The Difference Between Body Butters & Body Oils—And When to Use Each
While both body butters and body oils are hydration heroes, they do very different things for your skin. And knowing how (and when) to use each one can take your self-care from basic to barebabe status real quick. ✨
Let’s break it down:
💛 What Is a Body Butter?
Think of body butters like thick, whipped frosting for your skin. At TBB, our whipped blends are made from rich emollients like Shea Butter and Kokum Butter — which are deeply nourishing and designed to lock in moisture by strengthening your lipid barrier and preventing TEWL(transepidermal water loss).
They’re perfect for:
Dry, cracked, or eczema-prone skin
Post-shave smoothness
Cold weather or desert climates
Daily moisture rituals (especially after showers)
🛁 Best time to use: Right after a warm shower or bath, when your pores are open and ready to drink it all in.
💧 What Is a Body Oil?
Lightweight, silky, and fast-absorbing — body oils are liquid love. Ours are made with nourishing botanical oils like Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil) and Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil) that mimic your skin’s natural sebum and support its elasticity without clogging pores. These are non-comedogenic, so even sensitive or acne-prone skin types can enjoy the glow-up.
They’re perfect for:
Midday moisture refreshes
Adding glow to arms, legs, and décolletage
Layering under or over body butters
Lighter hydration in warm or humid climates
🌞 Best time to use: Anytime your skin feels a little dull or dry — morning, night, or whenever you need that extraglisten.
🧼 So… Do You Need Both?
If you’re serious about soft, healthy skin — yes. Using body oil and butter together (aka “skin flooding” or “layering”) gives you the best of both worlds: deep hydration and long-lasting moisture.
✨ Here’s how:
Apply body oil first to hydrate.
Follow with body butter to seal it in.
Marvel at your glow. Repeat as needed.
🐻 Teddy Bare Takeaway:
Use body butter when your skin needs to be cocooned.
Use body oil when you want to shine and glow.
Use both when you’re not here to play.
📦 Ready to level up your routine?
Shop our full lineup of whipped body butters and velvety oils online or in-store at Bluebelle Local Mercantile in Columbus, GA. Your softest skin is just a few swipes away.