SHEA BUTTER (SHEA OIL)
Shea butter (Shea Oil) (/ʃiː/, /ˈʃiːə/, or /ʃeɪ/; Bambara: sìtulu ߛߌ߮ߕߎߟߎ1) is a fat (triglyceride; mainly oleic acid and stearic acid) extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa).
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is ivory in color when raw and commonly dyed yellow with borututu root or palm oil.
CAS Number: 194043-92-0
EC Number: 606-306-6
Molecular Formula: C16H20NO4
Other Names: Shea butter , K49155WL9Y, Butyrospermum Parkii nut fat, Butyrospermum Poissonii nut fat, Mimusops Capitata nut fat, Mimusops Pachyclada nut fat, Vitellaria Paradoxa subsp. paradoxa nut fat, BASSIA PARKII NUT FAT, BUTYROSPERMUM MANGIFOLIUM NUT FAT, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER EXTRACT, Cellpium blossom hand, DTXSID10893021, EM Shea butter Cream, MINI PEACH LIP BALM, Shea butter (MART.), Shea Nut Butter, ULTRA REPAIR, UNII-K49155WL9Y, UNII-O88E196QRF
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is edible and is used in food preparation in some African countries.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is occasionally mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different.
The English word "shea" comes from sǐ, the tree's name in Bambara.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is known by many local names, such as kpakahili in the Dagbani language, taama in the Wali language, nkuto in Twi, kaɗe or kaɗanya in Hausa, òkwùmá in the Igbo language, òrí in the Yoruba language, and karité in the Wolof language of Senegal.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is also known as Moo-yaa in the Acholi language.
History
The common name is shísu ߛ߭ߌ߭ߛߎ (lit. "shea tree") in the Bambara language of Mali.
This is the origin of the English word, one pronunciation of which rhymes with "tea" /ʃiː/, although the pronunciation /ʃeɪ/ (rhyming with "day") is common, and is listed second in major dictionaries.
The tree is called ghariti in the Wolof language of Senegal, which is the origin of the French name of the tree and the butter, karité.
The shea tree grows naturally in the wild in the dry savannah belt of West Africa from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east, and onto the foothills of the Ethiopian highlands.
It occurs in 21 countries across the African continent, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Guinea.
A testa found at the site of the medieval village of Saouga is evidence of Shea butter (Shea Oil) production by the 14th century.
The butter was being imported into Britain by 1846.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) fatty acid profiles
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is composed of five principal fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic (see Table below).
About 85 to 90% of the fatty acid composition is stearic and oleic acids.
The relative proportion of these two fatty acids affects Shea butter (Shea Oil) consistency.
The stearic acid gives it a solid consistency, while the oleic acid influences how soft or hard the Shea butter (Shea Oil) is, depending on ambient temperature.
The proportions of stearic and oleic acids in the shea kernels and butter differ across the distribution range of the species.Ugandan Shea butter (Shea Oil) has consistently high oleic acid content, and is liquid at warm ambient temperatures.
It fractionizes into liquid and solid phases, and is the source of liquid shea oil.
The fatty acid proportion of West African Shea butter (Shea Oil) is much more variable than Ugandan Shea butter (Shea Oil), with an oleic content of 37 to 55%.
Variability can be high even locally, and a tree that produces hard butter can grow with one that produces soft butter.
Nuts are gathered from a wide area for local production, so Shea butter (Shea Oil) consistency is determined by the average fatty acid profile of the population.
Within West Africa, Shea butter (Shea Oil) from the Mossi Plateau region of Burkina Faso has a higher average stearic acid content, and so is usually harder than Shea butter (Shea Oil) from other West African regions.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) phenolics
A 2014 review characterized and quantified phenolic compounds in Shea butter (Shea Oil), identifying 10 phenolic compounds, eight of which are catechins.
This study also found that the overall concentration and relative percentages of different phenolic content in shea kernels varied from region to region.
The authors hypothesized that the overall concentration of phenols in shea kernels is linked to the level of environmental stress that the trees endure.
Uses
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is mainly used in the cosmetics industry for skin- and hair-related products (lip gloss, lip stick, skin moisturizer creams and emulsions, and hair conditioners for dry and brittle hair).
