Is your body butter greasy? How to apply it so it is not
If your body butter feels greasy, you most likely used too much, or you put it on dry skin. Use less, apply it to damp skin straight after a shower, and rub it in until it warms and disappears.
That fix works for almost every butter. It is also how obsessed is meant to be used, since the butter absorbs in about a minute with no shine when you apply it this way.
Why does body butter feel greasy?
Three reasons cover nearly every case.
The first is quantity. Butter is dense, so a handful that would be fine in a lotion is far too much. The second is timing. On dry skin the butter has nothing to spread across, so it sits on top as a layer. The third is rushing. Butter needs a moment of warmth in your hands before it goes on, so it loosens up.
A fourth, smaller one is where you put it. Thick butter on the palms or the soles of your feet will always feel slick, because those places are used to gripping things. Keep it to the places that benefit.
How do you apply it so it is not greasy?
Here is the method I use on myself.
- Shower, then pat dry with a towel until you are damp, not wet.
- Take one scoop from the jar, no more.
- Warm it between your palms for a few seconds until it turns soft and glossy.
- Smooth it over your skin in long strokes, one area at a time, starting with the arms and legs.
- Add a tiny amount to any patch that still looks dry, rather than a second scoop everywhere.
Give it about a minute before you dress. If the butter is still sitting on top of your skin after that, you used more than you needed, and next time you can take a little less.
Not sure how much a scoop covers on your frame? The guide to how much body butter to use breaks it down by body area.
Does damp skin really make a difference?
It makes the biggest difference of all. Water on your skin helps the butter spread thinly and evenly, so you use less and it settles faster. The same butter on dry skin tends to drag and clump.
If you forgot to apply it in the bathroom, you can still fix it. Dampen your hands under the tap, shake them off, and then warm the scoop in them before you apply. It is a close second to post-shower skin, and it helps. There is a longer explanation in the guide to why you should moisturize on damp skin.
What if your body butter feels greasy even after that?
Check these before you give up on the jar.
- Is the room cold? Cold butter is stiff and tempts you to scoop more. Warm it in your hands first.
- Is it on your clothes seam, or under a tight waistband? Friction makes any product feel heavier. Let it settle for a minute before you dress.
- Is the jar warm and soft? A butter that has been in a hot spot can feel looser than normal. Store it somewhere cool and it firms up again.
- Are you layering it over another product? Skip the lotion underneath. One product is enough.
If it still feels heavy on a particular area such as your stomach or the backs of your arms, use half the amount there and add more only if it absorbs completely.
Should you change the scent if the texture bothers you?
No, the scent does not change how the butter feels. All six scents share the same shea and cocoa butter base, which moisturizes and leaves skin soft, so the texture is the same whichever you pick. Choose by how you want to smell: Paris Blush for bright rose and citrus, Sea Sage for something clean and fresh, Dark Tuberose when you want the deepest.
Quick answers
Why does my body butter feel greasy after I apply it?
Usually you used too much or applied it to dry skin. Try one scoop on damp skin and warm it between your palms first.
How long should body butter take to absorb?
It depends on the butter and the amount. Obsessed absorbs in about a minute with no shine when you use one scoop on damp skin.
Can I apply body butter on dry skin?
You can, but it will feel heavier. Dampen your hands first and use a smaller amount.
Does greasy butter mean it is a bad product?
Not always. Most of the time the cause is how much you used and when you applied it.
If you want to try the method on a butter made for it, the scent quiz will point you to a first jar.
