Sooo many people out there want to know the answer to this question. And I can understand why. Most mamas out there care a lot about stretch marks and don’t want to get them.
They scour the internet for natural remedies for stretch marks. And of course among the top two candidates are shea butter and cocoa butter.
But what’s better? They just can’t decide! Until they reach this post, that is. Yes, folks I’m going to be diggin’ up some info that’ll finally answer the burning question: “Is shea butter better than cocoa butter for stretch marks?!” So read on…
Shea Butter for Stretch Marks
It’s a well known fact that African women slather shea butter on their pregnant bellies to prevent or heal stretch marks. And it works! But what makes it work? Let’s see:
Vitamin A: Shea butter is filled with vitamin A! Vitamin A is known to accelerate the skin’s repair and renewal process, which is great news for stretch marks. Most stretch mark creams contain tretinoin, which is actually a derivative of vitamin A.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E repairs skin by restructuring the skin cells. It’s also awesome for scars. And stretch marks are a kind of scarring! Vitamin E also lubricates the skin and helps it retain moisture.
Vitamin K: This less known vitamin is good for stretch marks. It helps build fresh skin over the stretch marks and it maintains the growing skin’s elasticity. It has the potential to improve stretch mark affected skin. You know vitamin K is also astounding against dark circles, right? It diminishes them considerably. So I guess it helps reduce the discoloration of stretch marks the same way.
Vitamin F: Vitamin F is fatty acids, y’all. Lol don’t get confused. So fatty acids deeply nourish the skin, moisturize it and maintain its elasticity. You know moisturized skin is the way to go to prevent and heal stretch marks.
Where to Get Shea Butter
Always make sure you get 100% pure shea butter with no additives. I like Pure Body Harmony Shea Butter that comes in a UV protectant amber jar. It’s so easy to just dip your fingers directly into the jar and rub it on your skin. Better than buying shea that comes in blocks or a zip lock bag, if you ask me!
Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks
So the delicious chocolatey cocoa butter is another popular natural remedy for stretch marks. Many people use it and it gives great results! Why? Take a look at its nutrients:
Vitamin E: Cocoa butter contains far more vitamin E than shea butter. 1 cup of cocoa butter has 20% vitamin E. That itself makes it highly superior for stretch marks!
Vitamin K: Cocoa butter also contains vitamin K, like shea butter which also makes it good for preventing and healing stretch marks.
Fatty acids: Cocoa butter contains arachidic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleci acid, stearic acid and other fatty acids. These fats deeply lubricate and nourish skin, preventing and healing stretch marks.
Where to Get Cocoa Butter
For cocoa butter, use Plant Guru’s 100% natural and pure cocoa butter. It also comes in a jar. You can place the jar in a bowl of hot water for it to gently melt then use!
The Final Verdit – Is Shea Butter Better than Cocoa Butter for Stretch Marks?
Traditionally, cocoa butter is always recommended by local people for stretch marks, more than shea butter. That says something doesn’t it? And what’s more, it contains a higher amount of vitamin E than shea butter. Vitamin E is immensely useful for stretch mark prevention and treatment. It also has more lubricating effects since it is thicker than shea butter. It forms a heavy moisturizing layer over the skin which lasts longer. So that’s why…
The winner is…COCOA BUTTER! So to answer the question – no, shea butter is not better than cocoa butter for stretch marks. Cocoa butter is better!
Anyway I know there’s a study saying cocoa butter didn’t really do anything to help reduce or prevent stretch marks than the placebo used. But there’s anecdotal evidence that it did help many women with stretch marks.
My own sister healed her purple pregnancy stretch marks by making a DIY stretch mark cream. She applied copious amounts of it every night before bed. And the stretch marks went away.
So if you aren’t going to use cocoa butter just because there’s no scientific evidence that it works, then it’s okay. To each her own. You do you boo! 😉
So I hope this answers the question! You willing to use cocoa butter for stretch marks? Tell me all about it in the comments below!
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