It is also used by soap makers and massage oil manufacturers, typically in small amounts, because it has plenty of unsaponifiables, and higher amounts result in a softer soap that has less cleaning ability. Some artisan soap makers use Shea butter (Shea Oil) in amounts to 25% – with the European Union regulating the maximum use around 28%, but it is rarely the case in commercially produced soap due to its high cost compared to oils like palm oil or pomace (olive oil).
In some African countries such as Benin, Shea butter (Shea Oil) is used for cooking oil, as a waterproofing wax, for hairdressing, for candle-making, and as an ingredient in medicinal ointments. It is used by makers of traditional African percussion instruments to increase the durability of wood (such as carved djembe shells), dried calabash gourds, and leather tuning straps.
Classification
The United States Agency for International Development and other companies have suggested a classification system for Shea butter (Shea Oil), separating it into five grades:
A (raw or unrefined, extracted using water)
B (refined)
C (highly refined and extracted with solvents such as hexane)
D (lowest uncontaminated grade)
E (with contaminants)
Commercial grades are A, B, and C. The color of raw (grade A) butter ranges from cream (like whipped butter) to grayish yellow. It has a nutty aroma which is removed in the other grades.
Grade C is pure white.
While the level of vitamin content can be affected by refining, up to 95% of vitamin content can be removed from refined grades (i.e., grade C) of Shea butter (Shea Oil) while reducing contamination levels to undetectable levels.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is a versatile ingredient that is being used more and more frequently for its benefits.
Accordingly, it is among the components of products formulated for different purposes, from protecting the skin and hair from the sun to increasing collagen production.
What is Shea butter (Shea Oil)?
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is a natural vegetable oil obtained from the processing of the nuts of the shea tree.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be preferred for many purposes with its benefits such as nourishing the skin and helping maintain skin moisture and elasticity.
What are the Benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil)?
Thanks to its dense consistency and easily absorbed structure, Shea butter (Shea Oil) is one of the most beneficial ingredients for skin and hair care.
While Shea oil makes such versatile contributions to skin and hair care with its benefits, it would be more accurate to address both areas separately.
What are the Benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil) for Hair?
Shea butter (Shea Oil), as a valuable ingredient that has benefits for hair, provides nutrition and moisture support to the hair strands from root to tip and helps strengthen the hair.
Thanks to its nourishing properties, it contributes to faster hair growth and protection of hair health.
Since Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains significant amounts of vitamins and fatty acids, it provides the hair with the care it needs from its roots to its ends.
Preventing breakage by nourishing the hair ends and reducing flaking and redness problems on the scalp are among the benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil) for hair.
Thanks to Shea butter (Shea Oil), dandruff problem in the hair is reduced and the hair gets a brighter appearance.
How to Use Shea butter (Shea Oil) for Hair?
Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be applied directly to the hair.
For this, it is necessary to massage the hair roots with some Shea butter (Shea Oil) and leave the oil on the hair roots for about 1 hour.
Afterwards, the hair should be thoroughly cleaned by washing it with plenty of water and shampoo.
In addition, Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be included in the hair care routine by using products such as Urban Care Twisted Curls Hibiscus and Shea butter (Shea Oil) Curl Defining Pre-Shower Hair Care Mask and Urban Care Curl Defining & Purifying and Plumping Micellar Shampoo with Hibiscus & Shea butter (Shea Oil) & Hyaluronic Acid.
What are the Benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil) for the Skin?
Used for thousands of years, Shea butter (Shea Oil) has numerous therapeutic benefits for the skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil), an extraordinary moisturizer, is an important ingredient in cosmetic products due to its benefits to the skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains lupeol, which inhibits enzymes that break down the skin's supporting proteins.
Thus, it has the effect of delaying the formation of signs of aging.
It is possible to make Shea butter (Shea Oil) an integral part of the daily skin care routine by using different products such as Shea butter (Shea Oil) cream, vaseline and shower gel.
In addition to helping maintain the moisture balance of the skin in daily use, it also reduces the negative effects of air pollution and harmful rays of the sun on the skin.
It nourishes skin that is reddened, irritated, cracked due to dryness, or generally sensitive.
Since it contains vitamin A, it is effective in preventing acne and acne formation.
It helps eliminate fine lines and wrinkles on the skin by triggering collagen production.
The appearance of cellulite can be reduced by regularly massaging the leg and hip area with Shea butter (Shea Oil).
