The Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin: Body Butter, Body Balm, or Body Oil?

Most body butters today are little more than thickened lotion. A quick glance at the label often reveals little—if any—actual plant butter. The beauty industry has done an exceptional job of marketing water.

In reality, the average body butter is mostly H₂O, followed by glycerin, a texturizing triglyceride, a few fillers to lengthen the ingredient list, fragrance, and a preservative. And there you have it: a “body butter” with no real butter at all.

In contrast, true balms and butters are among the most effective options for deeply moisturizing the skin—especially during seasonal changes. While both offer concentrated hydration, they differ in texture, composition, and ideal use.

So which is best for your skin—body butter, body balm, or body oil?

In this post, we’ll break down the differences and help you choose the right moisturizer based on your skin’s needs.

Body Butter

Body butter is not the thick lotion you’ve likely encountered at beauty retailers. Traditionally, it refers to rich, creamy, plant-based fats—used in their pure form or blended with nutrient-dense oils to enhance texture and skin benefits.

Best used for:

• Extremely dry skin
  
• Cold or dry climates
  
• Overnight hydration

At Aminata Haadi, every jar of body butter and face balm is crafted with organic, unrefined plant butters. Our ingredients are sustainably sourced through fair trade initiatives, ensuring both environmental responsibility and fair compensation. Explore our collection and discover conscious beauty—rooted in integrity.

Body Balm

Body balm is similar to traditional body butters, but often includes wax—giving it a denser, more solid texture, similar to a salve. This added structure makes balms especially effective for protecting against environmental stressors and treating localized dryness or irritation.

Best for:

• Healing and protecting compromised skin
  
• Targeted treatment of dry or cracked areas
  
• Soothing sensitive or irritated skin
  
• Creating a barrier against windburn or chafing

Read: Comprehensive Guide to Using Shea Butter on the Skin

Body Oil

Body oil shares similarities with traditional body butter in that both are composed entirely of fat. If raw shea butter is left in a warm environment, it softens or liquefies—its texture becoming similar to that of shea nut oil.

Body oils, however, are created through an extraction process designed to maintain a consistent texture. Cold-pressed oils are extracted from seeds without the use of heat or chemicals, preserving their natural properties and protecting heat-sensitive nutrients from degradation.

Best for:

• Repairing and protecting compromised skin
  
• Targeted treatment of dry or cracked areas
  
• Calming sensitive or irritated skin
  
• Providing a protective barrier against windburn or chafing

Le Fruit de Albius Ethno-body Butter: 

Le Fruit de Albius Ethno-body Butter is luxuriously crafted from organic, raw plant butters and unrefined, cold-pressed oils. Rich and velvety in texture, it is sensually enhanced with the warm, layered aroma of organic Madagascar vanilla.

Infused Vanilla Body Oil: 

To scent this body butter naturally, we begin by macerating Grade A organic Madagascar vanilla beans in organic jojoba oil. The beans and pods are carefully separated and placed in amber glass, where they infuse for 12 weeks.

After the infusion period, the oil is double-strained through fine cheesecloth to remove any remaining plant matter. The result is a deeply aromatic vanilla body oil, further enriched with Vanilla Bourbon CO₂ extract to enhance its depth, complexity, and lasting power.

Final Thoughts: Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin?

We often treat skincare as an either/or decision—as if there’s only one right answer. But skin is responsive. It changes with the seasons, adapts to our preferences, and reflects our evolving goals.

Choosing between body butter, balm, or oil works when one suits your current needs. But if your elbows, knees, and heels need the protective strength of a balm during winter, or you prefer the deep nourishment of body butter at night, or maybe you just need something quick and lightweight like a body oil—then it may serve you to embrace all three, depending on the moment.

Skincare is a personal journey. The healthiest skin often comes from listening, adjusting, and choosing what truly works for you.

If you’re a conscious beauty consumer and would like to stay updated on the launch of Le Fruit de Albius Ethno-body Butter, visit the Collections and Exhibits section to be notified.