If you have skin that’s on the drier side, then you’re probably no stranger to butters.  

 

Things like shea butter, cacao butter, and heck, even butter butter, can all be incredibly moisturizing for the skin.  These natural fats are all higher in non-oxidizing saturated fatty acids, making them perfect for mending a stressed-out moisture barrier.  

 

But one butter that’s flown under the radar for far too long is mango butter.  That’s right, those yummy, vitamin C-rich tropical fruits aren’t just good for your metabolism, the fat from their seeds also does wonders for your skin.  

 

Read on as we unpack why this underrated butter is a must for preventing age-related damage and restoring moisture levels in your skin.

 

What is mango butter? 

 

Mango butter is a natural fat extracted from the kernels of the mango seed. It's harvested through a process of cold-pressing to ensure its nutrients remain intact. Much like other butters, mango butter is ultra-soft and creamy but firmer at room temperature– thanks to all those stabilizing fatty acids like palmitic, stearic, and oleic. (1) This is a really good thing since it means mango butter is more resistant to oxidation. 

 

Polyunsaturated fats, on the other hand, are liquid at room temperature because they have more kinks in their fatty acid chains. These oils are naturally found in cold-water fish and plants that grow better in cold climates because they’re more susceptible to oxidizing as things heat up.

 

A good rule of thumb is the more solid a fat is at room temperature, the more saturated it is.  (Picture a solid block of grassfed tallow out on the counter, that’s what we’re going for.)  Mango butter fits this bill perfectly.  Plus, it has powerful antioxidant properties that protect against and actively repair damage caused by oxidative stress. 

 

Why we love mango butter.

 

Not only is mango butter loaded with skin-loving vitamins like A, E, C, and D, but it’s also highly biocompatible with our skin so the benefits sink in quickly.  It’s similar to other ingredients we love in that way.  Just like the fatty acid profile of both jojoba wax and tallow, mango butter can supplement the skin's natural lipid barrier to hydrate and replenish. Its emollient properties are especially good for dull, dry skin as it improves overall texture and helps maintain moisture balance. But one of our favorite things about mango butter is its effect on collagen production in the skin.  (2)

 

Benefits of mango butter worth bragging about:

• softens and plumps: mango butter restores the skin’s lipid layer for greater elasticity and a more occlusive barrier to lock in hydration.

  

• minimizes wrinkles and rough texture: the high concentration of tocopherols and phytosterols in mango butter strengthens the outer layer of skin to significantly soften lines and smooth overall texture.

• strengthens connective tissue: mango butter is loaded with vitamin C  which boosts collagen protein production in the deep layers for more resilient skin.

• heals wounds and lightens scars: antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties support skin cell regeneration, fend off infection, and significantly speed up wound healing.

• relieves eczema, psoriasis, and persistent dryness: the triterpenes in mango butter help reduce inflamed skin while the nourishing fatty acids mend the moisture barrier for more supple, less reactive skin. 

• provides natural UV protection: often used as a sun protective ingredient, mango butter boasts a natural SPF of 4.  So while we don’t need to be fearful of the sun, the abundance of vitamins E and C in mango butter can help minimize and repair damage if we overdo it.

 

Where’s all the mango butter?

 

As you know, we have an extremely selective ingredient collection.  So when you see something listed, it's on purpose.  And mango butter is no exception.  Though it's softer, and more lightweight than coconut oil and shea butter, it contains richer fatty acids making it a much more effective moisturizer.  This means it deeply hydrates and repairs the skin without ever feeling greasy– a true win-win. 

 

You’ll find this versatile ingredient in two very special Fatskn products.

 

Purist Face

Adding mango butter to our face recipe was a no-brainer thanks to its airy and fast-absorbing texture. This blend was created to provide the thinner, more delicate skin of the face with gentle hydration that won’t weigh you down.

Spruce Resin Salve

We put mango butter’s potent healing powers to good use in our nourishing all-over salve to revive dry skin, soothe overworked hands, and mend even the roughest heels. Have a sunburn, breakout, or bug bites? Mango butter, tallow, beeswax, and spruce resin work together to speed up the healing process and rescue problematic skin. (read for more ways to use this medicinal salve here)

 

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As always, while we hope to be a no-nonsense resource for you, we encourage you to do your own research to find the healthiest options for you and your family. Don’t forget to check out our entire collection of tallow-based skin care products by clicking the link below.  We hope to see you there!

 

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REFERENCES:

1. Akhter S, McDonald MA, Marriott R. Mangifera sylvatica (Wild Mango): A new cocoa butter alternative. Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 24;6:32050. doi: 10.1038/srep32050. PMID: 27555345; PMCID: PMC4995435.
2. Mandawgade SD, Patravale VB. Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008 Jul-Aug;70(4):539-42. doi: 10.4103/0250-474X.44615. PMID: 20046792; PMCID: PMC2792546.