Shea Butter vs Mango Butter
Shea butter and mango butter are both nourishing and moisturising plant-based butters that can be used in skin and hair care products. Both can be used in a variety of skin and hair care products, such as lotions, creams, soaps, and conditioners. They can also be used on their own as natural remedies for dry skin and hair. While they have some similarities, they also have some differences in terms of origin, texture, composition and benefits.
Shea butter
Shea butter is one of the most popular natural moisturisers used by people all over the world. This amazing product is widely used in cosmetics and has been used for a very long time by African women. It is usually light and creamy and is derived from the fruit of the Shea tree. As such, it is a great skin moisturiser that can be used daily.
Benefits of Shea butter
Shea butter has been used to moisturise skin since the 1500s. The saponins in the Shea Butter are extremely effective in absorbing excessive heat and keeping your skin moist. Today, Shea butter is still widely used in moisturisers due to its hydrating effect on the skin. Another benefit is that Shea butter will not easily get absorbed into your skin. This is because of its high moisture content, which allows your body to retain moisture in itself instead of absorbing it from your outer skin layers.
When it comes to its use as a moisturiser, Shea butter is really simple to apply. All you need is a thin layer on your face. Or if you want to apply it on your whole body, just add a small amount on your skin. And to make things even easier, you can always purchase Shea butter in a whipped form or butter cream form.
But have you ever thought about how it is used for treating different conditions? For instance, did you know that Shea butter is often used in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema? You might be surprised to know that among its many uses, it is also used to help treat some acne problems, including whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. The best thing about Shea butter is that you can use it without worrying about the side effects that come with other anti-acne products. With regular use, you can expect your skin to have a smooth and clear appearance.
Shea butter has very mild antibacterial properties, which makes it ideal for the treatment of acne. Aside from that, it has some unique moisturizing properties that makes it safe and effective in the treatment of dry skin. It is actually one of the few products available that can effectively remove dead skin cells without causing any harm to your skin.
Inaddition to that, Shea butter also contains vitamins A and E. This is the reason why people often choose products with Shea butter rather than opting for other creams and lotions that claim to contain vitamin A. In fact, these days' products are a lot more likely to contain artificial vitamin A which is mostly added in order to boost their popularity. This is the reason why you should always make sure that what you are using on your skin is truly natural. There are so many products available that claim to have vitamin A but in actuality they usually contain some synthetic versions of the nutrient.
Mango Butter
Mango butter is a type of body butter that is made from the kernels of the tropical mango tree. Mango kernels located in the middle of the mango fruit, provides a variety of benefits to the body and skin. Mango butter is highly hydrating and moisturizing, when applied to the skin it feels light and isn't greasy.
While Mango butter has a similar feel and structure to Shea and Cocoa butter, it contains more fatty acids, making it a more intense moisturizer. Mango butter is a natural emollient that offers skin softness, calming and moisturising properties. It is white in colour, and has a slightly sweet smell.
Mango butter is rich in several vitamins and minerals. It contains essential fatty acids, vitamin A E, B6 and C.
Mango butter also known as mango seed fat, or mangosteen contains about twice as much vitamin E as comparable products, it is also an excellent source of antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids.
Benefits of Mango Butter
In addition to Shea butter and Cocoa butter, Mango butter is one of the butters must commonly used in homemade body butter recipes.
Mango butter has a firmer texture than Shea butter, but is softer than Cocoa butter. It begins to melt upon contact with the skin and has a shelf life of 4 to 6 months. However, can be kept for up to 1 year if it is frozen.
The medium texture (not too soft, not too hard) makes it a go-to choice for many crafters. Mango butter contributes a small amount of firmness to soap, but not nearly as much as cocoa butter.
Due to the slightly firm texture of Mango butter, we recommend adding it to products in melted form. It’s not the best butter choice if you’d like to whip the butter; we recommend melting it first and whipping it as it cools. Check out the recipe below for mango butter ideas.
Mango butter is a great alternative to Shea butter, which is used in many commercial lip balms. Mango butter does not clog pores, unlike many of the petroleum-based ingredients that cause reactions and are bad for your skin in general. The antioxidants in Mango butter help prevent premature aging as well, making it a safe option for your daily moisturising needs. People find its slight fruity smell very pleasant in products such as lip balms.
Its high vitamin, antioxidant and nutrient content makes it a popular anti-aging ingredient for a glowing and youthful look.
The quick absorbing mango butter instantly increases moisture and production of collagen to aid in skins elasticity while slowing the degeneration of skin cells. Some swear by the benefits of Mango butter for almost endless topical uses such as helping frostbite, skin rashes, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis or frizzy hair while also relieving the itchiness from insect bites. Mango butter can also be used for pregnancy stretch marks, to soothe acne scars, to calm allergies or stimulate the scalp for healthy hair growth.
Differences between Shea Butter and Mango Butter
Texture and consistency
Shea butter tends to have a thicker and creamier consistency compared to mango butter, which is lighter and softer.
Shea butter is more nutritious than Mango Butter, however Mango butter has a milder scent than Shea butter and therefore makes it easier to use for homemade body butters. When making body butter it is important to use a butter that whips up easily. Mango butter is easier to work with, as it whips up easier than Shea butter as its not as hard.
Composition
Shea butter is high in fatty acids such as oleic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid, as well as vitamins A, E, and F. Mango butter is also high in fatty acids like oleic acid and stearic acid, but it also contains a high amount of palmitic acid. Mango butter is also a good source of vitamins A, C, and E.
Benefits
Both Shea and mango butter are effective at moisturizing and conditioning the skin and hair. However, Shea butter is more commonly used to treat dry and irritated skin, while mango butter is often used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Origin
Shea butter is derived from the nuts of the Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) which is native to West Africa. Mango butter, on the other hand, is extracted from the seeds of the mango fruit (Mangifera indica) which is native to India and other tropical regions
Sunscreen
Shea butter protects the skin against sun damage, however Mango butter provides little to no sun protection.
Shelf life
Shea butter has a longer shelf life than Mango butter. Shea butter has a shelf life of up to a year while Mango butter has a shelf life of 4 to 6 months.
Which is better- Shea butter or Mango Butter
Truth is both Shea butter and Mango butter are great and beneficial for hair and skincare. Deciding which butter to use is a personal choice. Your decision will also depend on what skin issues you are dealing with.
Neither Shea butter nor Mango butter clog pores and both can help with skin conditions such as dry skin, acne, wrinkles, stretch marks and eczema.
Both butters have very similar properties and can be used all over the body include, face, lips and hair. They are both nourishing, moisturizing and hydrating.
Whipped Mango Body Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
- 300g of Mango Butter
- 100g coconut Oil
- 50g of Almond Oil
- 15 drops of essential oil of your choice
How to Make:
- Cut the Mango Butter into small pieces and put into a bowl.
- Using an electric mixer whip the Mango butter, starting on a low speed and then gradually increase the speed to high.
- Once the Mango butter is a smooth consistency add the coconut oil and almond Oil and essential oil.
- Using the electric mixer whip all 4 ingredients on low speed for a couple minutes until they are all blended well.
- Increase speed of the mixer to high for a couple of minutes or until the body butter reaches the desired consistency.
- Once you are happy with the mixture, pipe into your jar and store in a cool dry place.
- Use once or twice a day.
