Benefits of Shea, Mango & Cocoa Butter

Mother Nature bestowed many gifts upon mankind -- and she didn't leave out skin-care ingredients among her wonderful gifts. Shea, cocoa and mango butters all deliver benefits to the skin that work to nourish and hydrate. Each of these butters can be naturally derived from the earth and provide the skin with nourishment and moisture -- things that every type of skin needs and appreciates.

Shea butter is chock-full of vitamin A and is deeply moisturizing. Shea is derived from nuts that grow on trees in West and Central Africa, and it is known for being so nourishing to the skin that even in Africa's dry climate it works to soothe thirsty skin. The American Shea Institutes notes that shea butter possesses the ability to improve pesky skin blemishes, eczema, wrinkles and dermatitis. Shea is also known to soothe insect bites, sunburn and frostbite. This butter packs a powerful punch for an array of skin ailments.

Cocoa beans are good for more than just luscious morsels of chocolate -- they also make a glorious butter. Cocoa butter is simple a shade of white in its organic form. This butter is high in fat, which helps it to deliver deep nourishment and moisture to your skin. For those struggling with eczema, cocoa butter may be worth trying. Although it is often thought of as being a match for preventing stretch marks, Live Science notes that cocoa butter holds no more ability to protect skin against stretchmarks than a placebo. As with any skin-care product, it is best to test a small amount of cocoa butter on an area of your skin as a patch test. If skin doesn't react, proceed with slathering yourself in decadent cocoa butter.

Derived from the rain-forests of the world, the deliciously sweet fruit of the mango is full of moisture. Mangoes not only nourish the body internally, but they also provide skin with sweet treats. These include moisture, and vitamins A, C and E, which work to combat free radicals. Free radicals are found in the sun's rays and air pollution. When applied to the skin, mango butter has the ability to protect it from the sunburn as well as sooth sunburned skin.

When purchasing a body butter, it is important to look for a butter that is extracted using natural methods to ensure maximum nourishment to the skin. Look for the words "unrefined," "cold-pressed" or "crude." This means that the product was extracted from the shea nut, cocoa bean or mango using natural methods that don't overheat the ingredient during the process, thus destroying some of its nutrients.