Cocoa Butter vs Coconut Oil: Benefits & Uses Compared
Cocoa butter and coconut oil are not the same thing. Cocoa butter is a firm, rich fat from cocoa beans that suits balms and very dry areas. Coconut oil is a softer, cleansing oil from coconuts that melts above 75°F (24°C), so it suits soap, rinse-off products and pre-shampoo hair care. Baraka sells both, and this guide shows how to choose between them and how to use them together.
Cocoa butter vs coconut oil: the main differences
The biggest difference is what each one does on skin. Coconut oil has a cleansing character because it is high in lauric acid. Cocoa butter does not. It is an occlusive moisturiser, which means it sits on the skin and slows moisture loss.
The second difference is texture. Cocoa butter is hard at room temperature and holds its shape in warm weather. Coconut oil is solid below about 75°F (24°C) and liquid above it.
What they share: both have a commonly cited comedogenic rating of 4 (on a scale of 0 to 5), so neither is a usual first pick as a leave-on face moisturiser for skin that is prone to breakouts. If acne is a concern, this is DIY advice, not medical advice, and a dermatologist is the right person to ask.
Quick comparison table
| Property | Cocoa butter | Coconut oil |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao) | Coconut meat (Cocos nucifera) |
| At room temperature | Solid and firm | Solid below 75°F (24°C), liquid above |
| Melts at | About 93 to 95°F (34 to 35°C), near skin temperature | About 76°F (24°C) |
| Main fatty acids | Stearic (about 34%), oleic (about 35%), palmitic (about 27%) | Lauric (about 45 to 55%), myristic (about 18%), palmitic (about 9%) |
| Feel on skin | Rich, firm barrier | Lighter, spreads easily |
| Comedogenic rating (commonly cited) | 4 | 4 |
| Scent | Mild chocolate (less if deodorised) | Mild coconut (less if refined) |
| Best known for | Balms, lip care, rich body care, firming a blend | Soap, oil cleansing, pre-shampoo hair care, soft body butters |
| Saponification value (how much sodium hydroxide a soapmaker adds per gram of oil to turn it into soap) | 0.137 | 0.183 |
What is cocoa butter?
Cocoa butter is the natural fat of the cocoa bean. It is separated from the cocoa solids when chocolate is made. Its fat profile is led by stearic, oleic and palmitic acids, which gives it a harder, more occlusive feel than most plant butters. It melts close to skin temperature, so a block that is hard in your hand turns smooth on contact.
Cocoa butter is firmer and more occlusive than shea butter. That is why many people reach for it on thick, dry areas such as heels, elbows, lips and neck. Its mild chocolate scent comes from the cocoa solids left in it. Deodorised cocoa butter has had that scent removed by steam.
What people value cocoa butter for
Rich moisture: Its stearic and palmitic acids form a thick layer that many people find helps skin feel moisturised for longer.
Softening feel: It melts at skin temperature, so it spreads evenly and leaves skin feeling soft.
Antioxidant compounds: Cocoa butter naturally contains flavonoids and polyphenols.
Firmness in recipes: It raises the melting point of a blend, so balms and body butters hold their shape in warm weather.
Hair: It can add shine in hair butter blends, but its heavy texture means it works best as a small part of a blend.
What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil is pressed from the meat of mature coconuts. About half of it is lauric acid, which gives it its cleansing character. Lauric acid also has a high saponification value, which is why coconut oil is a main oil in soap making. In warm places it behaves as a liquid. In cooler rooms it sets solid and needs a little warmth.
Virgin coconut oil keeps its mild coconut scent. Refined coconut oil has little scent, which some makers prefer when they want an essential oil fragrance to stand out.
What people value coconut oil for
Cleansing: It is used in oil cleansing and to dissolve oil-based makeup, and it is a classic soap oil.
Hair: Research suggests the lauric acid can enter the hair shaft, and coconut oil as a pre-shampoo treatment to reduce protein loss during washing is one of the better-studied uses in hair care.
Soft body butters: It gives a lighter, softer, more spreadable texture than cocoa butter. In heat above 75°F (24°C) a blend with a lot of coconut oil may not hold a whipped texture.
Cocoa butter vs coconut oil for skin
Neither is better in every case. They suit different jobs.
Body and dry skin
For very dry or thick skin, cocoa butter's firmer barrier is the stronger moisturiser. Many people use it on heels, elbows, cuticles, lips, neck and décolletage. For large areas, or for skin that finds cocoa butter too heavy, coconut oil or a blend of the two is more comfortable.
