Raw Shea Butter vs. Raw Mango Butter

In the beauty industry, shea butter and mango butter are two of the most respected plant-based ingredients for moisturization and skin health. They are commonly featured in lotions, lip balms, hair products, and most notably, body butter.

Beyond their commercial use, both ingredients hold deep cultural significance. Especially throughout Africa and India where their traditional applications go back generations. From skin conditioning and scar treatment to Ayurvedic skin care uses and natural healing, these butters are more than just cosmetic.

Both African shea butter and raw mango butter have stood the test of time. But as modern skincare evolves, users are becoming more curious about how these ingredients differ, and which one best aligns with their skin needs.

If you’re already familiar with raw shea butter but want to explore it in more detail, we recommend visiting our Comprehensive Guide to Shea Butter for a full breakdown of its benefits, sourcing, and historical roots.

Mango butter is derived from the seed of the mango fruit, which grows on the Mangifera indica tree. Native to South Asia, the mango tree is now cultivated across tropical regions worldwide, including parts of Africa. However, most mango butter is still sourced from India, where the highest concentration of mango trees are found.

Though they come from different plant origins, mango butter and shea butter both hold a place in longstanding ethnobotanical traditions. Their differences in texture, scent, and composition make each uniquely valuable in modern skincare.

• Texture: Mango butter has a lighter, silkier texture than shea butter and spreads/absorbs more easily across the skin.
• Smell: Unrefined mango butter carries a creamy, faintly earthy scent that is extremely subtle. Importantly, it does not smell like mango fruit as the butter is derived from the seed, not the flesh. Refined mango butter, on the other hand, is stripped of its natural aroma and nutrients during processing, leaving it odorless and colorless. While many commercially available mango butters appear vibrant orange and carry notable mango-esq aromatics, these versions are enhanced with dyes and fragrances.
• Composition: Mango butter is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as stearic and oleic acids. While both shea and mango butters contain beneficial fatty acids, mango butter tends to feel less occlusive and more suited to oily or combination skin.

Mango Butter Benefits

The benefits of mango butter are often underrated compared to shea butter. However, its lighter weight and fast absorption make it an exceptional ingredient for many skincare formulations.

Unrefined mango butter benefits include:

• Supporting skin elasticity without heaviness
• Softening fine lines and improving texture
• Calming irritation and helping with sensitive skin
• Offering antioxidant protection through vitamins A and C

Refined mango butter, while still emollient, loses many of these natural nutrients during the deodorization process. It becomes a neutral base rather than a therapeutic botanical.

Shea & Mango Uses in Body Butter

If you’ve ever picked up a jar labeled body butter, you might assume you’re getting a rich, dense, plant-based product. But in the modern skincare industry, many commercial “body butters” are actually water-based lotions with added thickeners. These products often contain a high percentage of water, preservatives, and stabilizers that result in a less effective skincare product.

Traditionally, a body butter contains no water as it consists of a concentrated blend of plant butters and oils. These botanicals provide long-lasting moisture, strengthen the skin’s barrier, and enhance visible radiance. By supporting the skin’s lipid layer, they help retain hydration and promote a dewy, healthy-looking complexion.

At Aminata Haadi, we create body butter that stays true to this traditional approach. Crafted entirely from various plant-based butters and oils, our waterless skincare contains no preservatives, or synthetics. Our blends feature unrefined shea butter, raw mango butter, kokum butter and complementing botanical oils.

Explore our collection of body butters and discover the feeling of pure botanical enrichment.

Final Thoughts

While mango butter shines for its elegant texture and lightweight finish, shea butter is unmatched in richness and barrier repair. Choosing the right body butter isn’t an either/or decision as they complement each other beautifully in skincare.

Whether you’re drawn to the creamy subtlety of raw mango butter or the earthy strength of African shea butter, both offer something timeless to your skin. The key lies in choosing high-quality, unrefined versions and honoring their differences as much as their similarities.