Shea Butter vs. Coconut Oil For Skin: Which is the Better Moisturizer?
Shea butter and Coconut oil are two of the most popular natural moisturizers on the market today. Both have their own unique properties that make them perfect for skin care. So, which one is the best? In this blog post, we will compare Shea butter and Coconut oil to see which one comes out on top!
The bottom line: The most notable difference between the two is that Shea is a suitable moisturizer for all skin types, while Coconut oils are not a good fit for those with oily skin or acne prone skin. Coconut oils can clog skin skin pores and contribute to acne breakouts. If you have healthy skin, both make a great moisturizer that can keep your skin glowing.
Below we will answer key questions such as: Which is the better moisturizer? Can they be used with an acne break out? Will either cause clogged pores? Do certain skin types benefit more from one or the other? Do either prevent moisture loss or skin irritation?
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oils are extracted from the meat of mature coconut fruit. It is rich in lauric acid, which has been shown to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also high in vitamin E, which helps to nourish and protect the skin. It is also great for helping your skin retain moisture, although other oils like avocado and olive oil are slightly superior on that measure. Avoid using on oily skin.
Key Properties of Coconut Oil
– Rich in lauric acid
– Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties
– High in vitamin E
Types of Coconut Oil
– Virgin coconut oil: This is the purest form of coconut oil and is made from fresh coconuts.
– Refined coconut oil: This type of coconut oil has been treated to remove impurities.
– Fractionated coconut oil: This type of coconut oil has had the long-chain fatty acids removed, resulting in a light, non-greasy oil.
Cosmetic Uses of Coconut oil
Coconut oil can be used as a daily moisturizer or as a treatment for dry, irritated skin. It can also be used to remove makeup and as a hair conditioner.
Nourishes Skin and Lips
Coconut oil is a great all-natural option for keeping your skin and lips moisturized. It can be used as a daily moisturizer or as a treatment for dry skin types, but is not suited for oily skin.
Removes Makeup
Coconut oil can also be used to remove makeup. Simply apply the oil to a cotton ball and wipe away makeup.
Natural Deodorant
Coconut oil can be used as a natural deodorant. Simply apply the oil to your underarms to help control body odor.
Treats Diaper Rash
Coconut oil can also be used to treat diaper rash. Simply apply the oil to the affected area to help soothe and heal the skin.
Medicinal Uses For Coconut Oil
Coconut oil also has anti microbial properties, which make it useful for those suffering from any type of fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot. Research has also found that coconut oil can help strengthen the skin barrier in low-birth-weight babies.
Coconut oils are also high in in medium chain fatty acids, making it useful in the treatment of a number of conditions including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.
Great for Skin
What is Shea Butter?
Shea butter is a type of fat that is extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It is rich in vitamin A and vitamin E, as well as many fatty acids like linoleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid. The shea fat is carefully extracted to filter our shells and debris, creating unrefined shea butter. Unrefined shea butter can help minimize the appearance of acne, scars, and plays an important role in supporting collagen production.
Types of Shea Butter
- Raw Shea butter: This is the purest form of Shea butter and is made from raw Shea nuts.
- Refined Shea butter: This type of Shea butter has been treated to remove impurities.
- Shea butter oil: This is a light, non-greasy oil that is made from Shea butter.
Cosmetic Uses for Shea Butter
Shea butter is a great all-natural option for keeping your skin and lips moisturized. It can be used as a daily moisturizer or as a treatment for dry, irritated skin. Shea butter can be used as a daily moisturizer or as a treatment for dry, irritated skin. It can also be used to remove makeup and as a hair conditioner.
Promotes Wound Healing
Among shea butters beneficial properties is the fact that it has been shown to promote wound healing. Wounds are often accompanied by pain and inflammation, and shea butter can both help reduce irritation and reduce pain. This makes it the ideal moisturizer for those who also have burns and wounds.
Simply apply the butter to the affected area to help speed up the healing process. It is especially effective in treating diaper rash.
Allergen-Free
Shea butter is also a good choice for those with allergies or skin irritation. It is a natural, hypoallergenic product that is safe for children’s skin.
Medicinal Uses For Shea Butter
Shea butter has also been shown to have medicinal properties. It can be used to treat skin problems like psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions.
The Final Verdict – Shea Butter vs Coconut oil
Let’s start with what these two skincare products have in common. They are both emollients that are very good at moisturizing and soothing skin.
Key Differences between Coconut Oil and Shea Butter for Skin
- Shea Butter is rich in vitamins A and E, while Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid.
- Shea Butter has been shown to promote wound healing, while Coconut oil has been shown to be effective in treating diaper rash.
- Shea Butter is a good choice for those with allergies or sensitive skin, while Coconut oil is a natural, hypoallergenic product.
Shea butter vs coconut oil For Eczema
Both Shea butter and coconut oil can be used to treat eczema. Shea butter is a better choice for those with allergies or sensitive skin, while coconut oil is best for those with dry skin.
Coconut oil can soothe skin by reducing itching and irritation. On the other hand, shea butter’s significant nutrients and antifungal health benefits allow it to both treat the symptoms of eczema and prevent skin infections.
Shea butter vs coconut oil for Stretch marks
While Shea butter can help to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, coconut oil is a better choice for preventing them.
Both have healing properties that can help repair and moisturize skin.
Coconut oil vs Shea butter For Acne
If you have acne, coconut oil may make make things worse since it is greasier than other moisturizers. You will need to be mindful of using too much coconut oil, since it can cause build up on the skin and pore blockages.
We recommend those with acne use Shea butter instead.
Shea Butter vs. Coconut oil for Face
Which Should you buy?
Both shea butter and coconut oil are great moisturizers. When picking one, you want to look for cold-pressed virgin coconut oil and shea butter. Extraction techniques involving heat can lead to the oils become rancid more quickly (a process called oxidation) or exposure to residual chemicals.
Minimizing exposure to pesticides is helpful for those with acne prone skin types unrefined shea butter can be a strong option.
Overall, Shea butter is a slightly better option because of its versatility to be used for any skin type and it’s superior moisturizing capabilities. If instead you are dealing with skin irritation caused by fungus or bacteria we recommend that you go with coconut oil.
With that said, either of these widely popular beauty products make an excellent moisturizer and have their place in an effective skincare routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use Coconut oil and Shea butter together?
Yes, you can use both Coconut oil and Shea butter together. While neither is necessarily a better moisturizer than the other, they are both highly effective and can be used together to create a natural, all-in-one skincare product.
Mixing the two moisturizers tother will allow you to combine the antimicrobial properties of coconut oil with the anti-inflammatory properties of refined shea butter. Some find natural, earthy smell of shea tree or coconut off putting, which can be fixed by adding essential oils or artificial fragrances
