Ahhh, life's little luxuries. From bubble baths and hand massages, we are big fans of pampering practices that make us feel like royalty for a few precious minutes. Even better are those luxuries that also offer benefits to our body and health. We would categorize body butter as one of those little gems. This decadent moisturizer offers many more uses than just smoothing and nourishing your skin (and making it smell lovely), and we can prove it. Here's a list of the many wonders of body butter!

Thicker than standard moisturizers, body butter is awesome at softening dry patches, such as those found on the elbows, heels and knees. For quick absorption and long-lasting moisture, we recommend Kiehl's Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter. Your hands will especially love you for using body butter to soften them. Depending on the dryness level, use a little each day or use as a night cream. Also try body butter on neglected areas like the neck and delicate décolletage. Warm a small amount of the butter by between your palms and massage it from your upper chest toward your neck, using upward strokes. Why? Downward strokes will drag the skin, while moving upward will help circulation.

Give those pesky calluses the boot with the help of body butter. Massage your favorite body butter into your feet before bed at night and wear cotton socks to bed. Voila! You'll wake up to smooth and gorgeous tootsies!

Body butter can help give dry, stressed hair a much-needed pick-me-up. Just apply a small amount (a little goes a long way) to your strands, massage it well, and then style as usual.

Did you know you could swipe some body butter on your pout and use it as a lip balm? Or better yet, add a little sugar to the moisturizer and use it as a lip exfoliant.

There's no need to buy a separate product just to soften your cuticles. Massage a tiny amount into each cuticle and push them back with an orangewood stick. For a sweet-smelling concoction that will leave your digits hydrated and healthy, try Fijian Water Lotus Body Butter by The Body Shop.

While restoring the skin to its former non-stretched and scarless self is nearly impossible, body butter can visibly reduce the appearance of these scars and stretch marks. It works to heal the skin and helps it regenerate.

Who hasn't suffered from dry, scaly, post-shave skin? Instead of messy oils and lotions, warm a dollop of body butter between your palms and massage it from the ankles to the knees using upward strokes. Your skin will be smooth and silky and your legs will feel invigorated.

Is makeup stubbornly sticking to your face after a long night of fun? Have no fear. Moisten a cotton pad and apply a little body butter to it to remove your makeup. Believe it or not, this mixture even dissolves waterproof mascara.

Which of these body butter benefits is most appealing to you? Let us know what grabbed your interest in the comments below.

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