After reading about shea butter, you might wonder if shea is better for the skin than cocoa butter. While shea butter seems to have been the popular choice over cocoa butter for a few years, and some people consider it to be superior to cocoa butter, the two kinds of butter have nearly the same beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, though in different proportions.
There are pros and cons. The quality of shea butter can depend on where it is harvested. If you have acne-prone skin, cocoa butter tends to be oilier and could possibly clog the pores. For a similar reason, shea works better as a hair conditioner, since some users find that cocoa butter can be greasy.
Others find that cocoa butter has a more pleasant fragrance than shea and also works well as a massage oil and as a base for essential oils.
But both shea and cocoa butter have a multitude of skincare benefits, so, for the most part, it’s a matter of choice.
Differences Between Cocoa and Shea Butter
COCOA BUTTER SHEA BUTTER
Origins Extracted from the seeds from the fruit of the cacao tree, native to South and Central America. Also cultivated in West Africa. Extracted from the nut of the karite tree, native to West and Central Africa.
Shelf Life Up to 5 years. A natural preservative. Can help preserve the shelf life of cosmetics. 1-2 years. Will go rancid and lose potency quicker than cocoa butter.
Absorption Melts at body temperature and quickly absorbs into the skin. Also melts at body temperature but with slightly better absorption.
Skin Conditions Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Skin Type Oily. Could clog pores making it problematic for acne-prone skin. All skin types. Non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause blackheads).
Allergies Soothes skin allergies. Cocoa beans contain cocoa mass polyphenol, which stops production of immunoglobulin IgE (antibodies found in the skin, lungs, mucous membranes that cause the body to react against certain substances, which worsens eczema and atopic dermatitis. Possible reactions for those with nut allergies.
Skin Benefits Improves skin tone, improves elasticity, promotes collagen production. Also promotes collagen production.
Skin Healing Benefits Heals and fades scars, chapped lips, and skin, promotes healing to damaged skin. Heals chapped lips and skin, helps reduce acne scars. Anti-microbial properties to fight off infections. Anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamic acid.
Skin Protection Rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, offering some protection from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. Acts as a barrier on the skin and slows water loss due to a high amount of palmitic acid, which is protective and locks in moisture. Vitamin E and A to strengthen and repair the skin. Provides slight UV protection (about SPF 6), due to caffeic acid. Linoleic acid helps seal in moisture.
Anti-Aging Helps reduce wrinkles and fade age spots. Improves the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots.
Watch Now: 1 Little Black Dress - 5 Different Outfits
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Pumpkin Face Mask Recipes for Any Skin Type
How to Prevent and Conceal Crow’s Feet
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LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
After reading about shea butter, you might wonder if shea is better for the skin than cocoa butter. While shea butter seems to have been the popular choice over cocoa butter for a few years, and some people consider it to be superior to cocoa butter, the two kinds of butter have nearly the same beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, though in different proportions.
There are pros and cons. The quality of shea butter can depend on where it is harvested. If you have acne-prone skin, cocoa butter tends to be oilier and could possibly clog the pores. For a similar reason, shea works better as a hair conditioner, since some users find that cocoa butter can be greasy.
Others find that cocoa butter has a more pleasant fragrance than shea and also works well as a massage oil and as a base for essential oils.
But both shea and cocoa butter have a multitude of skincare benefits, so, for the most part, it’s a matter of choice.
Differences Between Cocoa and Shea Butter
COCOA BUTTER SHEA BUTTER
Origins Extracted from the seeds from the fruit of the cacao tree, native to South and Central America. Also cultivated in West Africa. Extracted from the nut of the karite tree, native to West and Central Africa.
Shelf Life Up to 5 years. A natural preservative. Can help preserve the shelf life of cosmetics. 1-2 years. Will go rancid and lose potency quicker than cocoa butter.
Absorption Melts at body temperature and quickly absorbs into the skin. Also melts at body temperature but with slightly better absorption.
Skin Conditions Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Skin Type Oily. Could clog pores making it problematic for acne-prone skin. All skin types. Non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause blackheads).
Allergies Soothes skin allergies. Cocoa beans contain cocoa mass polyphenol, which stops production of immunoglobulin IgE (antibodies found in the skin, lungs, mucous membranes that cause the body to react against certain substances, which worsens eczema and atopic dermatitis. Possible reactions for those with nut allergies.
Skin Benefits Improves skin tone, improves elasticity, promotes collagen production. Also promotes collagen production.
Skin Healing Benefits Heals and fades scars, chapped lips, and skin, promotes healing to damaged skin. Heals chapped lips and skin, helps reduce acne scars. Anti-microbial properties to fight off infections. Anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamic acid.
