Mango

What Is Mango in Skincare?

Mango appears in skincare in two main forms: mango seed butter, a soft, creamy fat pressed from the kernel of the mango pit, and mango fruit extract, a water-soluble extract that brings fruit acids, sugars, and antioxidant polyphenols such as mangiferin. Mango butter is the workhorse: a rich emollient that softens dry, rough skin in lotions, body butters, balms, and lip care, with a lighter feel than shea.

EWG Skin Deep rating for Mango

Quick Facts

How Mango Works on the Skin

Mango butter: a balanced emollient

Mango seed fat is built mostly from two fatty acids. In a 2015 analysis, Wu and colleagues measured 39.8% to 40.1% stearic acid and 43.7% to 46.1% oleic acid in mango seed oil from Japan and Taiwan. Stearic acid is a firm, saturated fat that gives the butter body and leaves a protective, non-greasy layer that slows water loss. Oleic acid is a softer, unsaturated fat that helps the butter spread and sink in. That balance is why mango butter feels lighter and less waxy than shea or cocoa butter while still softening dry skin.

What a study measured

Mandawgade and Patravale (2008) formulated a mango butter foot cream and tested it on volunteers with worn, cracked heels. The authors reported that cracked skin was fully smoothed in all the volunteers and described mango butter as a strong emollient. The published abstract does not give the number of volunteers or study length, so this supports mango butter's emollient role rather than precise numbers.

Mango fruit extract

Mango fruit extract adds natural fruit acids and antioxidants to cleansers and toners. On its own, a fruit extract is not a measured AHA exfoliant; products that exfoliate use defined alpha hydroxy acids at a set percentage and pH. The earlier version of this page described mango as a strong vitamin C source and as antibacterial for blemishes. Mango fruit does contain vitamin C, but the amount that survives in a cosmetic extract is not defined, and we have removed the unverified claims.

Mango Butter vs Shea Butter

Both butters work well together: mango lightens a shea balm, and shea adds richness to a mango lotion.

How to Use It and Formulating Notes

• Body butter or balm: mango butter can be used alone, or blended with liquid oils such as jojoba or sunflower to soften it. Melt gently over low heat, about 60 C to 70 C (140 F to 158 F), and avoid holding it hot for long.
• Lotions and creams: add mango butter to the oil phase and heat it with the emulsifier to the same temperature as the water phase. It gives a cushiony feel without heavy drag.
• Grainy texture: like other natural butters, mango butter can turn grainy if it cools slowly. Cool balms quickly, such as in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes, to keep them smooth.
• Fruit extract: add to the water phase or at cool down per the supplier's sheet, with a broad-spectrum preservative.
• Storage: keep mango butter in a cool, dark place, tightly closed, and use it within about a year.

Who It Suits

Mango butter suits dry, mature, and rough skin, plus hands, heels, elbows, and lips. Oily skin may prefer it only for the body. Sensitive skin: patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours first and start at the lowest rate, such as a lotion with a small amount of mango butter, before using a pure butter. Mango belongs to the same plant family as cashew and poison ivy. A 2021 review by Berghea and colleagues found that contact reactions to mango are rare, but many reported cases were in people already sensitized to poison ivy or poison oak. If you react to those plants or to mango skin, choose another butter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is mango butter better than shea butter?

Neither is better; they feel different. Mango butter is lighter and less waxy, while shea is richer and slightly heavier. Many formulas use both.

Does mango butter clog pores?

Mango butter is rich, so people with oily or breakout-prone skin may prefer it for the body rather than the face. Dry and normal skin usually tolerate it well in small amounts.

Can I use mango butter on my face?

Yes, if your skin is dry or normal. Use a small amount at night or in a lotion rather than pure butter, and patch test first.

What is the difference between raw and refined mango butter?

Raw mango butter keeps more of its natural color and faint scent, while refined butter is whiter and nearly odorless. Refined grades are more uniform from batch to batch, which makes them easier to formulate with.

Does mango butter go bad?

Yes, slowly. Kept cool, dark, and tightly closed, it usually stays fresh for about a year. A sour or sharp smell means it has oxidized and should be replaced.

Is mango butter good for lips?

Yes. Its firm texture and soft, cushioned feel make it a good base for lip balms, often blended with a wax and a liquid oil.

Is mango butter safe if I have a mango allergy?

Refined seed butter is not the same as mango skin, but if you have reacted to mango, cashew, or poison ivy, avoid it or patch test with care. A 2021 review found that many people who reacted to mango were already sensitized to poison ivy or poison oak.

Shop Mango

For a gentle fruit-acid cleanse, try our Alpha Hydroxy Probiotic Cleanser Chirally Correct. To formulate with mango butter, follow Mango Butter Lotion: A Practical DIY Guide, and compare it with our shea butter guide or learn more about alpha hydroxy acids.

Sources

• Wu S, Tokuda M, Kashiwagi A, Henmi A, Okada Y, Tachibana S, Nomura M. Evaluation of the fatty acid composition of the seeds of Mangifera indica L. and their application. J Oleo Sci. 2015;64(5):479-484. J-STAGE
• Mandawgade SD, Patravale VB. Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2008;70(4):539. PMC2792546
• Berghea EC, Craiu M, Ali S, Corcea SL, Bumbacea RS. Contact allergy induced by mango (Mangifera indica): a relevant topic? Medicina. 2021;57(11):1240. doi:10.3390/medicina57111240

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.