Hotel Chocolat : What is body butter?

Smooth, rich, and packed with all the good stuff - we couldn't imagine our bathrooms without it

Who among us doesn't relish the thought of sinking into a warm bubble bath at the end of a long day? Turn the lights down low, put on your favourite music, and create a little bit of paradise in a bathtub…But the pampering doesn't have to end as soon as you step out of the bath. That's where body butter comes in.

This thick, creamy moisturiser helps rehydrate dry skin and is a must-have for a head-to-toe pamper. Read on to find out how to use it, what it's made from, how it differs from lotion, and more.

[Link] What is body butter used for?

Apart from the luxurious silky smooth sensation on your skin? The magic of body butter is that it doesn't just feel great - it can work wonders on your skin, too. Body butter is packed with naturally moisturising ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil which nourish your skin and reduce dryness.

Body butter's benefits lie in targeting areas that can get extra dry, such as knees, elbows, and feet. It gives them the extra care they need to keep your skin in tip-top condition even throughout the drying heat of summer and cold of winter. It can also calm sensitive skin and help prevent signs of ageing.

Body butter is best used right after a shower or bath when your skin is clean and still damp. This helps the body butter lock in that moisture for true, long-lasting hydration.

What is it made from?

One thing we love about body butter is that some of its most common ingredients come straight from Mother Nature. Coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and other natural ingredients, contain the fatty acids and vitamins that make body butter so effective.

Shea butter

Shea butter is a plant lipid made from the nuts of the shea tree, native to the African savannah. Not only does the oil-rich butter work wonders to hydrate the skin, but it also contains vital ingredients such as fatty acids, vitamins E, D, and A, and allantoin.

Coconut oil

Not only does coconut oil appear to be beneficial to your health, but it's also great for hydrating your skin. Coconut oil is an emollient, meaning it helps soothe dry skin, and the saturated fats in the oil help repair your skin's barrier function.

[Link] Cocoa butter

Our personal favourite has to be cocoa butter. This smooth plant butter isn't only versatile but smells absolutely divine too. The natural fats present in the butter create a protective layer on your skin and keep you hydrated. Just when we thought the cacao plant couldn't get any better! The benefits of cocoa butter are why we've put it front and centre in our relaxing Cacao and Almond Body Butter.

These natural ingredients are so good at their job that you can actually whip yourself up some all-natural DIY body butter at home. Take a look at this whipped body butter recipe to get started - you'll find it looks and smells good enough to eat! (We wouldn't recommend eating it though! If you'd like a little taste of cacao butter, some heavenly white chocolate is the best place to go).

Can you use body butter on your face?

Your face is where your skin is most delicate. As such, it's often best to use specialised face products which are suited to be used on more sensitive skin. But if you've run out of face moisturiser or have a favourite body butter, is it safe to use on your face?

As a rule of thumb, even if body butter is meant for your body, you can still enjoy the same hydrating effects on your face. However, you should take care if you have oily skin, as the oil-rich body butter could end up making your face too greasy. In that case, it's probably better to reach for a light moisturiser more suited for your skin type. And just to be sure, it's a good idea to check the ingredients to see if there's anything that might irritate the eyes.

In summary, it does work. But we'd personally recommend dedicated facial products such as our Serenity Cacao & Cinnamon Face Mist to keep you hydrated. As the most exposed area, it's also a good idea to protect your complexion with SPF, particularly in the summer.

What's the difference between body butter and lotion?

These two wondrous concoctions are both made for rehydrating parched skin, but is there any difference between the two? Body butter and body lotion both contain the essential fatty acids that make these lotions work so well, but as it turns out, the difference all comes down to the proportion of oils in the mixture.

Body lotions like our Cacao and Shea Butter Body Lotion contain many of the same nourishing oils as body butter. However, they also boast a generous amount of water, making them more lightweight and refreshing. Lotion is also absorbed more quickly by the skin, so there won't be any lingering oily feeling on your skin.

On the other hand, body butter's relatively lower water content gives it a thicker consistency and a more potent mix of nature's hydrating ingredients. The buttery texture makes it perfect for spreading. There's nothing quite like grabbing a generous dollop and giving drier areas of skin some much needed TLC. Our verdict? It can never hurt to have both.

[Link] Pampering gifts from Hotel Chocolat

As luxury chocolatiers, we believe that everyone needs a bit of pampering now and again. So it's no surprise that we're excited to spread the good news about body butter. Why not explore our sumptuous beauty range and treat yourself or a loved one to a bit of TLC?