Best Body Butters
A good body butter is the richest, most comforting step in a body care routine. Thicker and more concentrated than a lotion, a body butter is built around nourishing plant butters and oils that seal moisture into the skin and leave it feeling soft, supple and protected. It is the format to reach for when skin is dry, tight or in need of a little extra care, particularly through colder months or after sun exposure.
But not all body butters are the same. The best combine that cushioning richness with ingredients that genuinely support the skin barrier, rather than simply sitting on top of it. The formulas below have been chosen for their quality, their texture and their staying power, spanning everything from accessible high-street staples to considered, science-led treatments.
Our Top Body Butters
Sunday Sofa Rejuvenating Body Butter
“Sunday Sofa proves that a body butter can be both indulgent and clinically considered. This rich, concentrated formula is powered by rambutan leaf extract, a natural retinol alternative, alongside hyaluronic acid and adaptogenic Siberian ginseng, and is clinically proven to improve firmness and elasticity while delivering up to 48 hours of lasting moisture. A supercharged blend of botanical butters and oils fortifies the skin barrier for softer, stronger, deeply nourished skin, and the cosy notes of vanilla, chocolate and cardamom make it a genuine ritual. It is free from sulphates, parabens, microplastics and phthalates, and was named Best Renewing Body Butter at the 2024 Cosmopolitan Skin Awards.”
Shea Body Butter
“The product that defined the category, The Body Shop’s Shea Body Butter uses community-trade shea butter and cocoa seed butter to deliver deep, long-lasting moisture in a classic thick, whipped texture. It is affordable, widely available and endlessly reliable for very dry skin, which is exactly why it has kept its loyal following for decades.”
Cocoa Butter Formula Firming Butter
“A budget-friendly staple built around rich cocoa butter and vitamin E, with added collagen and elastin to support firmness, Palmer’s Firming Butter melts into a dense, nourishing layer. It is a dependable, no-nonsense tub that delivers serious richness alongside a light firming focus, all without a high price tag.”
Skin Food Body Butter
“An extension of Weleda’s iconic Skin Food, this natural, vegan body butter combines organic shea and cocoa butter with soothing pansy, calendula and chamomile extracts. The soft, whipped texture melts in without feeling heavy, making it a lovely option for very dry skin from a brand with genuine natural credentials.”
Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream
“Formulated with 25% fair-trade shea butter, this ultra-rich body cream sits at the more luxurious end of the everyday market. It is deeply nourishing yet dermatologically tested and gentle enough for sensitive, very dry skin, offering that cushioning body-butter richness in a beautifully textured cream.”
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
“A cult favourite thanks to its warm, gourmand Cheirosa 62 scent, Bum Bum Cream pairs caffeine-rich guaraná with cupuaçu butter, acai oil and squalane. The texture is richer than a lotion but absorbs quickly, and its fans love it as much for the fragrance as for the soft, conditioned finish it leaves behind.”
The Body Cream
“The luxury anchor of any body butter line-up, The Body Cream is built around Augustinus Bader’s patented TFC8 complex, developed from cellular-renewal research. Rich but never heavy, it supports firmness, texture and barrier resilience, and comes backed by the brand’s strong clinical positioning for those who want a genuine investment piece.”
Body Superfood Repairing Body Butter Cocoa & Ceramide
“The genuine tub butter in Garnier’s viral Body Superfood range, this repairing formula pairs cocoa seed butter and shea butter with ceramide and glycerin to nourish and strengthen very dry skin. It is vegan, affordable and widely available, offering proper body-butter richness at a supermarket price.”
The Righteous Butter
“A genuine British cult classic, Soap & Glory’s The Righteous Butter combines shea butter, aloe vera, vitamin E and rosehip seed oil for velvety, cushioning hydration, and is proven to keep skin moisturised for up to 72 hours. Add in the brand’s signature Original Pink scent and an accessible price, and it remains one of the most-loved body butters on the UK high street.”
The Ritual of Sakura Whipped Body Cream
“A best-selling whipped body cream that blends cherry blossom and organic rice milk with vitamin E and Centella Asiatica, Rituals’ Sakura formula offers a rich, melt-in feel at an accessible mid-market price. It is also refillable, which adds a welcome sustainability angle to a genuinely lovely everyday butter.”
What should you look for in a body butter?
The heart of any body butter is its occlusive and emollient base, typically shea, cocoa or cupuacu butter, which locks moisture in and cushions the skin. Look for supporting humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid to draw water into the skin, and barrier-supporting oils rich in fatty acids to strengthen and soften. More advanced formulas add actives like peptides, retinol alternatives or antioxidants to support firmness and skin health over time, taking a body butter beyond simple comfort into genuine skin care.
How and when should you use a body butter?
Body butter is best applied to clean, slightly damp skin, ideally straight after a shower or bath, when it can trap the water already on the surface and maximise hydration. Because butters are richer than lotions, they are especially suited to evening use and to drier areas such as elbows, knees, shins and heels. For very dry skin, a butter can be used daily, while others may prefer it as a richer treatment layered over a lighter lotion or serum when skin needs extra care.
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