In addition, regular massage with Shea butter (Shea Oil) may be beneficial to improve the appearance of stretch marks caused by pregnancy or sudden changes in weight.
How to Apply Shea butter (Shea Oil) to the Skin?
Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be applied directly to the skin.
To do this, a certain amount of Shea butter (Shea Oil) must be gently massaged into the skin with fingers.
In addition, Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be used in the daily skin care routine by mixing it with moisturizing creams or with different oils selected for skin needs.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may also be preferable to use skin care products containing Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is a seed fat that comes from the shea tree.
The shea tree is found in East and West tropical Africa. The Shea butter (Shea Oil) comes from two oily kernels within the shea tree seed. After the kernel is removed from the seed, it is ground into a powder and boiled in water. The butter then rises to the top of the water and becomes solid.
People apply Shea butter (Shea Oil) to the skin for acne, burns, dandruff, dry skin, eczema, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In foods, Shea butter (Shea Oil) is used as a fat for cooking.
In manufacturing, Shea butter (Shea Oil) is used in cosmetic products.
How does Shea butter (Shea Oil) work ?
Shea butter (Shea Oil) works like an emollient. It might help soften or smooth dry skin. Shea butter (Shea Oil) also contains substances that can reduce skin swelling. This might help treat conditions associated with skin swelling such as eczema.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) works like an emollient.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) might help soften or smooth dry skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) also contains substances that can reduce skin swelling.
This might help treat conditions associated with skin swelling such as eczema.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is fat that’s extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory color. Shea trees are native to West Africa, and most Shea butter (Shea Oil) still comes from that region.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries.
Shea butter (Shea Oil)'s high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids — combined with its easy-to-spread consistency — make it a great product for smoothing, soothing, and conditioning your skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is safe for all skin types
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is technically a tree nut product. But unlike most tree nut products, it’s very low in the proteins that can trigger allergies.
In fact, there’s no medical literature documenting an allergy to topical Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Shea butter (Shea Oil) doesn’t contain chemical irritants known to dry out skin, and it doesn’t clog pores.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is appropriate for nearly any skin type.
Shea butter (Shea Oil)i s moisturizing
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is typically used for its moisturizing effects. These benefits are tied to shea’s fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids.
When you apply shea topically, these oils are rapidly absorbed into your skin. They act as a “refatting” agent, restoring lipids and rapidly creating moisture.
This restores the barrier between your skin and the outside environment, holding moisture in and reducing your risk of dryness.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) won’t make your skin oily
Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid. These two acids balance each other out. That means Shea butter (Shea Oil) is easy for your skin to fully absorb and won’t make your skin look oily after application.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is anti-inflammatory
The plant esters of Shea butter (Shea Oil) have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties.
When applied to the skin, shea triggers cytokines and other inflammatory cells to slow their production.
This may help minimize irritation caused by environmental factors, such as dry weather, as well as inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is antioxidant
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has significant levels of vitamins A and E, which means it promotes strong antioxidant activity.
Antioxidants are important anti-aging agents. They protect your skin cells from free radicals that can lead to premature aging and dull-looking skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is antibacterial
A 2012 study suggests that oral doses of shea bark extract can lead to decreased antimicrobial activity in animals.
Although more research is needed, this could indicate possible antibacterial benefits in humans.
Because of this, some speculate that topical application may decrease the amount of acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is antifungal
Shea tree products have been established as powerful ingredients to fight skin infections caused by fungi.
While Shea butter (Shea Oil) may not be able to treat every kind of fungal infection, we know that it kills spores of the fungi that causes ringworm and athlete’s foot.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help prevent acne
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is rich in different kinds of fatty acids. This unique composition helps clear your skin of excess oil (sebum).
At the same time, Shea butter (Shea Oil) restores moisture to your skin and locks it in to your epidermis, so your skin doesn’t dry out or feel “stripped” of oil.
The result is a restoration of the natural balance of oils in your skin — which may help stop acne before it starts.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) helps boost collagen production
Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains triterpenes. These naturally occurring chemical compounds are thought to deactivate collagen fiber destruction.
This may minimize the appearance of fine lines and result in plumper skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) helps promote cell regeneration
Shea’s moisturizing and antioxidant properties work together to help your skin generate healthy new cells.
Your body is constantly making new skin cells and getting rid of dead skin cells. You actually get rid of anywhere between 30,000 to 40,000 old skin cells each day.
