This Body Butter Is Like If Hydration and Relaxation Had a Baby

Ashy, untouchably dry skin aside, I’m pretty reluctant to apply body butter or lotion after a shower. While I recognize that I’m a Black woman with impossibly thirsty skin (especially during the winter), there’s just something about the act of physically rubbing in a product that feels like a chore. I was convinced I was destined to half-heartedly moisturize visible body parts like my knees and elbows forever, until I found a body butter that’s actually worth the work.

This culty Lemongrass Shea Body Butter is made by skin experts Hanahana Beauty, a Black-owned company known for its range of eco-friendly and socially conscious body-care products. Their body butters are available in five different variations —including unscented, amber, lavender, and eucalyptus—and the company’s manufacturing model helps provide health care and resources for shea-trade workers in Ghana, where Hanahana sources many of its ingredients.

Like most shea butters, Hanahana’s starts out thick straight out of the jar, and has a creamy texture that says it means business when it comes to delivering moisture. I like to use a couple fingers to scoop out small amounts at a time, then rub the butter between my palms to break it down with my body heat. Usually about three to four scoops is all I need to cover my entire body, as a little goes a long way. After a few seconds, the butter spreads smoothly over my rough heels, dry shoulders, and thighs. Its consistency is so substantial that it barely seems like I’ve taken anything from the jar each time I use the butter.

I’ve tried plenty of body butters over the years that left my skin feeling (and looking) a greasy mess, but the way this one sinks into my skin is simply everything. Plus, it keeps me moisturized well into the next day. With other lotions, I rubbed them in like it was a duty. But with this butter, I’ve started taking time to stop and sniff the lemongrass (which smells even better between cupped hands close to my face), sort of like a relaxing aromatherapy bonus. I shock even myself with how much I actually enjoy slowly applying this supremely rich product to my skin.

I never would’ve guessed that a body butter would be the thing to help me prioritize self-care, but Hanahana’s Lemongrass Shea Body Butter truly is a game changer. Since getting hooked, I’m determined to try every version the brand carries—which might take a while since I’ve barely made a dent in my first jar. One can dream.

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