If you’re seeking ultra-nourishing plant butter to revive your skin, two of nature’s best are cacao seed butter and shea butter.
But which of these botanical wonders is superior for nourishing skin?
Let’s explore the skin-loving benefits of each to find out if one is better than the other.
Or, if they can, perhaps, harmoniously work together.
What is Cacao Seed Butter?
Cacao seed butter, also called cocoa butter, comes from the prized cacao bean. It’s extracted by cold pressing the fatty portion of fermented, roasted cacao beans.
In its pure form, cacao butter is solid at room temperature with a velvety texture and sweet, chocolaty aroma. It contains antioxidant compounds like polyphenols along with hydrating fatty acids such as stearic and oleic acid.
These fatty acids help to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier while also working to attract and seal in hydration — making it a fantastic ingredient if you struggle with dry skin. The antioxidants in cacao seed butter may also help combat visible signs of aging caused by free radicals according to one study.
Key Skincare Benefits:
- Reinforces the skin’s lipid barrier
- Seals in hydration
- Soothes and smooths skin
- Helps fight against free radicals
What is Shea Butter?
Derived from the nuts of the African shea tree, shea butter is extracted by crushing, roasting, and grating the nuts’ fatty kernel.
Shea butter — much like cacao seed butter — seems to melt into skin thanks to its rich composition of fatty acids like oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linoleic acids. This botanical butter is also rather dense in vitamin E, which nourishes skin and helps provide antioxidant protection against photodamage.
Shea butter hydrates skin and has the potential to combat inflammation and the appearance of scars and wrinkles. Its versatility makes it suitable for all skin types.
Key Skincare Benefits:
- Deeply hydrates and nourishes skin
- Exhibits potential anti-aging properties
- Calms irritated, sensitive skin
- Provides relief for minor skin issues — such as sunburn or insect bites.
Cacao Seed Butter vs. Shea Butter for Skin
Both cacao and shea butter offer amazing skin benefits.
But are there key differences that make one better than the other?
Cacao butter forms a rich, occlusive barrier that is great for seriously dry skin. Its high comedogenic rating means it could clog pores, so moderation or using it in non-pore clogging formulations is key on the face.
Meanwhile, shea butter absorbs rapidly without a greasy feel. It’s suited for almost all skin types, even acne-prone skin.
Shea butter exhibits more anti-inflammatory properties to soothe sensitive, irritated complexions.
But cacao butter may be superior for signs of aging thanks to its antioxidant concentration.
For severely dry skin, cacao butter is ultra-nourishing.
But shea butter hydrates while absorbing quickly for versatile use.
Ultimately, they both have their strengths, and pairing them together provides ideal nourishing care.
Cacao Butter + Shea Butter for Youthful-Looking Skin
To enjoy the best of both worlds, choose skincare with a thoughtful combination of cacao and shea butter.
The Age-Defying Dream Cream from Purity Woods includes 100% USDA Certified Organic cacao and shea butter with additional antioxidants like mango seed butter. This formula moisturizes deeply and combats visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and uneven tone.
Shea butter smooths skin, while cacao seed butter provides rich hydration. Together, they reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier and help to combat free radical damage.
With shea butter’s versatility and cacao butter’s intense hydration, you get the best of both worlds in one nourishing formula.