Dead skin cells sit on the top. New skin cells form at the bottom of the upper layer of skin (epidermis).
With the right moisture balance on the surface of your skin, you’ll have fewer dead skin cells in the way of fresh cell regeneration in the epidermis.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scarring
It’s thought that Shea butter (Shea Oil) stops keloid fibroblasts — scar tissue — from reproducing, while encouraging healthy cell growth to take their place.
This may help your skin heal, minimizing the appearance of stretch marks and scarring.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
By boosting collagen production and promoting new cell generation, Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help reduce what researchers call photoaging — the wrinkles and fine lines that environmental stress and aging can create on skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) offers added sun protection
Shea butter (Shea Oil) can’t be used by itself as an effective sunscreen.
But using Shea butter (Shea Oil) on your skin does give you some added sun protection, so layer it over your favorite sunscreen on days you’ll be spending outside.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains an estimated SPF of 3 to 4.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help prevent hair breakage
Shea butter (Shea Oil) hasn’t been studied specifically for its ability to make hair stronger.
But one 2017 studyTrusted Source found that a chemically similar West African plant made hair significantly more resistant to breakage.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help treat dandruff
One way to treat dandruff (atopic dermatitis) is to restore moisture to your dry and irritated scalp.
One 2018 reviewTrusted Source found that Shea butter (Shea Oil), when used in combination with other moisturizers, could help decrease dandruff flakes and reduce risk of flare-ups.
More research is needed to determine how effective shea is when used alone.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help soothe conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis
Shea’s anti-inflammatory properties help soothe skin and relieve itching. This may prove especially helpful for inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis.
Shea also absorbs rapidly, which could mean quick relief for flare-ups.
ResearchTrusted Source even suggests that Shea butter (Shea Oil) could work just as well as medicated creams in treating eczema.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help soothe sunburn and other skin burns
ResearchTrusted Source suggests that oils may be beneficial for superficial (first-degree) skin burns, such as sunburn.
Shea’s anti-inflammatory components may reduce redness and swelling. Its fatty acid components may also soothe the skin by retaining moisture during the healing process.
Although the researchers in this study established that the use of Shea butter (Shea Oil), aloe vera, and other natural products is common, more research is needed to assess their efficacy.
18. It may help soothe insect bites
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has been traditionally used to soothe bee stings and insect bites.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help bring down swelling that bites and stings can cause.
That said, there isn’t any clinical research to support this.
If you’re experiencing severe pain and swelling from stings or bites, consider seeing a health professional and stick to proven treatments.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) can help promote wound healing
In addition to reducing underlying inflammation, shea is also linked to the tissue remodeling that’s crucial for treating wounds.
Its protective fatty acids may also help shield wounds from environmental irritants during the healing process.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help relieve arthritis pain
Arthritis is caused by underlying inflammation in the joints.
A 2016 animal studyTrusted Source on shea oil concentrate suggests that it can help reduce inflammation while also protecting joints from further damage.
Although this study focused on knee joints, these potential benefits could extend to other areas of the body.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help soothe muscle soreness
Muscles that have been overextended can be affected by inflammation and stiffness as your body repairs muscle tissue.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help sore muscles in the same way it may help joint pain — by reducing inflammation.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help relieve congestion
A 1979 studyTrusted Source suggests that Shea butter (Shea Oil) may help alleviate nasal congestion.
When used in nasal drops, Shea butter (Shea Oil) may reduce inflammation in the nasal passages.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) could also help reduce mucosal damage, which often leads to nasal congestion.
These effects could be beneficial when dealing with allergies, sinusitis, or the common cold.
Where do all of these benefits come from?
The benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil) come from its chemical makeup. Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains:
linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic fatty acids, ingredients that balance oils on your skin
vitamins A, E, and F, antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and healthy skin cell growth
triglycerides, the fatty part of the shea nut that nourishes and conditions your skin
cetyl esters, the waxy part of the shea nut butter that conditions skin and locks in moisture
Keep in mind that the exact makeup varies according to where the shea nuts are harvested from.
You may also find Shea butter (Shea Oil) mixed with added ingredients, such as tea tree oil or lavender oil.
How to use Shea butter (Shea Oil)
On skin
You can apply Shea butter (Shea Oil) directly to your skin.
Raw, unrefined Shea butter (Shea Oil) is easy to spread.