Skin Protection Rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, offering some protection from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. Acts as a barrier on the skin and slows water loss due to a high amount of palmitic acid, which is protective and locks in moisture. Vitamin E and A to strengthen and repair the skin. Provides slight UV protection (about SPF 6), due to caffeic acid. Linoleic acid helps seal in moisture.
Anti-Aging Helps reduce wrinkles and fade age spots. Improves the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots.
Watch Now: 1 Little Black Dress - 5 Different Outfits
Face Mask Recipes for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
Petroleum Jelly Beauty Myths and Benefits
Best Skincare Tips For Black Men
How to Get Rid of Dark Pores on the Legs
The Skin Benefits of Seaweed Plus DIY Skin Care Recipes
Review: Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser
Make Your Own Skin Brightening Turmeric Face Mask
Skin Types: Do You Have Combination, Oily, or Dry Skin?
The Best Ways to Exfoliate From Head to Toe
6 DIY Epsom Salt Recipes to Spruce Up Your Skin Care Routine
Try This Super-Simple Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
How to Make Your Own Sugar Scrub
How to Quickly and Safely Shave Your Chest Hair
Create Vinegar Conditioner
Pumpkin Face Mask Recipes for Any Skin Type
How to Prevent and Conceal Crow’s Feet
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
After reading about shea butter, you might wonder if shea is better for the skin than cocoa butter. While shea butter seems to have been the popular choice over cocoa butter for a few years, and some people consider it to be superior to cocoa butter, the two kinds of butter have nearly the same beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, though in different proportions.
There are pros and cons. The quality of shea butter can depend on where it is harvested. If you have acne-prone skin, cocoa butter tends to be oilier and could possibly clog the pores. For a similar reason, shea works better as a hair conditioner, since some users find that cocoa butter can be greasy.
Others find that cocoa butter has a more pleasant fragrance than shea and also works well as a massage oil and as a base for essential oils.
But both shea and cocoa butter have a multitude of skincare benefits, so, for the most part, it’s a matter of choice.
Differences Between Cocoa and Shea Butter
COCOA BUTTER SHEA BUTTER
Origins Extracted from the seeds from the fruit of the cacao tree, native to South and Central America. Also cultivated in West Africa. Extracted from the nut of the karite tree, native to West and Central Africa.
Shelf Life Up to 5 years. A natural preservative. Can help preserve the shelf life of cosmetics. 1-2 years. Will go rancid and lose potency quicker than cocoa butter.
Absorption Melts at body temperature and quickly absorbs into the skin. Also melts at body temperature but with slightly better absorption.
Skin Conditions Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Skin Type Oily. Could clog pores making it problematic for acne-prone skin. All skin types. Non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause blackheads).
Allergies Soothes skin allergies. Cocoa beans contain cocoa mass polyphenol, which stops production of immunoglobulin IgE (antibodies found in the skin, lungs, mucous membranes that cause the body to react against certain substances, which worsens eczema and atopic dermatitis. Possible reactions for those with nut allergies.
Skin Benefits Improves skin tone, improves elasticity, promotes collagen production. Also promotes collagen production.
Skin Healing Benefits Heals and fades scars, chapped lips, and skin, promotes healing to damaged skin. Heals chapped lips and skin, helps reduce acne scars. Anti-microbial properties to fight off infections. Anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamic acid.
Skin Protection Rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, offering some protection from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. Acts as a barrier on the skin and slows water loss due to a high amount of palmitic acid, which is protective and locks in moisture. Vitamin E and A to strengthen and repair the skin. Provides slight UV protection (about SPF 6), due to caffeic acid. Linoleic acid helps seal in moisture.
Anti-Aging Helps reduce wrinkles and fade age spots. Improves the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots.
Watch Now: 1 Little Black Dress - 5 Different Outfits
After reading about shea butter, you might wonder if shea is better for the skin than cocoa butter. While shea butter seems to have been the popular choice over cocoa butter for a few years, and some people consider it to be superior to cocoa butter, the two kinds of butter have nearly the same beneficial fatty acids and antioxidants, though in different proportions.
There are pros and cons. The quality of shea butter can depend on where it is harvested. If you have acne-prone skin, cocoa butter tends to be oilier and could possibly clog the pores. For a similar reason, shea works better as a hair conditioner, since some users find that cocoa butter can be greasy.
Others find that cocoa butter has a more pleasant fragrance than shea and also works well as a massage oil and as a base for essential oils.
But both shea and cocoa butter have a multitude of skincare benefits, so, for the most part, it’s a matter of choice.