Face
Both have a comedogenic rating of 4, so neither is usually recommended as the main leave-on moisturiser for face skin that tends to break out or clog. Coconut oil is more often used on the face in rinse-off ways, such as oil cleansing. Lighter oils, such as baobab oil or jojoba, are the usual alternatives for leave-on face use. For very dry, non-breakout-prone face skin, some people use a little of either.
Lips
Cocoa butter is a classic lip balm ingredient because it is firm and melts at skin temperature. Coconut oil is softer and often used alongside it.
Cocoa butter vs coconut oil for hair
Coconut oil is the stronger choice for hair. Its lauric acid is what research points to for pre-shampoo use. Cocoa butter is heavier and waxier, sits on the outside of the strand and can be hard to rinse. As a small part of a hair butter blend it works well. On its own it is not the best pick.
Cocoa butter vs coconut oil for chocolate
Both are used in food. Cocoa butter is the natural fat in real chocolate, and it is what gives chocolate its snap and its melt-in-the-mouth feel because it melts near body temperature. Coconut oil is used in some vegan chocolate coatings and spreads. It is softer, so it gives a softer set and melts in a warm hand. Baraka's cocoa butter and coconut oil are sold for skin and hair care, not as food.
Is cocoa butter the same as coconut oil?
No. They come from different plants, have different fat profiles and behave differently. Cocoa butter comes from cocoa beans. Coconut oil comes from coconuts. If you searched for cacao butter, that is the same fat as cocoa butter. The name changes with how the beans are described, but it is still the fat of the cocoa bean. If you searched for cocoa oil, you will usually find cocoa butter.
Cocoa butter vs coconut oil in soap and body butter
Soap
Coconut oil is a main soap oil. It makes a hard bar with lots of lather. Cocoa butter adds hardness and a creamy feel. Soapmakers use a saponification value (how much sodium hydroxide a soapmaker adds per gram of oil to turn it into soap) to work out the lye for a recipe. The commonly used values are 0.183 for coconut oil and 0.137 for cocoa butter. Neither oil contains lye. Always run your full recipe through a lye calculator before you make it, aiming for about a 5% superfat. Bars that are mostly coconut oil are an exception and usually use a higher superfat on purpose.
Body butter
Most body butters use both. Cocoa butter adds firmness and stability. Coconut oil adds softness and glide. Changing the ratio is the easiest way to tune the texture to your climate.
What each ingredient does in a recipe
Cocoa butter: Makes the blend rich and firm. It is the part that holds the shape.
Coconut oil: Makes the blend softer and easier to spread. It melts quickly on warm skin.
Baobab oil (optional): A light liquid oil that makes the blend feel lighter and absorb more quickly.
How to change the texture
A simple rule of thumb: butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, wax makes it hold its shape.
- Firmer: Use more cocoa butter, or add a little beeswax. Use less coconut oil.
- Softer or runnier: Add more coconut oil or a light liquid oil.
- Lighter: Swap a little of the cocoa butter for baobab oil.
- Richer: Add more cocoa butter, or add shea butter.
A simple cocoa butter and coconut oil body butter
This makes about 5 oz (140 g). It has no water in it. It is for body use, not for babies.
- 2 oz (57 g) cocoa butter
- 2 oz (57 g) coconut oil
- 1 oz (28 g) baobab oil
- Melt the cocoa butter gently in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water.
- Stir in the coconut oil until it is just melted, then remove the bowl from the heat.
- Stir in the baobab oil.
- Chill for 20 to 30 minutes, until the edges are firm but the centre is still soft.
- Whip for 3 to 5 minutes until fluffy.
- Spoon into a clean jar and keep it somewhere cool and dry.
Buy the ingredients now
This recipe uses three Baraka ingredients. One click takes all three straight to checkout.
- Baraka Cocoa Butter, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
- Baraka Virgin Coconut Oil, 8.8 oz (250 g): enough for four batches
- Baraka Baobab Oil, 3.5 oz (100 g): enough for three batches
In hot weather, use a little more cocoa butter so it keeps its shape.
Make it your own
These recipes are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use your judgement, be inspired, and don't be afraid to experiment. Everything here is a pure, natural ingredient that blends happily with the others. Start with a small batch, write down what you did, and see how your skin responds. When you find a balance of cocoa butter and coconut oil that works for you, make it again.
Which should you use?