You can use your fingers to scoop a teaspoon or so of Shea butter (Shea Oil) from your jar, and then rub it onto your skin until it’s completely absorbed.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is slippery and can keep makeup from adhering to your face, so you may prefer to apply it at night before bed.
On hair
Raw Shea butter (Shea Oil) can also be applied directly to your hair.
If your hair is naturally curly or porous, consider using Shea butter (Shea Oil) as a conditioner.
Make sure your hair has absorbed most of the Shea butter (Shea Oil) before rinsing and styling as usual.
You can also use a small amount of Shea butter (Shea Oil) as a leave-in conditioner.
If your hair is naturally straight, thin, or fine, consider using Shea butter (Shea Oil) on the ends of your hair. Applying Shea butter (Shea Oil) to your roots may cause an oily-looking buildup.
Storage
Shea butter (Shea Oil) should be stored slightly below room temperature, so that it stays solid and easy to spread.
Possible side effects and risks
There are no documented cases of topical Shea butter (Shea Oil) allergies. Even people with tree nut allergies should be able to use Shea butter (Shea Oil) on their skin.
That said, discontinue use if you begin experiencing irritation and inflammation. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience severe pain, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Buying Shea butter (Shea Oil) that’s raw and unrefined also helps more of your purchase count toward supporting the communities that actually harvest and grow shea nuts. You can go a step further by purchasing grade A Shea butter (Shea Oil) that’s labeled “fair trade.”
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is packed with essential nutrients that can enhance your natural complexion and help you glow from the inside out.
Although it’s considered safe every skin type, many products containing Shea butter (Shea Oil) have other ingredients mixed in.
If you experience any side effects that you suspect are connected to a Shea butter (Shea Oil) product, discontinue use and see a doctor or other healthcare provider. They can help determine what’s causing your symptoms and advise you on any next steps.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is a creamy fat found in nuts growing on shea trees in African countries. It’s solid at room temperature but melts on contact with skin, similar to coconut oil.
And while it’s edible and used in many African recipes, it’s primarily found in skin and hair care products in the United States.
You can safely apply Shea butter (Shea Oil) to your face, lips and body. Some body scrubs and hair conditioners also contain Shea butter (Shea Oil) for its moisturizing effects.
However, notes Dr. Vij, it’s not the best option for acne-prone skin. Shea butter (Shea Oil) may clog pores and lead to more breakouts. And those with seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff should note that yeast related to dandruff can grow in Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Is raw or refined Shea butter (Shea Oil) better for your skin?
Raw Shea butter (Shea Oil) is packed with vitamins and nutrients that are good for your skin. Refined (or processed) Shea butter (Shea Oil) loses some of its essential nutrients during processing.
For example, there’s less or no cinnamic acid, an anti-inflammatory substance, in processed Shea butter (Shea Oil). Raw Shea butter (Shea Oil) is usually yellow or beige, while refined Shea butter (Shea Oil) is white.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) versus cocoa butter
Both shea and cocoa butter are moisturizers — emollients that keep water from evaporating from your skin. But Shea butter (Shea Oil) has more fatty acids, vitamin E and, unlike cocoa butter, contains vitamin A.
Another difference is in the scent. Cocoa butter comes from the same source as chocolate — the cacao tree so it smells chocolatey. Shea butter (Shea Oil) has a mild nutty fragrance.
The benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil)
Shea butter (Shea Oil) benefits the skin in several ways. Here’s how it boosts skin health:
Relieves dry skin
Typically, you can find Shea butter (Shea Oil) in lotions for people with dry skin. Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains fatty acids. They lubricate the skin and create a barrier that keeps moisture in. In people with oilier skin, sebum (natural skin oil) does this job. But for those with drier skin, a moisturizer helps maintain dewiness.
Eases irritation
Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains anti-inflammatory substances, which ease swelling and redness in skin. People use it for any irritation, from sunburns to chapped lips to skin that’s reacting to too many acid peels or scrubs.
Prevents cell damage
Cosmetics companies often add antioxidants (substances that protect cells) to anti-aging skin care. Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains two antioxidants:
Vitamin A
“Vitamin A is crucial for skin health,” says Dr. Vij. “Since the 1970s, we’ve used retinoids — synthetic forms of vitamin A — to firm skin and reduce wrinkles.”
