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Butters are fantastic ingredients in DIY cosmetics. They provide hydration, nourishment and protection for the skin. They are wonderful to use in products for skin and hair. And most butters can even be used pure on the skin. In this blog you'll read all about the different butters, and afterwards you'll know exactly which butter is right for your skin.
Whichever butter you use, all butters share a number of properties.
Hydration: all butters are intensely hydrating for the skin. This makes them a very suitable ingredient for drier skin types.
Protection: all butters form a protective layer on the skin that prevents moisture loss and protects the skin from external influences.
Nourishing: all butters are nourishing for the skin. They contain vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that nourish skin and hair.
To answer this question, we first look at the differences between the butters. We can break the differences down into source, texture & consistency, and scent.
You can use all butters in cosmetics. Depending on what you want to make and the consistency you're looking for in your recipe, you choose one butter or another.
Cocoa butter is known for its firm texture and, of course, its delicious cocoa scent.
Benefits: contains natural antioxidants, penetrates deep into the skin and hydrates, soothes and repairs. It also improves elasticity and helps to reduce scars. Cocoa butter has a positive effect on various skin conditions. From very dry, red skin to skin irritation. Cocoa butter has you covered!
Drawbacks: Cocoa butter is comedogenic and therefore not suitable for oily skin / skin with blemishes.
How do you use Cocoa butter? You can use Cocoa butter pure on the skin. Simply rub it between your hands or onto your skin. Your body heat will gradually make it softer. It's also very suitable as a massage oil; for this, let a little more butter melt on the skin so that a layer remains on top.
For the DIY-ers: widely used in lip balms, body butters or creams. Or try the Shea butter body bar with Cocoa butter.
Shea Butter is very versatile and is used in all sorts of products.
Benefits: Shea butter is hydrating, softening and soothing, and it repairs damaged skin. It contains plenty of vitamin E and supports the skin's barrier function. Perfect for dry skin and red, irritated and damaged skin. Shea butter contains Caffeic Acid: this provides light protection against UV radiation.
Drawbacks: if you're sensitive to nuts or latex, you may develop an allergic reaction to Shea butter. For this reason, always test on a small patch of skin beforehand (for example, in the crook of the elbow). Shea butter can also sometimes feel a little greasy. To reduce this, you can mix Shea Butter with oil or mango butter.
How do you use Shea Butter? When you want to use Shea Butter pure on the skin, put a little shea butter on your hand and gently massage it into the skin (or hair, of course).
For the DIY-ers: Shea Butter is a fantastic ingredient in many DIY recipes, such as body butters, body bars or (lip) balms. Need inspiration? There are now more than 10 recipes online using Shea Butter. Make the Rosy Face & Body butter or Oat and Shea Body Fluff.
Mango butter is similar in consistency to Shea butter.
Benefits: Mango butter hydrates the skin, is rich in antioxidants and improves the skin's elasticity. Mango butter spreads over the skin better than Shea butter. It's a 'dry' butter and therefore feels less greasy. It also contains Mangiferin, which offers light protection against UVB radiation. Mango butter is rich in Allantoin too, which helps the skin to retain moisture well.
How do you use Mango butter? Mango butter can be used pure on the skin. It softens and purifies the skin and reduces the appearance of early fine lines. Ideal for dry, sensitive or mature skin. Mango butter is also very soothing, and many people use it as an aftersun.
For the DIY-ers: Mango butter is a lovely ingredient in anhydrous creams, balms, butters, scrubs and emulsions. Because it's a dry butter, it's best mixed with soft oils or butters such as Shea butter. Prefer to try a ready-made recipe? Then go for the Tropical Mango Body Butter or the Calendula lotion bars
Cupuaçu butter comes from the Cupuaçu tree, a member of the cocoa-tree family. Sometimes this butter is even used in white chocolate.
Benefits: It's a wonderful ingredient in anti-ageing creams. This is because Cupuaçu contains plenty of antioxidants that slow down the skin's ageing process. It penetrates deep into the skin and helps to nourish it and improve its elasticity. It's very easily absorbed by the skin and is enormously hydrating. This makes it a fantastic butter for drier skin and hair!
How do you use Cupuaçu butter? You can use Cupuaçu butter pure on the skin as a moisturiser or body butter. It's also lovely to use as a hair mask for dry or coloured hair.
For the DIY-ers: Cupuaçu butter is a perfect vegan alternative to Lanolin thanks to its low melting point and high water-absorption capacity. It also acts as a natural emulsifier, allowing water-based and oil-based ingredients to bind together. Lovely in body butters such as the Amazonian Body Butter or in anti-ageing skincare products.
Kokum butter is, like cocoa butter, one of the hardest plant-based butters there is. Despite being such a hard butter, it melts quickly on the skin.
Benefits: Kokum butter has soothing and hydrating properties and repairs the skin barrier. Kokum butter is non-comedogenic and doesn't clog the pores. It even regulates sebum production, has a lighter texture and doesn't make the skin greasy. Kokum butter belongs to the non-drying oils and absorbs quickly. It protects the skin from dehydration and makes dry and ageing skin firm and smooth.
How do you use Kokum butter? Kokum butter is one of the few butters that's very suitable for oily skin.
For the DIY-ers: Kokum butter is a good alternative to Cocoa butter. You can use it in light body lotions, face creams and hair products. Our All Purpose Balm contains Kokum butter too.
Shea Nilotica has the benefits of Shea butter but a much creamier texture.
Benefits: Shea Nilotica is intensely hydrating, nourishing, soothing and caring, and suitable for the most sensitive and irritated skin. Shea Nilotica contains more olein than ordinary Shea Butter, which makes it softer and easier to apply.
How do you use Shea Nilotica? You can use Shea Nilotica pure on the skin. Thanks to its caring, repairing and soothing properties, Shea Nilotica has a positive effect on a great many skin problems. It's very suitable for dry, sensitive, irritated and flaky skin. And one more thing: both mum and baby benefit from Shea Nilotica.
For the DIY-ers: Shea Nilotica works well in face creams, body butters and products for sensitive skin. The DIY vegan lip balm kit contains Shea Nilotica.
Written by: Helena
