The Coconut Body Butter That Saves My Skin Every Winter

The first time I used the The Body Shop Body Butter, I heard angels singing from above. I know it sounds silly, but my skin is SO dry, most body creams and lotions leave it even drier and thirsting for more moisture. I had almost given up hope when I came across these body butters on a trip to Bologna. This baby comes in lots of different flavours, one more delicious than the other. I first settled on The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter because it’s specially formulated for dry skin like mine. And boy, does it deliver…

About The Brand: The Body Shop

Dame Anita Roddick opened her first, green-painted shop in Brighton, England, in 1976. She believed the business could be a force for good, so she took a radically different approach from all the other big players in the beauty industry. She ethically sourced natural ingredients from around the world and packaged in refillable containers. Her marketing was different too: she promised women to make them feel good in their skin, not to make them look like someone else. I can get on board with all that.

Key Ingredients In The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter: What Makes It Work?

SHEA AND CACAO BUTTERS TO MOISTURISE SKIN

You’d think coconut would be the star of the show here. Not really… The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter has more shea and cocoa butters than coconut. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. These butters are super moisturising: they create a barrier on the skin that prevents water loss. All that extra moisture now trapped into your skin makes it so soft and smooth for hours.

Shea butter is particularly good at this. Studies show it’s even more moisturising than mineral oil, the traditional gold standard of moisturization! Even better, its moisturizing effects last for up to 8 hours… if not more. If your skin is super dry, this will fix it.

Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Shea Butter In Skincare

COCONUT OIL TO SEAL IN MOISTURE

What about the star of the show? You’ll find coconut oil towards the end of the ingredient list here. And I’m not complaining… Coconut oil is another wonderful moisturizing ingredient. Like shea butter, it creates a barrier on the skin that slows down water loss to keep skin hydrated for longer. The catch? Coconut oil is more likely to give you pimples. Not a bad thing in the small amount it’s here in.

Related: The Complete Guide To Using Coconut Oil In Skincare

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Aqua/Water/Eau: The main ingredients in most skincare products, it dissolves other ingredients in the formula.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: It has emollient properties that makes skin feel soft and smooth.
• Glycerin: It’s a humectant that attracts and binds water to the skin, making it softer and plumper.
• Cetearyl Glucoside: An emulsifier that helps the oily and watery parts of a products blend together, enhancing the feel of the formula.
• Triethyl Citrate: A solvent that dissolves other ingredients in the formula. It also enhances the texture of skincare products.
• Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil: A non-fragrant nut oil that creates a barrier on the skin that prevents water loss. It’s moisturising and has antioxidant properties to boot.
• Oryza Sativa Bran Wax/Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax: A natural wax derived from rice bran. It works as a skin-softening agent for dry skin.
• Dimethicone: A silicones that fills in any nooks and crannies in the skin, creating a soft and smooth Canva. And no, it doesn’t suffocate skin. Silicones have a large molecular structure made big molecules with large gaps in between that let skin perspire you.
• Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria, helping your products last longer.
• Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate: It’s an emulsifier that prevents the oily and watery parts of a product from separating.
• Parfum/Fragrance: It makes the product smell good. But it’s a common allergen that’s a no-no for sensitive skin (and anyone allergic to fragrance).
• Caprylyl Glycol: It hydrates skin and has preservative-like properties that help skincare products last longer.
• Xanthan Gum: It thickens the texture of skincare products.
• Tocopherol: A form of Vitamin E, it has antioxidant properties as well. Here, it’s used as a preservative to help active ingredients last longer.
• Citric Acid: It’s a pH adjuster.
• Benzyl Benzoate: A preservatives that prevents germs and bacteria from growing into your lotions and potions.
• Coumarin: It smells like vanilla and has powerful antioxidant properties.
• Caramel: Yes, it’s the same caramel that’s in your food as well. It’s a brown colourant that gives skincare products their slightly brownish tint.

Texture

Pale cream in colour, The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter has a rich, thick consistency that melts into the skin without leaving a greasy residue behind. Phew!

Fragrance

I usually prefer fragrance-free products, but the coconut scent of this butter is delicious! So delicious, Mr BWB tried to bite me when he smelled it! lol If you have sensitive skin and are your skin reacts bad to fragrance (it’s the main allergen in skincare products), stay away. There are plenty of other fragrance-free body butters and moisturisers that are safer for you.

How To Use It

In the past, I’d have to apply two layers of cream to make sure my legs had enough moisture. With this, I have to use much, much less. I just scoop out a little amount with clean fingers and massage them in circular motion on my legs and the rest of my body. A little goes a long way. The jar’s gonna last me for ages!

