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Knowledge 4 min read forpeople skincare

Body Oil or Body Butter – Which One When?

In short

Body oil is liquid, spreads easily and usually absorbs faster; body butter is solid, only melts on the skin and leaves a more noticeable layer. Oil works well for the whole body and for every day. Butter suits very dry areas such as elbows, knees and shins, and cold days. Neither contains water. That is why you apply both best straight after a shower.

Contents

What is the difference?Body oil and body butter compared How to use: ideally after a shower Combining oil and butter What customers say about absorption Frequently asked questions Body oils and body butter from forpeople

What is the difference?

A body oil is made from plant oils that are liquid at room temperature, for example sesame oil or safflower oil. It can be spread thinly over large areas.

A body butter is made from plant butters such as cocoa butter and shea butter, plus oil and wax. At room temperature it is solid. On warm skin it softens. The oils absorb, while the butter and wax stay on the skin as a thin layer for longer.

Body oil and body butter compared

Feature	Body oil	Body butter
Texture	liquid	solid, melts on the skin
Applying	warm a few drops in your hands, massage in	warm in your hands or glide it directly over the skin
Absorption	usually faster	slower, best on warm skin
Layer on the skin	light	more noticeable, stays longer
Good for	large areas, daily care, massage	very dry areas, winter, wind
On the go	in a glass bottle	solid, does not leak; also available as a travel size
Contains water	no	no

How to use: ideally after a shower

Oil and butter contain no water. So they do not add moisture; they keep the moisture in the skin. That is why they work best on skin that is still slightly damp and warm.

Body oil: After showering, just pat your skin lightly. Warm a few drops of oil between your hands and massage them in with circular movements.
Body butter: Warm the butter briefly in your hands or glide it directly over warm skin. Then spread it with your hands.
Amount: A little is enough. If a shiny layer is still there after a few minutes, you used too much.

If you apply oil in the shower, watch out for the slippery floor. If your skin becomes irritated, stop using the product.

Combining oil and butter

By body area: oil for arms, legs and back; butter on elbows, knees, shins and feet.
By time of day: oil in the morning because it absorbs faster; butter in the evening, when your skin has time.
By season: rather oil in summer, rather butter in winter when your skin feels rough.

What customers say about absorption

The reviews show the difference clearly. For the Body Oil - Lemongrass, 31 comments saying it absorbs well stand against one critical comment; for the Body Oil - Cinnamon & Cloves the ratio is 8 to 0. For the solid body butter the picture is more balanced: 9 comments praise how it absorbs, 6 are critical. That fits the more noticeable layer of the butter. Among the pure oils, the ratio is 11 to 1 for almond oil and 9 to 1 for jojoba oil.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for dry skin, oil or butter?
Both keep moisture in the skin. Butter leaves the stronger layer and therefore suits very dry areas. Oil is lighter and suits the whole body.

Do I need a cream as well?
Not necessarily. If your skin feels supple after the oil or butter, you do not need anything else.

Can I use pure oils on my body?
Yes. Almond oil and jojoba oil are suitable for the whole body. Argan oil and wild rose seed oil come in 50 ml bottles and are used more often on the face.

Why does the body butter get soft in summer?
Cocoa butter and shea butter melt in the heat. Store the tin somewhere cool and it will set again.