If you're serious about skincare, you've probably heard the word body butter bouncing around in conversations with your friends, via the internet, or in your favorite beauty magazines. But what is body butter, and how can it benefit your skin? Keep reading to learn about this type of moisturizer and how it can help you and your skin.
What is Body Butter?
Body butter is a deeply hydrating skin moisturizer. It is typically a thick cream made of cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter. Some butters are also infused with essential oils for an added indulgence for your skin. Body butter’s unique formula means that it can help protect your skin from dryness and help you recover from rough or dry skin. It does so by locking in moisture. It can also help aging skin that is losing its ability to stay moisturized, healthy-looking, and luminous. Some formulas may also contain special ingredients that address specific skin issues, such as emollients, to soften the skin or humectants to add a dose of moisture.
Types of Body Butter
Body butter typically contains one of the following: cocoa butter, shea butter or mango butter. Here are some of the most important differences between these three ingredients:
- Cocoa Butter: This butter is high in Vitamin E and natural antioxidants that help hydrate and soothe your skin. Because it is so powerful, it is one of the most popular types of body butter.
- Shea Butter: Shea butter is made out of nuts from the African shea tree. It is high in Vitamins A and E and also contains fatty acids. It is a great option to keep your skin soft and moisturized all day long.
- Mango Butter: Like cocoa butter and shea butter, mango butter contains more fatty acids, making it one of the most useful moisturizers of the three. It is a natural emollient that can help you keep your skin soft and soothe it when irritated.