BENEFITS AND USES OF SHEA BUTTER

What is Shea Butter?

Shea butter is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree and that is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F. It offers UV protection (it is SPF ~6) and provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production. Shea butter has been used in Africa and other countries for years to improve skin and hair.
 Shea butter exhibits several health benefits, particularly for the skin and the hair. It is used in a variety of cosmetics and medicinal formulas in combination with other botanical ingredients. Some of the health benefits of shea butter are given below.

Benefits

Reduces Inflammation: A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter was anti-inflammatory. (source) One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne.

Skin Smoothing: Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.

Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in Shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils. 

Shea Butter For Skin
Shea butter is considered a super food for the skin as it is  rich in precious constituents such as unsaturated fats with a large proportion of non-saponifiable components, essential fatty acids, vitamins E and D, phytosterols, provitamin A and allantoin. It has been used since time immemorial for skin care, baby care, and for consumption. In fact, the legendary Egyptian queen, Nefertiti, owed her beauty secrets to shea butter, which further demonstrates its goodness for the skin. Given below are its various benefits for the skin.

Healing Qualities:

Shea butter is known for its healing properties that can be attributed to the presence of several fatty acids and plant sterols such as oleic, palmitic, stearic and linolenic acids. These oil-soluble components do not undergo saponification or convert into soap on coming in contact with alkali. Shea butter is more non-saponifiable than other nut oils and fats, thus imparting it a great healing potential for the skin. Raw, unrefined shea butter is effective in curing skin rashes, skin peeling after tanning, scars, stretch marks, frost bites, burns, athletes foot, insect bites and stings, arthritis, and muscle fatigue.

1. As a natural baby-care product (alone) or ingredient in baby care recipes
2. By itself on the lips or in homemade lip balms
3. Or homemade shimmer lip balm
4. To improve skin elasticity (some even say it helps with cellulite)
5. On the hair or scalp (in mixture with other natural ingredients)
6. In homemade liquid creme foundation and makeup
7. After sun or beach exposure to replenish skin
8. On the eyelids before applying makeup to make it last longer
9. As a natural cuticle cream
10. On scars to naturally help collagen production
11. On sore/raw noses during a cold or flu
12. By itself for face and body as a natural moisturizer
13. In a shea butter lotion bar stick for easy use
14. Alone or in a pregnancy stretch mark salve to ward off stretch marks
15. As the best under-eye wrinkle remover and bag-reducer
16. For massage butter
17. In velvety soft whipped body butter
18. or basic homemade lotion
19. As a base for homemade deodorant
20. As an SPF 6 skin lotion
21. In magnesium body butter