What is the difference between Body Butter and Body Cream?

Body Butter, Body Cream, and Body Lotion have a similar job; to help keep your skin moisturized by using occlusive and emollients to help your skin retain water. Each of these products contains different ingredients that cater to specific skin needs, so it's essential to choose the right one for your skin type.

What is the difference between body butter and body cream?

The main difference between body butter, body cream, and lotion is water content. Creams and lotions contain water, making them lighter and allowing them to absorb quicker than body butter. Body butter has a significantly thicker and richer texture due to its high concentration of oils and lack of water.  As a result, body butter is often better for very dry, cracked, or sensitive skin that needs extra emollients.

Key Points about the difference:

Consistency – Body Butter is thick and absorbs slowly, whereas body cream is lighter and absorbs faster.

Texture – Body butter has a somewhat greasy feel more like butter, while body cream has a greaseless, creamy feel more like whipped cream.

Water Content – Body Butter is anhydrous and contains no water, however body cream has some water content.

Best for Skin Type – Body butter is best for extremely dry or cracked skin, while body cream is better for dry to normal skin.

What to look for in a body butter or cream?

When using a premium natural body butter, you should be able to understand all the ingredients on the label. Try to seek out non-comedogenic ingredients to ensure your pores remain unclogged. While our body cream can still intensely nourish your skin, you can tell the difference in texture between a cream and body butter because the cream contains water. CS Blends Body Butters & Creams features Mango, Shea, Hemp Seed, and/or Kokum butter.

When is the best time to Apply a body butter or a cream?

Body butters are best used directly out of the shower when your skin is still slightly damp, as this allows the butter to lock in the most moisture and hydrate your skin effectively. Body Creams and lotions can be applied at anytime throughout the day.

Choosing a moisturizer for Skin Conditions

For those afflicted with a skin condition, the selection of the appropriate body butter or cream is critical.  You want to focus on a moisturizer without harsh preservatives, fragrance oils, or additives that might aggravate your skin condition.

·         Psoriasis is an auto immune condition that can cause a buildup of skin cells which creates patches of thick, painful, red skin covered in white scales. Often, these patches can be itchy. In this case, you want something that is soothing and can help to calm inflammation with gentle emollients.  A body butter or thick cream could work well for you.

·         Eczema is a general skin condition that can cause the skin to become dry, itchy, and inflamed, which causes the skin to become dry, cracked, and inflamed.  One theory is that people with eczema have a defect in their skin barrier, which allows moisture to escape and irritants and allergens to enter.  A body butter or cream with a high oil content will help replenish your skin’s oils with the moisture it needs.

·         Acne is caused by a combination of factors, including excessive oil production, bacteria, and dead skin cells. You have the opposite concerns with acne as people suffering from eczema or psoriasis. You’re trying to protect and soothe your skin without causing your skin to overproduce oil. In this case opt for a lightweight lotion or cream with fruit seed oil.  Fruit seed oils are among the best for soothing, protecting and moisturizing acne prone skin.

Hopefully this guide has given you the basic understanding of what kind of moisturizing product is best for you and your individual skin care needs. If you are ready to start searching for a nourishing skin soothing product, please check out all of CS Blends moisturizers to find the one that is right for you!