Packaging

This body butter comes in a big jar. I know I always says jars aren’t the best type of packaging – air and light can degrade antioxidants when you open the lid. But this doesn’t contain anything that can degrade. You just need to be careful and wash your hands before dipping your fingers in the jar to avoid bacterial contamination. Plus, you get to so much product, it’ll last you for a long time.

Performance & Personal Opinion

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter is super moisturizing. I slather it on in the morning after a shower. By evening, my skin is still so incredibly soft and smooth, as if I’ve just put the butter on. Plus, it still has enough moisturizing power not to make my skin itch at night.

I was surprised by this. My body skin is drier than the Sahara on a scorching August day. When I try a cream or lotion, I’m lucky if I get five or six hours of moisture. After that, I usually get that tell-tale tight feeling that lets me know I need to reapply it again. To have this last all day is a miracle.

P.S. These days, I religiously stick to body butters. Nothing else will do for seriously dry skin.

Need help creating the best skincare routine for you dry skin? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Dry Skincare Routine Cheatsheet” (it includes product recommendations, too!).

What Other Flavours Of The Body Shop Body Butters Are Available?

The Body Shop Body Butter is available in a gazillion flavours. Having a variety of scents means The Body Shop can cater to anyone – it’s impossible not to find a scent you enjoy. On the other hand, anything that smells too good has the potential to irritate skin and cause allergies. All The Body Butters have the same moisturising base (shea butter and cocoa butter), but the details, like scent, change. I wish they had fragrance-free formulas, but alas, pick your favourite only if your skin doesn’t react badly to scents:

• The Body Shop Almond Milk Body Butters ($24.00): I’m not a huge fan of almond scents, but if you love their bitterness, this will be right up your alley. Available at The Body Shop and Ulta.
• The Body Shop British Rose Instant Glow ($24.00): The classic and powdery scent of roses – so feminine! Available at The Body Butter.
• The Body Shop Cherries & Cheer Body Butter ($24.00): I adore anything cherry, but not so much in a scent. This is only for women who love a sweet scent. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Glowing Cherry Blossom Body Cream ($24.00): A blend of sweet Japanese cherry blossom, osmanthus, and masculine sandalwood. Lovely, but it’s one of the most irritating. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Hemp Body Butter: Jumping on the hemp bandwagon, this vegan formula has a lovely herbal scent. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Mango Body Butter ($24.00): This is one of the sweetest scents in the range. Tropical, fruity, sweet. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter ($24.00): A nutty scent in one of the most moisturising formula the brand offers. Available at The Body Shop and Ulta.
• The Body Shop Olive Body Butter ($24.00): Fresh, herbal, slightly bitter. I’m not a huge fan of smelling like an olive, but if you can’t get enough of them, go for it. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Pears & Share Body Butter ($24.00): If you like the fresh and sweet scent of pear, this’ll smell like heaven for you. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter ($24.00): A fresh and tangy scent that’s sweeter than lime. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Shea Body Butter ($24.00): This one of the moist moisturising body butters and a godsend for very dry skin. The scent is a bit boring, though. Available at The Body Shop and Ulta.
• The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter ($24.00): Fruity, sweet, and tarty, it’s almost good enough to eat. Available at The Body Shop and Ulta.
• The Body Shop Vanilla Pumpkin Body Butter ($24.00): An autumnal, warm scent that gets you in a Halloween mood. Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Vibrant Bergamot Body Cream ($24.00): I adore anything citrusy. It’s fresh, zesty, and summary. But citrusy are some of the most irritating scents out there. Don’t say I haven’t warned you! Available at The Body Shop.
• The Body Shop Wild Jasmine Body Butter ($24.00): The creamy scent of wild flowers in a moisturising base. Not my fave but sweet floral lovers will adore it. Available at The Body Shop.

What I Like About The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

• Creamy and smooth texture
• Very moisturising, makes even the driest skin softer and smoother for hours
• Big jar, lasts forever

What I DON’T Like About The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

• It has fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin

Who Should Use This?

Anyone with very dry skin. If you struggle to find a body cream that keeps your skin soft and supple all day, give this a try. Instead, acne-prone skin and anyone with oilier skin types that don’t need this much moisture.

Does The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

$21.00/£15.50 at The Body Shop and Ulta

The Verdict: Should You Buy It?

Yes! If you have super dry skin, get yourself a jar, pronto! It works wonders.

Dupes & Alternatives

• Beekman 1802 Coconut Cream Whipped Body Cream ($38.00): Enriched with coconut oil and lots of natural butters, it’s super moisturising and nourishing on dry skin. Available at Ulta.

About beautifulwithbrains