Body Butter vs Lotion: What's the Real Difference?

In the world of skincare, not all moisturizers are created equal. If you’ve ever stood in the beauty aisle wondering whether to grab a lotion or a body butter, you’re not alone. They both promise hydrating, moisturizing benefits—but which one is right for your skin?

Let’s break it down.

What Is Body Butter?

Body butter is a thick, rich moisturizer typically made from plant-based oils and butters—think shea butter, cocoa butter, or mango butter. It’s formulated without water, which means you’re getting concentrated hydration and longer-lasting moisture.

At Sourced, we use whipped shea butter as the base for our body butters, drawing from West African traditions that have nourished dry skin for generations.

What Is Lotion?

Lotion, on the other hand, is a lighter moisturizer made with a mix of water and oil. It absorbs quickly, making it great for quick fixes or lighter hydration—but often includes preservatives, stabilizers, and synthetic fillers to keep it shelf-stable.

Why Choose Body Butter?

Body butter is ideal if you:

• Struggle with dry skin or eczema
• Need deep moisturizing power, especially in colder months
• Want something luxurious that melts into your skin
• Love natural, minimal-ingredient skincare
  

Its thicker texture creates a barrier that locks in hydration and helps protect your skin from environmental stressors.

Why Choose Lotion?

Lotion works best when you:

• Prefer a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
• Want something easy to apply post-shower
• Are looking for a cooling effect in warmer climates
  

Sure, lotion feels light and fresh—but that quick-dry feeling can leave your skin thirsty again in hours. Plus lotions use water-based formulas that tend to include extra ingredients that aren’t essential to hydration. 

Why Sourced Focuses on Body Butter

At Sourced, we don’t believe in skincare shortcuts. Our body butter is made from ethically sourced, natural ingredients like raw shea butter from Ghana—nothing too complex. We wanted to keep it simple, not packed with too many ingredients with no purpose. 

We chose body butters because they:

• Deliver real results for dry, thirsty skin
  
• Provide true hydrating and moisturizing benefits without compromise
  
• Opportunity to not use water and keep the ingredients simple, intentional
  

We’re not here for surface-level glow. We’re here for skin that feels soft, nourished, and radiant—every single day.

Butter May Do The Trick 

Choosing between body butter and lotion is usually a preference – but is it doing the job that your skin actually needs? If you're craving deep moisture and rich, natural nourishment, body butter might just be your hero skincare product.

At Sourced, we believe hot people hydrate—and we do it with ingredients that respect your skin and your roots. Explore our oil-based hydration products.