When it comes to maintaining how our skin appears and feels, there are a lot of different types of products and ingredients that exist to benefit the body.
At Oyoma Beauty, we focus on creating the ultimate form of nourishment for the skin. This is successfully done with our rich blend of shea butter, aloe vera extract and jojoba oil.
Beyond this, there are other moisturising ingredients in the form of body butters that happen to work just like shea butter. Each having the end goal of nourishing the skin. Whether it be cocoa butter vs shea butter, shea butter vs Vaseline or shea butter vs mango butter, each product has its way of helping the skin.
Read on to find out more about body butter and how they each benefit the skin.
What Is the Difference Between Body Butter and Body Lotion?
As the base of our 100% Organic Whipped Shea Butter, shea is an ingredient that is great for boosting the skin's moisture and overall quality. Beyond that, there are plenty of other body butters that work to do this as well.
Just like body lotion, body butters are products that are applied to retain the moisture of the skin. Body butters are particularly ideal for areas of the skin that do not absorb moisture easily. For example, elbows, knees and even lips.
The main difference between the two types of products is the texture. Body lotions tend to be a lot thinner than body butters as lotion usually has a higher water content. Therefore, they feel a lot lighter and absorb into the skin easily and quickly.
On the other hand, body butters tend to have a thicker consistency and consist of a combination of carrier oils and natural, essential butters. For example, shea butter, palm butter and cocoa butter.
Natural body butters are also highly stash-friendly. When free of preservatives, pure cocoa, mango and shea butter can remain fresh and stable for up to 2 years. When stored correctly, away from direct light or extreme temperatures, body butters can be used repeatedly to nourish the skin.
Cocoa Butter vs Shea Butter
About Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is a fat that derives from the cocoa bean. Once captured, the bean is roasted, stripped and pressed to extract the fat. The creamy fat that comes from the cocoa bean is a common ingredient in many skincare and beauty products. Other than its moisturising properties, cocoa butter has several health related properties such as being an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Similar to shea butter, cocoa butter comes in a refined and unrefined form. In its refined form, it is highly processed, purified and the scent and colour is removed. However, when it is unrefined (raw), the distinctive chocolate smell and yellow colour is still present. It also has all of its nutrients intact.
Benefits of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which gives it the ability to deeply hydrate the skin. It is classed as an occlusive which means that it forms a protective barrier over the skin and hair to hold in moisture.
One of the main benefits of cocoa butter is that it works to boost the quality of the skin. Commonly found in moisturisers and anti-aging creams, not only does the butter nourish dry skin but improve skin elasticity. In fact, one of the enriching plant compounds found within the cocoa bean is called phytochemical. This substance is responsible for improving blood flow to the skin, therefore slowing down the natural ageing process whilst smoothing scars and wrinkles.
Cocoa butter is a core ingredient in many body lotions and hair products. Some people even use raw cocoa as a scalp treatment or lip balm. It can also be used to relieve dryness and irritation from skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema.
Cocoa Butter vs Shea Butter: How Do They Compare?
Although both cocoa and shea butter are ideal for the body, it is good to identify the differences and similarities between them in order to decide which is right for your body.
One thing that both of these ingredients have in common is that they are both natural plant-based fats that are high in fatty acids, mostly oleic and stearic. As well as that, they both contain a good source of vitamin E which supports the skin in being protected from UV damage.
Their differences lie in their consistencies. Shea butter is rather soft and flexible.It is easy to break off, mix and melt onto the skin directly. On the other hand, cocoa butter is a lot harder and requires warming up before being able to break a piece off.
When it comes to deciding between cocoa butter vs shea butter and which one is better for your skin, it is fair to say that both are an excellent source of hydration. However, choosing which is more suitable comes down to minor factors. For example, raw shea butter’s ability to melt easily means that it rapidly absorbs into the skin unlike raw cocoa butter which may rely on a carrier oil to do more of the work.
As well as this, unlike cocoa butter, shea butter is non comedogenic. This means that shea will not clog your pores and may result in being the better and more inclusive choice for a wider range of people.
Shea Butter vs Vaseline
What Is Vaseline?
Vaseline, commonly known as petroleum jelly, is a combination of mineral oils and waxes which forms a semisolid jelly-like material. Many people use petroleum jelly to relieve dry skin and heal minor skin burns and scrapes.
Benefits and uses for Vaseline
Just like shea butter, the ingredient petroleum forms a tight barrier when applied to the skin, making it a good product for allowing the skin to retain moisture. This also acts as a protective layer that aids healing and keeps bacteria from invading wounds.
Its thick texture can be good for adding moisture to areas of the body that are dryer than the rest, like heels and knees. In fact, the National Eczema Foundation highly recommends Vaseline as a moisturiser for those with dry skin conditions. This is not only because of its affordability but the fact that it is safe to use on infants as well as adults.
Another benefit of using Vaseline is that it comes in a variety of formulas, like jelly, lotion and even serum. This means that there is a variation of Vaseline for many skin types.
Shea Butter vs Vaseline: How Do They Compare?
Shea butter and Vaseline are completely different when it comes to their appearances. Some may like the heavy and rather greasy feel that petroleum jelly leaves them with whereas others may prefer how versatile shea butter is.
Undeniably, both ingredients are enriched with nutrients, like vitamin E, which restores the health of the skin. Also, just like shea butter, petroleum jelly does not clog pores, so it is a good option for those with oily skin as well as dry.
Shea Butter vs Mango Butter
What Is Mango Butter?
Mango butter is a pale-yellow substance made with the oil from mango seeds. Mango butter is created by extracting the content of the mango seed and cold-pressing it into a creamy, butter-like product. It is gradually becoming a well-liked body care product.
Benefits of Mango Butter
Like cocoa and shea butter, mango butter can support the overall health of skin and even hair. Rich in both vitamin E and A, it is a powerful substance that possesses natural hydrating properties. Beyond this, mangos contain salicylic acid and antioxidants. This, along with high levels of vitamin A may help reduce sun damage, similar to shea butter. As sun damage is a catalyst to premature ageing, topically applying mango butter can benefit the quality of the skin.
How Do Shea Butter and Mango Butter Compare?
Overall, both shea butter and mango butter are great forms of moisturisers. In fact, when combined, they become a creamy and rich combination perfect for hydrating the skin.
Though solid, mango butter happens to contain more fatty acids than both cocoa and shea butter. This means that it is a lot richer than the two former body butters.
Mango butter is non-greasy, lightweight and noncomedogenic, making it an option for various skin types. Just like shea butter, it is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, so can soothe irritation caused by acne, dryness and eczema.