Astral Intensive Moisturiser Shea Butter Version: Is It Better Than The Original?

Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Did you know? Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original has a sister: Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter. And I love her even more than the Original. Don’t get me wrong. The Original is still a trusted staple that keeps my drier-than-the-Sahara body skin soft and supple all day long.

But the Shea Butter version has a couple of things going for it that won over my heart. It’s slightly lighter, has a scent I prefer, and packs in an extra moisturising ingredient. But does adding shea butter actually make it a better moisturiser? Or are you getting pretty much the same cream in a different flavour? I’ve tried both. Here’s how they compare and which one I’d spend my money on.

Ingredients In Astral Intensive Moisturiser: What Does The Science Say?

GLYCERIN TO HYDRATE SKIN

Both Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original and Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter use glycerin, a moisture magnet. Like a magnet, it attracts water from the air and dumps it into the skin. Your skin then uses the extra moisture for, well… everything. It plumps up so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller. It gets softer to the touch. And it takes on a dewy glow.

Related: Why Is Glycerin In Every Skincare Product?

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes dryness and makes your skin supple and dewy? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM (MINERAL OIL), PARAFFIN & PETROLATUM TO MOISTURISE SKIN

Wait, do Astral Intensive Moisturisers contains not one, but ALL 3, oil-derived nasties?! Not so fast. These moisturizing ingredients aren’t as bad as you think. Yes, they’re derived from petroleum. But they’re NOT petroleum. Before they’re put into the cream, they undergo a strict purifying process to remove all toxins. So, no, they won’t give you cancer. 

They won’t clog your pores either. At least not when used alone. They work by creating a protective barrier on the skin that slows down water loss.  It also traps any other ingredients that’s on your skin. So if you’re slathering on a cream or serum with comedogenic ingredients beforehand, you may get a pimple or two. Avoid those and your skin will be fine.

But why are they here anyway? Mineral oil, paraffin and petrolatum are super moisturising. The barrier they create strengthens your skin’s protective barrier, keeps moisture in and makes your skin soft and smooth for hours.

Related: 5 Myths About Mineral Oil You Need To Stop Believing Right Now

LANOLIN TO PROTECT AND MOISTURISE SKIN

Lanolin is another ingredient with an undeserved bad rep present in both creams. Back in the day, it’d be contaminated with pesticides that gave people bad allergic reactions. These days, things have changed. Lanolin undergoes a purification process that removes all pesticides and other impurities. Phew!

But what the heck is lanolin anyway? The greasy, yellow substance sheep naturally produce to protect themselves from harsh weather. (FYI, no sheep are hurt in the making of lanolin for skincare purposes). Lanolin is another great moisturiser. It locks in moisture, preventing it from evaporating into thin air. Now forced into the skin, all that moisture makes even the driest of skin all soft and smooth.

Related: Is Lanolin Good For Skin?

Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original

Let’s start with the original version, shall we? Astral Intensive Moisturiser Original is THICK. It takes a while to absorb even on dry skin. But when it does… I’ve already told you my skin is super dry, right? It gets better in summer, but during the cold winter, I need to apply a heavy body butter every single day to keep it happy.

This one fits the bill. It’s super moisturising and keeps my skin soft and supple for hours. I put it on in the morning and when I go to bed at night, my skin’s still soft. Astral says you can use it as a face moisturizer or makeup remover. I personally find it too thick for that, but that’s just personal preference.

If you have very dry skin on your face or like cleansing with heavy butters, this will do the job just fine. One more thing: the Original version has a fresh, clean scent. I prefer my skincare products fragrance-free, but this one is pretty innocuous and pleasant.

Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter

What makes Astral Intensive Moisturiser With Shea Butter different from the original? For starters, it smells like shea butter. Duh! It’s such a small thing, but I’ve come to love the smell over the years. For me, this is more pleasant to use. The texture’s just a smidgen less thick than the Original. It still takes a while to absorb, but again, if you have dry skin you’ll hardly mind that. It’s a sign of how moisturising it is.

This takes me to the formula. The main difference here is the addition of shea butter, one of the most moisturising substances on this planet. Studies show, it’s even more moisturising than mineral oil (which is here, too!). This version has also has less fillers (think preservatives and thickeners) than the Original, so it’s less likely to cause irritations to sensitive skin. I’m totally switching. What about you?

Which Astral Moisturiser Is Better For Your Skin Type?

• Very dry skin? You can’t go wrong with either. Both are rich enough to keep thirsty skin happy for hours. Pick whichever texture and scent you prefer.
• Normal to dry skin? I’d go with the Shea Butter version. It’s a little lighter, so you get all that moisturising goodness without quite as much heaviness.
• Oily or acne-prone skin? Neither would be my first choice for your face. They’re rich, heavy creams that may feel greasy on oily skin. That doesn’t mean they’ll automatically give you pimples, but yo’ll be happier with a lighter moisturiser.
• Sensitive skin? Both contain fragrance and lanolin, which can trigger reactions in some people. If your skin throws a tantrum at the slightest provocation, I’d look for a fragrance-free alternative instead.

Price & Availability

Original £4.69, Shea Butter £5.49 at Amazon and Superdrug

FAQs

Does Astral Shea Butter Moisturiser Clog Pores?

It can, but it’s not a given. Mineral oil and petrolatum have a bad reputation for clogging pores, but they’re not the villains they’re made out to be. The bigger concern here is isopropyl myristate, a comedogenic ingredient that never fails to break me out (and I rarely break out).

Does that mean Astral Shea Butter will give you pimples? Nope. An ingredient’s comedogenic rating doesn’t tell you how the finished cream will behave on YOUR skin. If you’re prone to breakouts, I’d be careful about slathering this all over your face. But if you’ve been using it for years without a single pimple, why stop now?

Can You Use Astral Shea Butter Moisturiser On Your Face?

Of course! Astral is designed for both face and body. But here’s the thing: just because you CAN use a moisturiser on your face doesn’t mean you’ll WANT to. If your skin is as dry as the Sahara, you may love how rich and moisturising it is. If your face produces enough oil to fry an egg, though? You probably won’t appreciate such a heavy cream sitting on top of it. Personally, I prefer keeping Astral for my body. My face doesn’t need anything quite this rich.

Is Astral Moisturiser Good For Mature Skin?

Absolutely! Especially if your skin is getting drier with age. Both versions are packed with moisturising ingredients that keep skin hydrated, soft and plump. And when skin is plumper, those pesky fine lines look a little smaller, too. But let’s not get carried away. Astral is a moisturiser, not a time machine. It won’t erase wrinkles, fade dark spots or undo years of sun damage. If you’re after serious anti-ageing benefits, you’ll need something like retinol in your skincare routine.