Top 10 Plant-Based Butters in Skincare (2024)

FAQs

Top 10 Plant-Based Butters in Skincare? ›

Plant butters melt on contact with body heat, adding additional softness and smoothness to skin and hair to relieve dryness, roughness, breakage, and irritation.

Plant butters melt on contact with body heat, adding additional softness and smoothness to skin and hair to relieve dryness, roughness, breakage, and irritation.

Shea butter is extracted from the shea tree nuts, and is ubiquitous in many types of skincare—for good reason! It has very powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which makes it a fantastic anti-aging ingredient, and a great treatment option for those with dry skin or eczema.

Mango Butter, Mangifera indica, is a great moisturizer for all skin types, but especially mature, dry or sun-damaged skin. Non-comedogenic mango butter helps provide relief from the dryness of eczema and psoriasis. In hair care, mango butter replaces moisture, adds softness, elasticity and shine to your hair.

It's clear that both murumuru and shea butter are beneficial to the skin. But, if you're looking to go that extra mile with your skincare, there's no better option than murumuru butter. This rejuvenating body butter is the most nourishing and moisturizing of the two.

Body butter provides deep moisturisation, creating a protective barrier that locks in moisture, making it ideal for very dry or cracked skin. Body oils absorb quickly, hydrating the skin without leaving a heavy or greasy residue, perfect for a lighter, more immediate nourishment.

Murumuru butter has natural anti-inflammatory properties that help to soothe sensitive or irritated skin, sealing the moisture in. These properties also help relieve strained muscles when used as a massage cream. Murumuru butter is also very effective as a healing ingredient in skincare treatments.

Aloe Vera Butter: A Soothing Superstar

Known as one of the best ingredients for acne and acne scars, aloe vera butter is renowned for its ability to soothe dry skin, calm inflammation, and provide relief for conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

You should stay away from butter that has a high salt content, which can contribute to high blood pressure. Avoid buying margarine or butter substitutes that are made from processed vegetable oils and have other additives and preservatives that don't promote a healthy diet.

Grass-fed butter is a rich source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid associated with potential anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have suggested that CLA might aid in reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system, making grass-fed butter an ally in the battle against inflammation.

What can replace shea butter? ›

Like shea, mango butter has emollient properties, thus helping to soften the hair and seal in moisture. If you find the nutty scent of shea butter to be unpleasant, then mango butter is also a great alternative because of its milder, sweet scent.

“Shea butter contains linoleic acid, which has benefits when applied topically, especially since skin cells can't make this acid on their own,” says Bailey. Shea butter also contains potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, which Bailey explains are responsible for this butter's medicinal properties.

Coconut oil is comedogenic in nature and can block pores thus causing acne, therefore it is not suitable for sensitive and oily skin types. On the other hand, Shea butter is non-comedogenic and hence can be used easily by all skin types whether dry, normal, sensitive, or acne-prone.

While mango butter is softer than shea and cocoa butter, it contains more fatty acids making it a more intense moisturizer. It has little to no odor and being rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it helps ease dry skin conditions and slows down degeneration of skin cells.

Shea butter is one of the most well-known nut butters—and with good reason. Not only is it rich in nutritious fatty acids, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties, ideal for damaged and irritated skin. It's also rich in vitamin E and can help fight the effects of aging.

Chamomile is bursting with alpha-bisabolol, Chamazulene, and Apigenin, three compounds that can brighten and clarify the skin. This herb is one of the most widely used in the world, and was documented for use in Ancient Egypt. It's suitable for all skin types and said to reduce inflammation and alleviate irritation.

For healthy skin - think of the rainbow. Whole foods rich in colour like bell peppers, sweet potatoes, blueberries, leafy greens, tomatoes, carrots - these plant foods all contain powerful antioxidants like vitamin a, lycopene, selenium and beta-carotene, which are brilliant for healthy, glowing skin.