Coconut Oil or Shea Butter: Which One for Glossy Skin and Hair?

Flip through any beauty magazine and it’ll tell you coconut oil and shea butter are ah-mazing for your skin and hair. 

But which one is better?

Let’s explore and compare the seven different aspects of these two products to put an end to the coconut oil vs shea butter debate!

Coconut Oil vs Shea Butter: Which One Should You Go For?

Below you’ll find a comparison of coconut oil and shea butter to help you make the right choice: 

1. Origin and Extraction

A. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a vegetable oil that’s rich in medium-chain fatty acid content (a form of saturated fat). 

It’s traditionally made by extracting oil from coconuts. (No surprises there!) 

But here’s the kicker:

While virgin coconut oil is sourced from the white flesh of coconuts, refined coconut oil is made from the dried flesh of coconuts.

B. Shea Butter

Shea butter is a creamy, ivory-colored vegetable fat.

Unrefined shea butter is traditionally made by extracting the fat from the nuts of the shea fruit. 

Fun fact: 

Shea oil is a by-product of the extraction process of raw shea butter. Simply put, shea oil packs all the benefits of shea butter but in the form of oil. 

2. Chemical Makeup

A. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a potent skincare ingredient — thanks to the presence of medium chain fatty acid content such as linoleic acid, lauric acid, and capric acid. 

But that’s not all!

The oil is enriched with other beneficial components like:

• Caprylic acid
• Myristic acid
• Palmitic acid
• Stearic acid
• Oleic acid
• Vitamin E

B. Shea Butter

Shea butter boosts collagen production, protects your skin against harmful UV rays, prevents hair breakage…phew, the list goes on, ladies!

The secret behind the superpowers of shea butter?

It contains:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin E 
• Essential fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, linoleic, arachidonic, and oleic acid)
• Triglycerides
• Cetyl esters
• Cinnamic acid

Hot tip: 

Always choose unrefined shea butter or unrefined coconut oil over their refined counterparts. They retain more vitamins and other beneficial properties. 

3. Moisturizing Power

A. Coconut Oil

The presence of essential fatty acids like lauric acid and capric acid makes coconut oil an excellent moisturizer. 

Applying virgin coconut oil, enriched with vitamin E, can help you lock moisture within dry skin.

Bottom line — your arms and legs won’t crack up like the Sahara desert. 

However, coconut oil is comedogenic.

What do we mean?

It can block skin pores, making it highly unsuitable for oily skin or sensitive skin prone to acne. 

Important: 

If you have oily skin, check with your dermatologist before using coconut oil. 

B. Shea Butter

Shea butter gives your dry skin long-lasting moisturization (like olive oil, almond oil, and argan oil) as it contains a bunch of essential fatty acids too. 

It gets better:

Unlike coconut butter or oil, shea butter is non-comedogenic and plays well with every skin type.

The best part?

It’s 100% natural and won’t burn a hole in your pocket like those body butter or cocoa butter creams!

4. Anti Inflammatory And Antimicrobial Properties

A. Coconut Oil

Can your fancy skincare product help your skin fight against harmful microbes?

‘Cause coconut oil can! 

The oil’s fatty acid content promotes better skin health. 

How?

It prevents skin conditions (think eczema, cellulitis, and folliculitis) caused by microbes. 

Here’s more good news:

Linoleic acid in coconut oil helps replenish the skin barrier that acts as your body’s defensive layer against pollution.

B. Shea Butter

Troubled by sensitive skin?

Shea butter to the rescue!

It possesses anti inflammatory properties, which can soothe irritation, redness, swelling, and other inflammatory skin conditions. 

5. For The Ultimate Skin Care

A. Coconut Oil

As a skincare product, coconut oil is a steadfast fan favorite. 

Why?

You can use it as a cleanser or in face masks. 

Like coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut butter help remove dirt from your skin. It improves the skin barrier function AND gives you that goddess-like glow.

Here’s some great news for new moms:

Applying coconut oil over your stretch marks may lighten them over time. 

Hot tip: 

Consider ditching your glossy lip balm once in a while and heal your dry, chapped lips by rubbing coconut oil over them. 

B. Shea Butter

Shea butter is a widely used personal care product that boosts collagen production. 

Why does that matter?

It helps reduce acne scars, stretch marks, and the appearance of wrinkles. 

In fact, mixing essential oils with whipped shea butter helps develop skin care concoctions that work against acne and fine lines. 

Sidenote: 

Whipped shea butter has a lighter texture and is easier to apply than raw shea butter.

Shea butter is also effective as a minimal sun-blocking agent. (Hello, beach days!) 

You can also try homemade body butter creams by mixing equal parts of shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter. 

Both your skin and wallet will thank you!

Did you know? 

African black soap, considered a next-level skin cleanser, contains both coconut oil and shea butter. 

6. For Pampering Your Tresses

A. Coconut Oil

Your granny was right about this! 

Massaging your hair with a natural oil like coconut oil can do wonders for scalp health and hair texture.

Even better?

You can mix coconut oil with other hair-strengthening oils (like olive oil, argan oil, almond oil, and other essential oils). 

Apply this magical concoction twice weekly for deep conditioning and to repair damage from hair coloring and heating treatments.

Important: 

If you’ve low porosity hair, too much coconut oil can cause your natural hair to become stiffer and more brittle.

B. Shea Butter

Does the shiny, voluminous mane in those hair care ads seem like a far-fetched dream?

Things may take a different turn if you add whipped shea butter to your hair care routine.

Shea butter is a super hydrator — combating itchy, dry scalp and taming frizzy hair.

The only problem?

Shea butter tends to be heavy and can cause low porosity hair to become greasy after application.

7. As A Sexual Lubricant

A. Coconut Oil

A lack of wetness down there can make sex uncomfortable and even painful. This is where coconut oil can be your best friend.

Introducing this all-natural lube in your bedroom can turn the heat up a notch. 

Its moisturizing ability helps minimize the friction to get things going in the sack. 

B. Shea Butter

The thick consistency of shea butter makes it a popular choice for anal play. 

Remember — only go for 100% natural shea butter for lubrication purposes. 

Using refined shea butter — or shea butter products containing added fragrances or chemicals — may cause breakouts or irritation in your privates.

The goal is to moan with pleasure, not pain. 

Now, if only there was a great lube combining the goodness of both coconut oil and shea butter.

Ohh, wait, there is!

We recommend:

• Coconu’s Oil Based Personal Lubricant — a non-sticky lube made from 100% organic ingredients, including coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, and more. It protects your sensitive skin and helps you reach the big O faster. 

• Coconu’s Hemp Infused Body Oil — a silky lube that infuses the organic goodness of coconut oil, shea butter, hemp, and more. It doubles as a massage oil that heightens sensations in your intimate areas and preps you for toe-curling sex. 

Become BFFs With These Superfoods For Your Skin

While shea butter works on every skin type, coconut oil is an absolute no-no for those with oily skin. 

Nevertheless, both products deserve a place in your beauty cabinet. 

They can help you get that killer natural glow and even that after-sex glow by working as an all-natural lube alternative. 

Ready to give it a shot? 

Get hold of Coconu’s Oil Based Singles. These coconut oil-based lube packets are easy to carry around, so you can get it on whenever you want.