The 9 Best Body Butters for Baby-Soft Skin, According to Byrdie Editors

Best Overall

Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter

$54 at Amazon $54 at Target $54 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Undaria seaweed, shea butter, oat kernel extract, plant-derived amino acid, skin-identical carbohydrate complex | Fragrance: Grapefruit, lime, cypress, mango mandarin | Size: 1.7, 4, 6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Osea is highly beloved for its body care products, so it’s no surprise that its body butter is the best of the best. The Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter is a viral, fan-favorite formula with nearly 1,200 five-star ratings on Ulta, and Byrdie Associate Editor Shannon Stubbs says it’s one of the best body butters she’s ever tried (and she’s tested many).

The formula is deeply nourishing—it soothed her itchy winter skin and healed her dry patches after just one use. She was impressed with how long it kept her skin hydrated, lasting even overnight. Made with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, Undaria seaweed, and ceramide-packed oat kernel extract, the formula truly delivers on moisture and skin barrier support. It also has dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, a plant-derived amino acid that offers firming benefits. While she noted it does take time to fully rub in due to its thick texture, it never felt heavy once absorbed.

Shannon Stubbs, associate editor: “This formula completely transforms dry, chapped skin. I’ve loved it for the dry, winter weather, and my skin feels so much softer and more comfortable. It’s also a great pick for itchy skin.”

Best Budget

Soap & Glory Vanilla-licious Body Butter

$15

$12 at Walgreens

Key Ingredients: Shea butter | Fragrance: Blood orange, maple, butter, vanilla, sugar, amber, musk | Size: 9.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

I genuinely can’t say enough good things about this Soap & Glory body butter (it’s become my Roman Empire). If I tried it blindly, I would never guess its affordable price—the formula feels so luxe and expensive, and it smells better than some of my luxury perfumes. More importantly, it’s incredibly effective. It soothes and relieves my dry, itchy skin almost immediately upon application, and feels lightweight with no greasy residue left behind. It’s formulated with hydrating shea butter, so skin will feel soft to the touch after using.

Also worth noting is its value. The tub contains 9.5 ounces worth of product for $15—a steal. And you can trust you’ll smell incredible; the Vanilla-Licious scent is my favorite. With notes of vanilla, amber, musk, and sweet sugar, it smells delectable without feeling juvenile.

Best for Dry Skin

Kiehl's Body Butter

$49 at Amazon $49 at Ulta $49 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Squalane, jojoba butter, shea butter, soy milk, honey | Fragrance: N/A | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Kiehl’s has been a leader in the skincare and body care space since 1851, so they know a thing or two about making a standout formula. Byrdie writer Maddie Barber describes the texture and look of this body butter as comparable to a “fancy French butter”—it’s thick with a smooth, whipped consistency.

Barber has very dry skin, especially in the winter, and this body butter effectively hydrated and nourished her skin—giving it a shiny, youthful glow. Despite its thick texture, she says she had no trouble spreading it across her skin, and the hydration lasted for hours. The formula is filled with skin-beneficial ingredients, including squalane, jojoba oil, shea butter, and honey to soothe and strengthen the skin barrier. Although it’s on the pricier side, a little goes a long way with this pick.

Maddie Barber, writer: “The texture is so thick and perfectly whipped. It has a luxurious smell that’s not overwhelming at all. After use, my skin feels nourished and looks shiny.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Youth To The People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $22 at Kohls.com

Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, superberry extracts, jojoba, shea, and cupuaçu butters | Fragrance: Yuzu, green tea, blond woods | Size: 1.7, 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For a hydrating body butter that feels soothing on the skin (a plus for those with sensitive skin), consider the Youth to the People Superberry Firm + Glow Dream Body Butter. Stubbs, who has sensitive skin, has used this pick in the past, and experienced no irritation during and after use. Editor Alyssa Kaplan also loves how hydrating the formula is, and how soft her skin felt after applying. 

Niacinamide in the formula supports a healthy skin barrier and soothes inflammation, which is helpful for those with sensitive complexions. It also contains superberry extracts which help brighten, and jojoba, shea, and cupuaçu butters for moisture. While the thick formula is deeply moisturizing, it can take a minute to fully sink into the skin. But, we still love that it provides long-lasting moisture and keeps the skin smooth.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor: “I love this body butter because it feels genuinely luxe and hydrating. It has a creamy texture with a slight oiliness to it, but not in the way that it makes your skin super oily (it just adds to the nourishment). The moisture it provides last for several hours.”

Best Scent

Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter

$24 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $24 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Bacuri butter, prebiotic hibiscus | Fragrance: Velvet plum, sugared violet, vanilla orchid, amber, sandalwood, vetiver  | Size: 2.5, 8.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If scent is what you’re after, you can’t go wrong with Sol de Janeiro, and more specifically, the Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter. Associate Editor Emily Cieslak admits she initially was skeptical to try since she’s not the biggest fan of the brand’s bestselling Bum Bum Cream (she finds it slightly greasy), but she was pleasantly surprised with how much she liked this pick. It left her skin with a velvet-like, flawless finish that was soft to the touch, and she liked how she could get dressed just a few minutes after applying without worrying about it leaving grease stains.

