Shea butter is an ally in beauty treatments and has become fashionable for its great contribution to improving the health of the skin and hair in a lasting way.

What is shea butter?

Shea butter is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the shea tree fruit and is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and f. Shea butter offers protection against ultraviolet rays and provides the skin with essential fatty acids and nutrients necessary for the production of collagen. Shea butter has been used in Africa and other countries for years to improve the health of skin and hair.

Shea butter benefits

• It is hydrating for the skin: The concentration of fatty acids in shea butter and natural vitamins makes it incredibly nourishing and hydrating for the skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin's natural oils.
• Reduces Inflammation: A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter can help reduce inflammation.
• It is anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help prevent skin mutations. This is also beneficial for some people with acne.
• Helps keep skin soft: Shea butter helps in the skin's natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids, which are acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent it from drying out. With prolonged use, many people find this treatment an ally to strengthen the skin, as well as a considerable reduction of wrinkles.

Uses of shea butter

Shea butter is one of the most versatile ingredients for natural beauty treatments. It can be used for the body, protection against ultraviolet rays, as a homemade lip cream and healing balms.

Ways to apply shea butter:

• By itself, shea butter can be applied to the face and body as a natural moisturizer
• It can be used by applying it on the abdomen to treat stretch marks after pregnancy
• As the best under eye wrinkle remover and bags too.
• To perform a massage on any part of the body, it will help to better hydrate the skin with the massage.
• As a basis for making a homemade deodorant
• As a natural baby care product (alone) or an ingredient in baby care recipes
• For use only on the lips or in homemade lip gloss balms
• To improve skin elasticity (to use as a cellulite cream)
• Beneficial on the hair or scalp (mixed with other natural ingredients)
• Like a cream to cleanse the skin
• To replenish the skin after exposure to the sun or the beach
• On the eyelids before applying makeup to make it last longer
• Shea butter is very useful on scars to help naturally the production of collagen
• To relieve pain in the skin of the nose after or during a cold

What Kind of Shea Butter is Best?

It is recommended only to use the pure and unrefined. There are many odorless refined shea butters that become totally white, but the refining process removes some of the beneficial properties of this natural product.

Recommended Shea Butter:

• pure and unrefined
• unbleached
• organic
• Grade A

Tip: If you have unrefined shea butter, it has not been filtered and may contain some particles of the shea nut. You can gently heat the shea butter until it melts and then pour it into a strainer to remove any particles. Once filtered, pour the shea butter into silicone molds, such as the homemade soap mold for example.

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