturizer in these areas has made a huge difference. The formula of this one is lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly, so you don’t feel greasy or sticky post-application. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who has body breakouts but still wants to ensure that their skin is hydrated and silky,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best for Dry Skin: Youth To The People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter

If your skin needs a boost of moisture, look to this creamy body butter that will soften and smooth your skin. It has a blend of niacinamide, cupuaçu butter, yuzu and green tea to eliminate redness and uneven texture. Glamour’s Kilkeary loves this butter for when her legs are looking particularly dry. “I like to slather this all over my legs if they’re looking cracked and dull, and it instantly adds a layer of shine without grease or oiliness. It also smells so good you’ll feel like you just got a massage.”

Best for Calming Skin: Skinfix Barrier+ Lipid-Boost Body Cream

“This is a luxurious, fragrance-free cream-butter hybrid that’s clinically proven to improve skin barrier function. It contains a patented triple lipid complex, peptides, and shea butter. What makes it stand out is its combination of barrier-supporting lipids with active ingredients like peptides and seaweed extracts for both hydration and skin firming,” says Dr. Rambhia.

“Though a bit more like a cream in consistency than a thick body butter, this product is highly moisturizing,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley. “You do have to really rub it in, but it really penetrates skin for lasting hydration. Great for feet and elbows, especially since the finish isn’t greasy.

Best for Firming: Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter

Osea’s body butter promises up to 72 hours of hydration thanks to ingredients like undaria seaweed, shea butter, and ceramides which replenish the skin’s moisture barrier and makes the skin look and feel more resilient and firm.

“I really like the texture of this product,” says Earley. “It’s thick like a traditional body butter, but absorbs faster and doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy or waxy. It has a really pleasing citrus-like scent that lingers, but isn’t potent enough to interfere with any fragrance you may want to wear.”

Best for Bumpy Skin: Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment

If you deal with rough patches or uneven skin tone, you’ll want to pick up this gentle and KP-friendly formula from Paula’s Choice. Using a special blend of butters and retinol, this body butter will soothe even the roughest patches for a smooth and silky soft finish.

“I sometimes get rough skin patches on my arms and legs when my skin is ultra dry in the wintertime,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “This retinol-packed body lotion does a great job at calming these areas, helps rid of redness and uneven skin texture or tone. I also love that it has vitamin C to brighten and even out areas of discoloration over time.”

Best Lightweight Moisturizer: Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream

Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist, calls this body-care product a must-have because the “super-moisturizing” formula features a slew of all-star ingredients like mango butter, sunflower oil, coconut oil, glycerin, and shea butter for intense hydration and a nongreasy finish. The delicate fruity aroma is just a bonus.

“This body butter is such a treat. I love to slap it on post-everything shower and let it seep into any dry areas (which typically takes no more than a minute). It leaves my skin silky smooth and also doesn’t feel too heavy on the skin post-application. It blends right in with little finesse and rubbing, and I’ve also been loving pairing it with self-tanning drops for extra glow,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.

Best Scent: Kopari Ultra Restore Body Butter

There’s lots to love about Kopari’s Ultra Restore Body Butter, from its hyaluronic-acid-spiked formula to its downright intoxicating coconut-milk scent. It’s made with coconut oil and skin-softening mango butter, which, according to Dr. Green, “contains more fatty acids than shea and cocoa butter to provide extra moisture for a smoother, softer skin.”

“I love opening up this body butter because it smells so good. It also actually keeps my body moisturized throughout the day (or night). Between the winter and using a space heater in my bedroom, my body has been extremely dry. This moisturizer keeps my body smooth and soft for hours upon hours. It is tricky to lather on though. You really have to rub it in because the texture is super thick,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.

Best Luxury: Glossier Crème de You Dry-Touch Body Butter

So you want to layer your body butter with perfume? This luxurious pick is a Glamour editor staple. “I’ve always loved the Glossier You perfume, which is kind of like a mood ring–it smells different on everyone, in a great way–so I was especially drawn to this new lotion, which has a similar fragrance but in a dreamy body butter form,” says Glamour commerce director Brie Schwartz. And it didn’t disappoint, she says. “It’s not at all greasy, and once it’s fully absorbed, it doesn’t leave a residue and I’ve been using it every day for a few months, so I can’t wait to restock.”

Best Barrier-Repairing: Ouai Melrose Place Moisturizing Body Cream

If you want to hydrate your skin and repair its barrier, this body cream is chock full of butters, squalane and coconut oil to help you do so.