For a body butter that holds its shape in the heat, use more cocoa butter. For a softer, lighter one, use more coconut oil. For pre-shampoo hair care, coconut oil. For oil cleansing, coconut oil. For lip balm and very dry patches, cocoa butter. For a face that breaks out easily, neither is the usual first choice, and baobab oil is a lighter option.
What the evidence shows
The fatty acid make-up of both is well documented. Research on coconut oil and protein loss in hair is among the better-supported uses. The occlusive nature of cocoa butter's stearic acid is established cosmetic science. Evidence for specific skin conditions is much thinner, and this guide makes no claim that either ingredient treats, heals or prevents any condition. It is DIY advice, not medical advice. See a doctor or pharmacist for any skin problem that does not go away.
Where Baraka's cocoa butter and coconut oil come from
Baraka sells cocoa butter and virgin coconut oil. Their product pages give the details of each. Baraka is Community Certified Fair Trade. For one of the women behind Baraka's shea butter, read Shea Butter Producer: Zenabo Imoro. For Baraka's wider work, see Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report.
Related guides
For the full cocoa butter guide, see Cocoa Butter: Ultimate DIY Guide and Recipes. For coconut oil, see Traditional Coconut Oil: The Complete Guide. Other comparisons: Cocoa Butter vs Shea Butter, Coconut Oil vs Shea Butter, Palm Kernel Oil vs Coconut Oil and Red Palm Oil vs Coconut Oil. For a wider look, see Best Ingredients for DIY Skincare: African Oils, Butters, and How to Use Them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between cocoa butter and coconut oil?
As Baraka's guide explains, coconut oil has a cleansing character from its lauric acid, so it suits soap, oil cleansing and rinse-off products. Cocoa butter is an occlusive moisturiser that seals and conditions but does not cleanse. Cocoa butter is also firmer and holds its shape in warm weather, while coconut oil liquefies above 75°F (24°C).
Which is better for skin, cocoa butter or coconut oil?
Baraka sells both, and neither is better in every case. Cocoa butter's firmer barrier suits very dry or thick skin such as heels, elbows, lips and neck. Coconut oil is lighter and suits large areas of the body. For a face that breaks out easily, neither is usually the first choice, since both have a commonly cited comedogenic rating of 4.
Can I use cocoa butter on my face?
Baraka's cocoa butter is not usually recommended as the main leave-on moisturiser for a face that breaks out or clogs easily. Most people find it better for the body, lips and very dry patches. Lighter oils such as baobab oil are the usual choice for the face.
Can I use coconut oil on my face?
Baraka's virgin coconut oil has the same commonly cited comedogenic rating of 4. It is more often used on the face in rinse-off ways, such as oil cleansing and makeup removal, than as a leave-on moisturiser. On the body it is generally well liked.
Which is better for hair, cocoa butter or coconut oil?
Baraka's guide points to coconut oil. Research suggests its lauric acid can enter the hair shaft, and pre-shampoo use to reduce protein loss is one of the better-studied uses. Cocoa butter is heavier and can be hard to rinse, so it works best as a small part of a hair butter blend.
Which is better for body butter, cocoa butter or coconut oil?
Most body butters, including Baraka's recipe, use both. Cocoa butter adds firmness and coconut oil adds softness. Use more cocoa butter for warm weather and more coconut oil for a lighter, softer butter.
Is cocoa butter or coconut oil better for dry skin?
For very dry body skin, Baraka's cocoa butter is the richer choice. If it feels too heavy, coconut oil or a blend of both is more comfortable. For very dry skin on the face, shea butter is often preferred over either.
Is cocoa butter the same as coconut oil?
No, and Baraka sells them as two separate products. Cocoa butter comes from cocoa beans and coconut oil comes from coconuts. They have different fat profiles, textures and uses.
Quick answers
Cocoa butter vs coconut oil
In Baraka's comparison, the main difference is that coconut oil has a cleansing character from its lauric acid, so it suits soap making, oil cleansing and rinse-off products. Cocoa butter is an occlusive moisturiser: it seals and conditions but does not cleanse. Cocoa butter is also firmer and holds its shape in warm weather, while coconut oil is solid below about 75°F (24°C) and liquid above it. More in What is the main difference between cocoa butter and coconut oil?
About the Author
Wayne Dunn is the founder of Baraka Impact and a former Professor of Practice in Sustainability at McGill University. He holds an M.Sc. in Management from Stanford and has spent over 15 years working directly with the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana's Upper West Region to source traditionally made shea butter. He shares DIY skincare recipes and ingredient guides designed to be made at home with real ingredients, and sourced with full transparency about where they come from.
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