Shea Butter vs Cocoa Butter: Difference and Comparison

There used to be a time when the skins of humans used to be self-nourished and self-polished. It did not require any artificial or human-made substance to polish its outer layer.

But with all the phenomena present today, such as pollution and climate change and heavy cosmetics and other chemicals, the skin has lost its natural moisture and requires outer sources to provide it with the required moisture. 

Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter are two such elements heavily used in the cosmetic industry as a moisturizer and are heavily marketed. To know the exact facts about these two and decide the most suitable one, it is crucial to mark their differences. 

Key Takeaways

1. Shea butter and cocoa butter are both plant-based fats used in skincare products.
2. Shea butter is derived from the shea tree, while cocoa butter is derived from the cocoa bean.
3. Shea butter is better for moisturizing and nourishing the skin, while cocoa butter is better for preventing and reducing the appearance of scars.

Shea Butter vs Cocoa Butter  

The difference between Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter is that Shea Butter is derived from the nuts of a particular tree found in Africa called the shea tree, and Cocoa butter, as the name itself suggests, originates from the nut of a cocoa bean. Apart from this origin factor, these two differ in terms of their internal attributes and other things also. 

Shea Butter travels the whole world after getting originated in Africa. A very popular and beautiful tree called the shea tree is found in the dense forests of this continent that gives nuts, and from inside of the nut, shea butter can be extracted in the form of fat.  

While on the other hand, Cocoa Butter comes into existence only after fat is yielded from the nuts of the cocoa trees, which are majorly cultivated in the lands of Central America and South America.

It is not just a moisturizer but a preservative manufactured by the hands of nature too. It helps to preserve the life of the things in which it is used.  

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Shea Butter	Cocoa Butter
Meaning	It is a kind of natural fat that comes from the nuts of shea trees.	It is a kind of natural fat that comes into existence due to cocoa beans.
Extracted from	The nuts of the shea tree.	The beans of the tree of cocoa.
Cultivated in	Only in Africa	It is cultivated in Central and South America.
Suitable for	It works for all skin types	It is ideal for oily skin
Life span	Can be kept up to 5 years	It cannot be kept for more than 1 to 2 years.
Benefits associated	It happens to be really rich in Vitamin E and protects the skin from damage due to environmental factors. It also acts as a lock for the skin and keeps the moisture of the skin within.	It works as a healing mechanism for damaged skin. It is also used as a preservative in many cosmetics.
Other uses	Used in many medicinal ointments and beauty products.	Used in manufacturing of chocolates that are edible.
Absorption	It can be absorbed by the skin very quickly as it melts easily.	It takes a little longer while getting absorbed in the skin.
Taste and appearance	It smells a little bit smokey and has this pale yellow or beige color naturally.	It smells purely like chocolate and looks brownish in color.
Consistency	Soft consistency	Hard consistency

What is Shea Butter? 

Shea Butter is the name given to the fat that is extracted from the Shea trees cultivated in the African continent.

It happens to be a very nourishing and moisturizing fat with respect to human skin and is widely used all over the world in beauty and cosmetic products. 

It happens to be really rich in Vitamin E and protects the skin from damage due to environmental factors. It also acts as a lock for the skin and keeps the moisture of the skin within.

Not only this but it is also used in many medicinal ointments that require nourishment. 

It has a very smooth consistency, and upon coming into contact with skin, it melts down. It helps in its quick absorption. It has a kind of smokey smell and looks pale yellow in color.

Being suitable for all all skin types, it can be stored for up to 2 years in its unrefined state. 

What is Cocoa Butter? 

A very popular Cocoa Butter takes birth from the tiny beans of cocoa or cacao tree majorly cultivated in America’s central and southern areas.

In its natural state, it looks like any other fat and smells like chocolate. Needless to say, it has a brownish chocolaty color attached to it. 

This butter is a natural preservative, and companies use it to increase the shelf life of their products. The beauty industry and the chocolate industry use this butter the most. In its natural form, it happens to be really expensive. 

It works as a healing mechanism for damaged skin and repairs the damaged cells. Not only this, but it also helps in managing chipped heals and lips.

It can be stored for up to 5 years without worries, and it happens to be suitable for oily skin types only. 

Main Differences Between Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter 

1. Shea Butter is a kind of natural fat that comes from the nuts of shea trees. While Cocoa Butter is fat originating from the beans of cocoa. 
2. Shea Butter is only found in the African continent, but Cocoa butter is majorly cultivated in the land of America. 
3. Shea butter smells really smoky and looks pale yellow, while Cocoa Butter smells like edible chocolate and looks brownish in color.  
4. Shea butter has a soft consistency and melts really easily while in the case of Cocoa Butter, the consistency is hard and takes time to melt. 
5. Shea Butter happens to be really rich in Vitamin E and protects the skin from damage due to environmental factors. It also acts as a lock for the skin and keeps the moisture of the skin within. While Cocoa Butter contributes to the chocolate industry and gets used in edible chocolates. 
6. While shea butter happens to be ideal for all skin types, Cocoa butter can be used on oily skin only. 

References

1. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/africa/article/african-shea-butter-a-feminized-subsidy-from-nature/562FE8E2A7D7FD53DC62144F680D9DB9
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030881469700160X