Differences Between Cocoa and Shea Butter
COCOA BUTTER SHEA BUTTER
Origins Extracted from the seeds from the fruit of the cacao tree, native to South and Central America. Also cultivated in West Africa. Extracted from the nut of the karite tree, native to West and Central Africa.
Shelf Life Up to 5 years. A natural preservative. Can help preserve the shelf life of cosmetics. 1-2 years. Will go rancid and lose potency quicker than cocoa butter.
Absorption Melts at body temperature and quickly absorbs into the skin. Also melts at body temperature but with slightly better absorption.
Skin Conditions Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Dry skin, rashes, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Skin Type Oily. Could clog pores making it problematic for acne-prone skin. All skin types. Non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause blackheads).
Allergies Soothes skin allergies. Cocoa beans contain cocoa mass polyphenol, which stops production of immunoglobulin IgE (antibodies found in the skin, lungs, mucous membranes that cause the body to react against certain substances, which worsens eczema and atopic dermatitis. Possible reactions for those with nut allergies.
Skin Benefits Improves skin tone, improves elasticity, promotes collagen production. Also promotes collagen production.
Skin Healing Benefits Heals and fades scars, chapped lips, and skin, promotes healing to damaged skin. Heals chapped lips and skin, helps reduce acne scars. Anti-microbial properties to fight off infections. Anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamic acid.
Skin Protection Rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, offering some protection from free radical damage from environmental pollutants. Acts as a barrier on the skin and slows water loss due to a high amount of palmitic acid, which is protective and locks in moisture. Vitamin E and A to strengthen and repair the skin. Provides slight UV protection (about SPF 6), due to caffeic acid. Linoleic acid helps seal in moisture.
Anti-Aging Helps reduce wrinkles and fade age spots. Improves the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots.
Watch Now: 1 Little Black Dress - 5 Different Outfits
Watch Now: 1 Little Black Dress - 5 Different Outfits
Face Mask Recipes for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
Petroleum Jelly Beauty Myths and Benefits
Best Skincare Tips For Black Men
How to Get Rid of Dark Pores on the Legs
The Skin Benefits of Seaweed Plus DIY Skin Care Recipes
Review: Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser
Make Your Own Skin Brightening Turmeric Face Mask
Skin Types: Do You Have Combination, Oily, or Dry Skin?
The Best Ways to Exfoliate From Head to Toe
6 DIY Epsom Salt Recipes to Spruce Up Your Skin Care Routine
Try This Super-Simple Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
How to Make Your Own Sugar Scrub
How to Quickly and Safely Shave Your Chest Hair
Create Vinegar Conditioner
Pumpkin Face Mask Recipes for Any Skin Type
How to Prevent and Conceal Crow’s Feet
Face Mask Recipes for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
Face Mask Recipes for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
Petroleum Jelly Beauty Myths and Benefits
Petroleum Jelly Beauty Myths and Benefits
Best Skincare Tips For Black Men
Best Skincare Tips For Black Men
How to Get Rid of Dark Pores on the Legs
How to Get Rid of Dark Pores on the Legs
The Skin Benefits of Seaweed Plus DIY Skin Care Recipes
The Skin Benefits of Seaweed Plus DIY Skin Care Recipes
Review: Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser
Review: Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser
Make Your Own Skin Brightening Turmeric Face Mask
Make Your Own Skin Brightening Turmeric Face Mask
Skin Types: Do You Have Combination, Oily, or Dry Skin?
Skin Types: Do You Have Combination, Oily, or Dry Skin?
The Best Ways to Exfoliate From Head to Toe
The Best Ways to Exfoliate From Head to Toe
6 DIY Epsom Salt Recipes to Spruce Up Your Skin Care Routine
6 DIY Epsom Salt Recipes to Spruce Up Your Skin Care Routine
Try This Super-Simple Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
Try This Super-Simple Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
How to Make Your Own Sugar Scrub
How to Make Your Own Sugar Scrub
How to Quickly and Safely Shave Your Chest Hair
How to Quickly and Safely Shave Your Chest Hair
Create Vinegar Conditioner
Create Vinegar Conditioner
Pumpkin Face Mask Recipes for Any Skin Type
Pumpkin Face Mask Recipes for Any Skin Type
How to Prevent and Conceal Crow’s Feet
How to Prevent and Conceal Crow’s Feet
Home
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
Home
Home
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
About Us Advertise Careers Privacy Policy Editorial Guidelines Contact Terms of Use EU Privacy
About Us
Advertise
Careers
Privacy Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Contact
Terms of Use
EU Privacy
Entertainment
Careers
Activities
Humor
LiveAbout is part of the Dotdash Meredith publishing family.
When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept Cookies
