People ask us this all the time. And honestly, it's a great question — because they look similar on the shelf, they're both meant to moisturize, and the beauty industry hasn't exactly made it easy to tell them apart. Some products even call themselves "body butter" when they're technically a lotion. So let's clear it up.
The real difference comes down to one ingredient: water.
A true body butter contains only oils and butters. No water, no emulsifiers, no preservatives. Ours is hand-whipped in small batches with calendula extract, olive oil, vitamin E, and locally sourced tallow — ingredients that closely mirror your skin's own fatty acid profile, which is why they absorb so well and last so long.
Because there's no water in the formula, body butter is richer and heavier. It has a bit of a balmy feel when it first goes on, but it sinks in deeply and the moisture sticks around. It's the kind of thing you reach for at the end of the day, right after a shower, or when your elbows and heels are begging for attention. A little goes a long way.
One thing worth knowing: because our body butter is whipped, it can soften or melt if it gets too warm — like in a hot car in July. It's still completely fine to use, it just won't look as fluffy. Pop it in the fridge for a bit and it comes right back.
Lotion works differently — and that's the point.
Lotion is an emulsion, meaning water and oils have been blended together. That's what gives it the lighter, faster-absorbing texture. It glides on easily, absorbs quickly, and doesn't leave your hands feeling slick — which makes it ideal for daytime use when you need to get back to doing things.
Our Hand and Body Lotion is 99.5% naturally sourced and made with local tallow, olive oil, calendula extract, local honey, chamomile, silk amino acids, and vitamin E. It's the kind of lotion that actually does something. Rich enough to feel nourishing, light enough to use all day.
Because it contains water, it does need a preservative — that's just the science of keeping it safe on your shelf without refrigeration. We're very particular about which preservatives we use and why. If you're curious, ask us. We'll tell you everything.
We also offer refill sizes up to 4x the original bottle, so you can keep your glass dispenser and just refill it. Less waste, same great lotion.
So which one do you need?
Honestly, we use both — and a lot of our customers do too.
Here's a simple way to think about it: reach for the body butter when you want intensive, long-lasting moisture - after a shower, before bed, on dry patches, on your feet. It's your deep treatment.
Reach for the lotion when you want something fast-absorbing and easy for everyday use. At your desk, in your bag, after washing your hands for the fifth time before noon.
They're not competing with each other. They just have different jobs.
Both are available in our most-loved scents — Gentle Citrus with Calendula, Vermont Maple with Jersey Cream, Lavender with Wildflowers, and Pink Grapefruit with Mint. The body butter comes in 6 scents. The lotion comes in 10, including a few limited seasonal ones worth keeping an eye on.
Have a question about which one is right for your skin? Just reach out. I'm always happy to help you figure it out.