Two of the most popular body butters on the market are mango butter and shea butter, as they’re incredibly moisturizing and leave the skin feeling smooth and supple. But which is better and why?
Today, I’m going to be delving into all things body butter, and determining which, in my humble opinion, is the better of the two. There’s nothing better for me than having a nice hot bath and using one of these beautiful body butters afterward, but of course, I have a favorite, and I’ll be letting you in on the big secret here in just a moment.
Keep reading to find out how mango butter and shea butter are similar, different, and my personal favorite!
Similarities and differences between mango butter and shea butter
Here are a few similarities and differences I’ve identified when comparing mango butter and shea butter. I’ll go into these in some more detail to establish which is my favorite body butter.
| Similarities | Differences |
| Moisturizing benefits | Mango butter contains more fatty acids and is better for those with dry skin |
| Both beneficial for chapped/dry lips and regularly used in lip products | Shea butter has a lighter consistency, making it better for oily skin types |
| Useful for those suffering from eczema | Shea butter has high sun protection properties, while mango butter contains more antioxidants that can reduce signs of aging |
| Can reduce appearance of stretch marks | Mango butter is produced from seeds, whereas shea butter is produced from nuts |
Similarities
Mango butter and shea butter share many attributes and can be used interchangeably if you’re not particularly fussy about your latest body butter.
They are both very moisturizing for the skin and can be super useful if you’re suffering from dry skin concerns or more tricky skin conditions such as eczema.
Both shea butter and mango butter are recommended for reducing the appearance of stretch marks, so if you’re expecting a baby both of these body butters will do wonders for your growing belly.
They are also regularly used in lip products such as lip balm, due to their benefits for dry/chapped lips.
Differences
While mango butter and shea butter are similar, they also come with a few differences.
They suit different skin types due to their difference in texture – more on this later – and they are also have a few benefits that differ from one another.
For example, shea butter has some fantastic sun protection properties, which you won’t generally find in your typical tub of mango butter. However, mango butter comes up trumps when it comes to antioxidants, helping to protect the surface of the skin and reduce the signs of aging.
They are also produced differently, with mango butter coming from the seeds of mangos while shea butter is made by extracting the kernels from the seed of the shea tree, and manufacturing into a butter consistency.
Best skin types for mango butter and shea butter
As I mentioned earlier, mango butter and shea butter have different consistencies which lend themselves to benefitting different skin types. Check out the below sections to find out more about this.
Mango butter
Mango butter is best suited to those with dry skin, as it is rich in texture and contains a higher level of fatty acids.
Shea butter
Shea butter is lighter in texture, and therefore it’s better suited to oilier skin types than mango butter. It can prevent build-up of oil in the skin by balancing the production of sebum, resulting in less blocked pores and acne breakouts in general.
There are some differences in shea butter depending on its color. Here’s more on how white shea butter and yellow shea butter differ!
The verdict
While mango butter is great and probably has the nicer scent, in my opinion, shea butter is my firm favorite.
There are a few key reasons for this. The main reason is that it’s more versatile for a range of skin types, being rich enough for those with dry skin without adding too much oil for those with oilier skin types.
I also love that it has sun protection properties, as I’m a sun-worshipper so protecting my skin from UV rays is one of my number 1 priorities!
FAQ
It depends on your skin type as to whether mango butter or shea butter is ‘better’, per se. The crux of the matter is that mango butter is better suited to dry skin types due to its richer texture, while shea butter is better suited to oily skin types as it helps reduce sebum production.
Shea butter can be substituted for coconut oil, here are our thoughts on shea butter vs coconut oil.
Mango butter is considered to be non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores. It also contains anti-bacterial properties which can help soothe acne breakouts.
Mango butter is considered safe to use for most people and shouldn’t cause any side effects. However, if you experience a rash after using mango butter we recommend speaking to a medical physician as you may be experiencing allergy symptoms.
Mango butter and shea butter can be mixed together to benefit from the advantages of both types of oil.
Both mango butter and shea butter are helpful when soothing symptoms of eczema. Mango butter is higher in antioxidants which are particularly helpful for those suffering from eczema, but ultimately both types of body butter will be useful in reducing adverse symptoms of this skin condition.
Coconut oil is another useful skincare product for reducing eczema symptoms – here’s more on the uses of coconut oil, including 100+ benefits and recipes!
While mango butter isn’t inherently greasy, it is lighter-weight in consistency than shea butter due to it containing higher levels of fatty acids. This could lead you to believe that mango butter is greasier than shea butter.
Have you ever made a Mango Butter/ Tallow lip balm? Any suggestions on a recipe
Hi Susie! We have this tallow balm recipe that can be used as a lip balm: https://thecoconutmama.com/tallow-balm-recipe/. You can also use this recipe and use mango butter instead of coconut oil: https://thecoconutmama.com/homemade-lip-balm/. Hope this helps!