Body Butter vs Body Oil: What's the Difference?

Body butter and body oil are two of the most loved ways to nourish dry skin, and it is easy to assume they do the same job. They both feel luxurious, and both leave skin soft, but they work in different ways. Knowing the difference helps you get better results, and even better, it shows you how to use them together.

The short answer

Body oil is a blend of oils that absorbs into the skin and adds slip, glow, and nourishment. Body butter is a thicker, cream like blend of plant butters and oils that sits on the surface and seals moisture in. Oil feeds the skin. Butter locks it in. For lasting hydration, especially on very dry skin, body butter usually holds moisture longer.

What is body butter?

Body butter is a concentrated moisturizer made mostly from plant butters such as shea, cocoa, and mango, combined with oils. It is thick, creamy, and low in water, so it forms a soft protective layer that keeps moisture from escaping. For a deeper look, see our guide on what body butter is.

What is body oil?

Body oil is exactly what it sounds like, a blend of nourishing oils with no water content. Depending on the oils used, it can feel light and fast sinking or rich and slow to absorb. Oils are excellent at softening skin and adding a healthy sheen, and they glide on beautifully after a shower.

The one thing most oils do not do well on their own is seal. Because they lack the buttery, occlusive body of a true butter, oil alone can leave very dry skin wanting more.

Body butter vs body oil: the key differences

Which should you choose?

Reach for body butter when your skin feels genuinely dry, tight, or rough, or when the weather is cold and harsh. It is the better choice for lasting moisture and for problem areas like elbows, knees, and heels. Our guide to the best body butter for dry skin goes deeper on this.

Reach for body oil when you want a fast, glowy finish, a slip for massage, or a lightweight option in warm weather.

The best of both: layering

Here is the secret most people miss. You do not have to choose. Oil and butter work beautifully together when you layer them.

1. Start with body oil on damp skin, straight out of the shower, to feed the skin and add glow.
2. Follow with body butter to seal everything in and keep that moisture from escaping.

This oil first, butter second method gives you the nourishment of oil and the staying power of butter. It is one of the most effective ways to rescue very dry skin.

Why body butter wins for lasting moisture

If you can only keep one on your shelf, body butter is the more complete choice for most skin. Because our formulas are built around rich plant butters like shea rather than water or oil alone, they nourish and seal at the same time.

Explore the scents in our luxury body butter collection, and if you want to compare butter with a lighter everyday option, our body butter vs lotion guide breaks that down too.

Frequently asked questions

Is body oil or body butter better for dry skin?

Body butter is usually better for very dry skin because it seals moisture in for longer. Body oil nourishes well but can benefit from a butter layer on top to lock it in.

Can you use body oil and body butter together?

Yes. Apply oil first on damp skin, then body butter on top. The oil feeds the skin and the butter seals it, which is ideal for stubborn dryness.

Does body oil last as long as body butter?

On its own, usually not. Oil absorbs and can fade faster, while body butter forms a protective layer that holds moisture for hours.

When should I use body oil?

Body oil is great after a shower for glow, for massage, or as a lightweight option in warm, humid weather.

The bottom line

Body oil nourishes. Body butter nourishes and seals. Both are wonderful, but if you want soft skin that stays soft, body butter is the one that goes the distance, and layering the two gives you the best of both.

Ready to feel it for yourself? Browse the Luxury Life Butter collection and find your scent.