Cold, dry air pulls moisture out of your skin faster than any other season. The fix isn’t a new product every week. It’s a simple routine done at the right moments. Here’s a dermatologist-backed winter routine, and where whipped shea butter fits into it.
Quick answer: Shower for 5–10 minutes in warm (not hot) water, pat dry, then apply a rich moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Dermatologists say creams and ointments work better than lotions, and they list shea butter as an ingredient to look for.
Why does skin get drier in winter?
When temperature and humidity drop, moisture evaporates from your skin more quickly, a Geisinger dermatologist explains. Indoor heating makes the air even drier. Hot showers, long baths and harsh soaps add to the problem.
Body care is getting more attention as a result: US prestige body care sales rose 16% in the first half of 2026, according to Circana data.
The 6-step winter dry skin routine
These steps follow the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) tips for relieving dry skin.
Keep showers short and warm. Limit baths and showers to 5–10 minutes and use warm water, not hot. Closing the bathroom door keeps the air more humid.
Use a gentle cleanser. Dermatologists recommend gentle, fragrance-free products for dry skin.
Pat, don’t rub. Gently pat your skin with a towel. Rubbing can irritate dry skin.
Moisturize while skin is still damp. Apply your moisturizer right after drying off. This traps the water already in your skin.
Reapply where you need it. Moisturize again when skin feels dry and after washing your hands.
Protect your hands outdoors. Gloves shield skin from cold, dry air. A humidifier at home also helps.
Body butter or lotion: which is better for winter?
For dry winter skin, richer is better. The AAD says ointments and creams add more moisture and are more effective than lotions. Shea butter is on its list of ingredients to look for.
Whipped shea butter gives you that richness with an easier texture. As our whipped shea butter guide explains, whipping gives it a lighter, airier texture than regular shea butter, so it spreads more easily.
How to apply whipped shea butter
Use a small amount. Start with a fingertip-sized scoop per area. Warm it between your palms first.
Apply to damp skin. Right after your shower is the best time.
Massage it in. Take a minute to work it into the skin, as the AAD suggests for dry skin.
Focus on dry-prone areas. Hands, elbows, knees and feet usually need the most.
Use it at night. A richer layer before bed gives it time to sink in without rubbing off on clothes.
Use body butter on intact skin only. If your skin is cracked, bleeding or irritated, or dryness doesn’t improve, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Fragrance-free or scented?
If your skin is dry or sensitive, start fragrance-free. Dermatologists recommend fragrance-free products for dry skin, and fragrance is on the AAD’s list of ingredients that can irritate it.
| Choose | If you | What’s in it |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrance-Free | Have dry or sensitive skin, or want to layer a perfume | Shea butter, olus oil, grape seed oil and shea oil; no fragrance added |
| Scented: Sweet Mango, Honey Peach, White Rose, Glow Turmeric, Royal Baccarat | Prefer a scented body butter | Shea butter blended with mango seed butter and coconut, sweet almond, avocado, argan and grape seed oils, plus fragrance |
The scented blends contain sweet almond oil. If you have a tree-nut allergy, check the ingredient list first.
Store it right in winter
Shea butter softens when it gets warm. Keep the jar closed, in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and heat. Don’t park it next to a radiator or space heater. Use clean, dry hands to scoop it out.
Shop AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter
AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter comes in 12 oz jars, in fragrance-free and a range of scents. Build your winter routine around the one that suits your skin.
| Product | Why choose it |
|---|---|
 |
AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter (Fragrance-Free) 12 oz Best for: Dry or sensitive skin, or layering a perfume Shea butter, olus oil, grape seed oil and shea oil, with no fragrance added. |
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AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter (Sweet Mango) 12 oz Best for: A Sweet Mango scent Shea and mango seed butters with coconut, sweet almond, avocado, argan and grape seed oils, plus fragrance. |
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AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter (Honey Peach) 12 oz Best for: A Honey Peach scent Shea and mango seed butters with coconut, sweet almond, avocado, argan and grape seed oils, plus fragrance. |
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AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter (White Rose) 12 oz Best for: A White Rose scent Shea and mango seed butters with coconut, sweet almond, avocado, argan and grape seed oils, plus fragrance. |
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AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter (Glow Turmeric) 12 oz Best for: A Glow Turmeric scent Shea and mango seed butters with coconut, sweet almond, avocado, argan and grape seed oils, plus fragrance. |
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AKWAABA Whipped Shea Body Butter (Royal Baccarat) 12 oz Best for: A Royal Baccarat scent Shea and mango seed butters with coconut, sweet almond, avocado, argan and grape seed oils, plus fragrance. |
FAQ
When is the best time to apply body butter?
Right after a shower or bath, while your skin is still damp. Dermatologists say this traps the moisture already in your skin.
Is body butter better than lotion for dry skin?
For very dry winter skin, usually yes. The American Academy of Dermatology says creams and ointments are more effective than lotions, and it lists shea butter as an ingredient to look for.
What is the difference between whipped and regular shea butter?
Whipped shea butter is lighter and airier, so it spreads more easily. Regular shea butter is denser and firmer at room temperature.
Should I choose fragrance-free or scented body butter?
If your skin is dry or sensitive, start with fragrance-free. Dermatologists recommend fragrance-free products for dry skin.
Can I use whipped shea butter if I have a nut allergy?
Shea butter comes from the nut of the shea tree. AKWAABA’s scented whipped shea butters also contain sweet almond oil; the fragrance-free version does not. If you have a tree-nut allergy, check the ingredients and ask your doctor first.
Can I use body butter on cracked or irritated skin?
Use it on intact skin. If your skin is cracked, bleeding or irritated, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin
- American Academy of Dermatology: Board-certified dermatologist shares tips to protect your skin this winter
- American Academy of Dermatology: Dry skin, tips for managing
- Geisinger: Get rid of dry skin
- Cosmetics Business: Top 5 body care trends of 2026
- IWELL US: Whipped Shea Butter
