Let's Make it "Butter" Series: All about Mango Butter and its Benefits for the Skin and Body
Mango butter can be applied to the skin and other areas of the body and has a host of potential benefits for the skin. In fact, fats obtained from mango butter and other exotic crops, then used in skin care products is "ancient practice".
Over a recent number of years, you've for sure seen this butter grow in popularity in many larger skincare lines as well as bath and body products.
This rich, sweet-smelling butter is actually quite widely used. In this post, we'll be exploring the benefits of mango butter on the body and skin.
What is Mango Butter?
As one may have expected, mango butter is a type of body butter that comes from mango fruit, one of the worlds most consumed fruits, as it is produced in over 100 countries around the world today.
So why has this fruit in particular been targeting in bath and body products, you may ask?
Truth is, mango's themselves are very nutrient rich. It is very possible to consume a large percent of your daily vitamin C intake, but also other nutrients like vitamin B6, vitamin A and Vitamin E, in just about a cup of mango's.
Mango's also contain sources of iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc.
The thought process is if mango's themselves are good for you when consumed, what type of effect can they have when applied topically to the skin, by being and made into extracts, butters, and oils.
To make mango butter, fat is extracted from the nutrient-rich seeds of the mango, in a process called Expeller or by Cold-Pressing de-shelled seeds. It is then turned into butter that can be used on the body and in many commercial skin and healthcare products.
Butter such as this are rich in mono-saturated triglycerides, and solid or semi-solid at room temperature. When applied to lotions, creams or ointments the immediate effect of many of these formulations is there ability to hydrate the skin, and modify the chemical nature of the surface of the skin.
In this day and age with a little effort you actually can even make your own DIY creations with mango butter, which includes, body lotions, homemade soaps, bath bombs, balms, foot creams, gels, ointments, and even hot oil treatments.
Top Benefits of Mango Butter:
Many posed benefits associated with this type of body butter are out there, we'll discuss some of them here:
1. Moisturizes and Smooths Your Skin
One of the biggest benefits of mango butter is skin nourishment, due to it's chemical composition. When you put mango butter on your skin, your body is infused with nutrients and fats that moisturize and smooth out the skin.
Recent studies, like one in 2016, have even shown wild Mango butter to be a potential Cocoa Butter Alternative (CBA). Wild mango butter has a light colored fat with similar fatty acid profile and triglyceride profile as cocoa butter. These fatty acids include (but not limited to); palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids.
On top of being a great moisturizer in cosmetic products, mango butter, like cocoa and shea tend to be non-greasy, adding to it's popular role.
2. Protects & Repairs Your Skin
In addition, mango butter acts as a barrier when it is placed on the skin. It has the ability to penetrant deeply within the skin, and has great skin conditioning properties.
It has been known to be applied to not just cracked, peeling or chapped skin, but also helps with insect bites, rashes and eczema, as it helps to minimize itching.
A study done in 2008, evaluated the medicinal value and protective function in a developed foot care cream with mango butter.
Results of the study found complete repair of cracked and worn skin in all of the human volunteers, concluding it has a high potential for skin protection.
The truth behind some of these exotic fats is they have an ability to restore skin lipids, skin elasticity, boost natural skin regeneration and hydration. Adding to this, the fact of it's bacteriostatic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity helps put mango butter into mainstream use in many skin care lines.
Another animal study done in 2013, saw improved signs of sun damage (or anti-photoaging activity), and smaller wrinkles in mice that received mango extract in water as opposed to those that received a placebo.
3. Prevents Premature Aging
Mango butter may be preventative for fine lines and other signs of aging. Not only is mango butter known for it's ability to deeply penetrate the surface of the skin, but's it's packed with nutrients, which helps to form barriers to retain moisture.
Mango butter when applied or used directly (with a carrier oil) on the skin improves the skins sebum secretion, which can help the skin feel softer and look less advanced.
Mango's themselves have a high amount of Vitamin C which is needed for the production of collagen which is important for maintaining structure of the largest organ on your body, the skin!
4. Strengthens Your Hair
Mango butter can also be applied to your hair in small doses as well. It has been known to be directly mixed within essential oils, massaged into the scalp, and then rinsed with a mild shampoo. This helps with issues such as a flaky scalp or dandruff.
It may even provide an extra moisturizer when blended with carrier oils and left in as a sort of conditioner. Mango butter properties help to lock in moisture and also can add some amount of nourishment to the hair, and scalp. Healthier hair, can lead to less breakage and split-ends.
Final Thoughts!
Mango butter can be a great additive in bath and beauty products or your very on skin care line. Hopefully this article has given you a guide to some of the benefits of mango butter. Share your experiences with mango butter infused products on our, blog.
Do you have a favorite, let the community know about it!?
Resources:
- https://bettersheabutter.com/learn-everything-about-mango-butter-mango-butter-benefits-for-skin/
- https://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/blog/products/all-about-mango-butters.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4995435/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792546/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23458392/
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331936276_Mango_Butter_in_Cosmetic_Formulations