You’ve probably heard of shea butter if you’re into your body butter and lip balms, but have you heard of cupuacu butter?
Cupuacu butter comes from the Amazonian superfruit cupuacu – a fruit from the cupuacu tree. As with shea butter, cupuacu is known for providing intense moisture as well as key nutrients to keep the skin looking and feeling great.
But which is better? In this guide I’ll be talking through everything cupuacu butter and shea butter to help you understand the similarities and differences between these two products, as well as which is my personal preference.
Keep reading for all the info!
Similarities and differences between cupuacu butter and shea butter
Here are a few of the key similarities and differences between cupuacu butter and shea butter. I’ll go into some more depth on this comparison in the below sections!
| Similarities | Differences |
| Both are very moisturizing | Shea butter contains higher content of omega fatty acids, which moisturize and help reduce appearance of fine lines and act as a natural SPF. Cupuacu butter is better at retaining moisture, making it better for dryer skin types |
| Beneficial for sensitive skin | Cupuacu is much lighter in consistency, soaking into the skin more easily. |
| Both natural products and suitable for vegans | Their scents are different, with shea butter having an earthy, nutty smell, while cupuacu butter has been said to smell like chocolate, pineapple, or vanilla. |
| Both offer anti-inflammatory benefits | Cupuacu butter can cause pores if overused on the face, while shea butter is non-comedegenic |
Similarities
Shea butter and cupuacu butter are highly moisturizing, with both products giving the skin a nourishing, hydrated appearance/feel.
They can both be used if you have sensitive skin, including conditions that require soothing such as eczema or psoriasis. Anti-inflammatory benefits have also been found in shea butter and cupuacu butter due to their levels of antioxidants, helping to soothe enflamed or aggravated skin.
If you’re vegan or choose not to use products derived from animals, both of these butters are suitable for you to use as they are completely natural and come from plants.
Differences
While these products are similar, there are some key differences between them too.
They contain difference ingredients which can lead them to be beneficial in different ways. For example, shea butter contains higher levels of fatty acids which help to moisturize and reduce the appearance of fine lines/wrinkles. It also acts as a natural SPF (around 6) due to these levels of fatty acids.
Cupuacu butter on the other hand is better at helping the skin retain moisture, sinking into the skin more naturally and often being used as a vegan alternative to lanolin for this reason.
Other differences include that they have different scents, with shea butter having an earthy, nutty scent while cupuacu butter is said to smell like chocolate, pineapple, or vanilla!
Lastly, it’s worth bearing in mind that cupuacu butter may lead to clogged pores if over-used on the face, while shea butter is a noncomedogenic product – this means it does not clog pores.
A similar product to cupuacu butter is murumuru butter – here’s a comparison of murumuru butter vs shea butter.
Best skin types for cupuacu butter and shea butter
Below I’ve put together some information on the best skin types for these two types of body butter. Check these out to see which would be best for your skin type.
Shea butter
Shea butter is suitable for all skin types. It doesn’t contain chemical irritants and therefore won’t dry out the skin, plus it’s safe for oilier skin types as it’s non-comedogenic.
Did you know that shea butter is often used as an ingredient in bath products? Take a look at my favorite recipe for coconut oil bath melts – the perfect addition to a relaxing bubble bath!
Cupuacu butter
Cupuacu butter is best suited to dry skin, as it’s intensely moisturizing and sinks into the skin very quickly.
It’s not recommended to use cupuacu butter on your face if you oily skin, as it may lead to blocked pores and ultimately more breakouts.
Cupuacu butter is often used in different shampoos – here’s a list of the best coconut shampoos, with some of them containing cupuacu butter.
The verdict
It’s a hard choice between these two different types of body butter, but my favorite has to be shea butter.
I love that it acts as a natural SPF, plus I’m very partial to the smell! I also love that I can use it on my face as someone with oily skin and not worry about it breaking me out.
FAQ
Cupuacu butter is harder than shea butter, as shea butter is particularly soft in texture. Both body butters are very soft, however, and will easily sink into the skin.
Cupuacu butter may cause clogged pores if over-used on the face. We recommend sticking to using cupuacu butter elsewhere on the body to avoid clogged pores and acne.
Cupuacu butter is much lighter than shea butter, and has a non-greasy consistency. Shea butter on the other hand is very rich, and can be greasy if overused.
I wouldn’t recommend using cupucu butter on the face as it can lead to clogged pores. You’d be better off using shea butter on your face and saving cupuacu butter for other areas of your body.
Cupuacu butter has been reported to have different scents, with the most prevalent being chocolate, vanilla, and pineapple!
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