Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Benefits: Facts and Uses

It’s the battle of the butters.

Cocoa butter and shea butter have long been forcing somewhat of a divide when it comes to opinion of which is best for our skin. The truth is, though, they both provide very similar beneficial properties that can help improve skin conditions like dryness and flakiness, and the overall look and feel of the skin.

Let’s break them down here – their origins and benefits – to put this feud to rest, once and for all.

Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Benefits for Skin

Although they give similar benefits, cocoa butter, and shea butter have very different origins:

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is sourced from the cacao bean – the exact same one used to make chocolate. And although cocoa butter isn’t edible it does go the distance in making the skin look and feel more delicious.

Cocoa butter is made up of some very clever components called flavonoids. These compounds have an antioxidant effect that – apart from helping to reduce heart conditions and inflammation in the body – helps to improve the skin’s overall condition.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is harvested from the nuts of the shea tree.

Less fragrant than cocoa, but with more levels of moisturising power, shea butter is perfect for areas of the skin particularly prone to dryness – the lips for example – and because it’s one of nature’s gifts, it’s gentle enough to help soothe dry skin brought on by conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

Cocoa Butter & Shea Butter for Natural, Glowing Skin

At the end of the day, cocoa butter and shea butter have moisturising properties that have shown features that help the skin look and feel much better. It’s all in the hydration – both butters are great emollients that moisturise deep to help the skin cope in harsher conditions – like the dry winter months.

Vaseline has a range of cocoa butter products for you to try. Each provides the deep intensive care glow, for skin that looks healthy, plump and free from dryness.

Try these for glowing skin:

• Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lip Therapy

• Vaseline Cocoa Glow Moisturising Body Cream

• Vaseline Blue Seal Cocoa Butter Petroleum Jelly

• Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow Moisturising Body Lotion

View our full range of skincare products. You’ll find the one perfect for the skin you’re in, so you can reach for amazing every day.