While the formula is amazing, the scent is one of her favorite aspects of this body butter. Notes of velvet plum, sugared violet, vanilla orchid, and amber create a sweet fragrance, but sandalwood and vetiver help balance the scent so its not overpowering. She also loved that the scent continued to develop with wear. While she wishes the tub top popped open rather than screwed off (it can be difficult to twist it off with moisturized hands), she says it lasted her a while since you don’t need much to adequately hydrate.

Emily Cieslak, associate editor: “I adore the scent. It’s sweet but not too sweet. It’s strong but not too strong. I love using this body butter before a special event or date when I want my skin to have a healthy sheen and to smell amazing.”

Best for Glowing Skin

Patrick Ta Major Glow High Shine Skin Perfecting Body Creme

$58 at Sephora $58 at Kohls.com $58 at Patrickta.com

Key Ingredients: Prickly pear extract, marula oil, mango seed butter, shea butter, rosemary extract, rice bran oil | Fragrance: Bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood  | Size: 7.76 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Patrick Ta isn’t just a master of makeup—he’s a master of body care, too. We’re big fans of his glow-inducing body cream if you want a formula that will make you shine (it’s one of my absolute favorites, especially for a night out). Senior Editor Dominique Hobdy has been using this pick for about a year, and it’s the secret behind her glowing skin. The texture is divine—it’s thick and creamy, but spreads effortlessly without leaving a film or sticky residue.

Ingredients in the formula such as marula oil, mango seed butter, and shea butter make the skin feel unbelievably soft and smooth, while rosemary extract and rice bran oil provide antioxidant benefits like skin barrier protection. Prickly pear extract also provides gentle exfoliation for extra radiance. Last but certainly not least, Hobdy can’t get enough of the subtle yet “hard-to-miss” scent—people even stop her in the street to ask what fragrance she’s wearing.  

Dominique Hobdy, senior editor: “If an effortless glow is the goal, this body butter definitely delivers. It’s perfect on its own with truly stand-out moisture, a heavenly scent, and a noticeable but not overpowering shine.”

Best Firming

Josie Maran Vanilla Vibezzz Firming Body Butter

$62 at Sephora $36 at Josiemaran.com $16 at Kohls.com

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, avocado oil, shea butter | Fragrance: Amber, Madagascan vanilla, Juniper berries, bergamot, cedar  | Size: 2, 6, 13.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Even if you haven’t tried the viral Josie Maran body butters, there’s a good chance you’ve at least seen the sleek, trendy packaging on your social media feed. Their nourishing formulas are well-known for leaving your skin looking radiant, and this body butter did not disappoint. Stubbs notes that the consistency lives up to the hype—it’s smooth, creamy, and light, and it absorbs with no fuss. Argan oil and shea butter nourish and hydrate, while avocado oil leaves you with supple, firm skin. She says it quickly “melts” into the skin, allowing her to moisturize in half the time it would normally take. While she felt the scent wasn’t as vanilla as she expected, it was still pleasant and didn’t linger.

Shannon Stubbs, associate editor: “I have rough, chapped skin (especially in the winter), and this immediately makes my skin feel smooth and supple. After using, my skin feels nice and firm, and it doesn’t leave a residue behind. My skin feels soft without feeling weighed down by product.”

Best Whipped

Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream

$40 at Sephora $46 at Kohls.com $46 at Fentybeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Kalahari melon, sorrel, baobab, sunflower, rice bran, coconut, and jojoba oils, shea butter, glycerin | Fragrance: Bergamot, jasmine, white orchid  | Size: 2.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

I had heard great things about Fenty’s Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream, so my expectations were high—and the texture alone truly exceeded them. When I’m applying body butter, I want it to really feel like butter. The whipped consistency of this formula makes me actually look forward to applying it after my shower, and although on the thicker side, the seven different oils (from coconut to jojoba to Kalahari melon) included make it blend out easily. Shea butter and glycerin are also in the formula, so my skin feels moisturized. That said, I did still experience slight itchiness on my legs even after applying (my skin gets very dry and itchy in the winter), so I wish it was just a tad more nourishing. But overall, I think it’s a great body butter if you love a rich, whipped texture.

Best Value

Saltair Multi-Lipid Body Butter

$22 at Amazon $21 at Ulta $22 at Target

Key Ingredients: Ceramides, phospholipids, fatty acids, phytosterols, sea buckthorn oil | Fragrance: Bergamot, sage, driftwood  | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You’ll get the most bang for your buck with this Saltair body butter. For $21, you get 10 ounces of product (more than any others on this list), so it should last you quite a while. This is a great option for summer—or anytime you want a lighter body butter that doesn’t compromise on moisture. Plus, while the scent is on the stronger side, it smells absolutely divine and very luxurious, which Barber couldn’t get enough of.

Made with ceramides, skin will feel hydrated for hours, and the formula’s phospholipids and fatty acids will support a healthy skin barrier. Sea buckthorn oil also makes the skin feel incredibly soft. The texture is lightweight and nongreasy, perfect for the daytime.

Maddie Barber, writer: “I love this body butter because it thoroughly moisturizes my persistently-dry skin without feeling greasy at all. It’s so lightweight but still feels nourishing like a true body butter, rather than a regular old body cream or lotion. I also love how large the container is (it’s 10 oz, which is even more than my very large Kiehl’s body butter).”