Shea butter (Shea Oil) works by increasing the skin-cell turnover rate, smoothing the skin’s surface. It also plumps skin by stimulating the production of collagen, the framework that keeps your skin from sagging.
Vitamin E
Shea butter (Shea Oil) naturally has a lot of vitamin E.
Even better? The majority of it is alpha-tocopherol (one of eight forms of vitamin E), which has the highest antioxidant activity. Vitamin E is in our sebum, so oilier skins have more of it.
But sebum production tends to decline with age. Sunlight exposure depletes it, too. Vitamin E helps skin by preventing cellular damage and boosting moisture.
Improves eczema
Eczema is a common skin condition that causes itchy, red rashes. It also makes you prone to skin infections. When you have eczema, part of the problem is that you don’t have enough fatty acids in your skin. Your skin barrier isn’t as effective at warding off irritants and germs.
Eczema treatment includes applying thick ointments, balms or creams to seal in moisture and defend against germs.
One study found that Shea butter (Shea Oil) was better at reducing eczema symptoms than petroleum products, which doctors often recommend. This may be because Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains linoleic acid, a fatty acid that’s in skin.
Research indicates that linoleic acid plays a crucial role in protecting skin and can significantly reduce eczema symptoms.
“It’s essential for people with eczema to keep their skin moist and protected,” says Dr. Vij. “Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be a good option for many folks.”
Provides sun protection
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has a sun protection factor (SPF) of about three or four.
It’s too small to prevent sun damage or sunburn on its own.
But manufacturers combine it with other ingredients to reach levels of SPF 15 or higher. Plus, you get all the soothing, moisturizing and anti-aging benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Doesn’t cause allergic reactions
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is safe for people with nut allergies. Allergens are proteins. While Shea butter (Shea Oil) does come from nuts, it’s made entirely of fat, so it’s allergen-free. Additionally, no one has reported a reaction to it.
However, raw Shea butter (Shea Oil) does contain latex.
So people with latex allergies should avoid it or make sure they only use refined Shea butter (Shea Oil).
What happens if you use Shea butter (Shea Oil) every day?
Using Shea butter (Shea Oil) regularly helps skin retain moisture, which makes it soft and smooth.
Since it’s loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, it may also keep your skin supple.
Smoothing on Shea butter (Shea Oil) every day has lots of health benefits plus it’s a daily ritual that flat out feels good.
You can apply Shea butter (Shea Oil) to your face in the morning or at night.
As a proven moisturizer, your skin may appear smoother after using it.
But you may also experience breakouts upon use.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is fat that’s been extracted from shea tree nuts.
It’s off-white or ivory-colored and has a creamy consistency that’s easy to spread on your skin. Most Shea butter (Shea Oil) comes from shea trees in West Africa.
High concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make Shea butter (Shea Oil) an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
Using Shea butter (Shea Oil) on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin.
Benefits of Shea butter (Shea Oil) for your face
Anti-inflammatory and healing properties
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has been proven to have extensive anti-inflammatory properties.
Redness and swelling on your face may be calmed by applying Shea butter (Shea Oil) products.
Emollient properties
The rich tree-nut oils in Shea butter (Shea Oil) can soak into your skin, creating a smooth and soft barrier that seals in moisture.
This moisturizing effect can last several hours.
Anti-aging properties
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has also been reported to have anti-aging properties.
If true, the exact mechanism isn’t well-known and may be related to promoting collagen production or decreasing the breakdown of collagen that’s already present.
How to use Shea butter (Shea Oil) on your face
The easiest way to use Shea butter (Shea Oil) for your face is to purchase a cream that includes Shea butter (Shea Oil) from a health food store, pharmacy, or online retailer.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) can be applied directly to your face before you go to sleep.
Applying cream with Shea butter (Shea Oil) as part of your skincare routine in the morning might take some getting used to.
The fatty acids and oils in Shea butter (Shea Oil) may make applying makeup on top of it difficult.
You can also make a facial mask using Shea butter (Shea Oil) and several other ingredients. Wash your face first with a cream cleanser or warm water.
To make your own mask, mix together:
1 tbsp of raw honey
3 to 4 drops of grapeseed oil
1 tbsp of pure Shea butter (Shea Oil)
Mix well and spread out over your face. Leave the mask on for 10 to 12 minutes before gently cleansing your face with warm water and a soft washcloth for best results.
Take care with these facial masks as it may promote acne if you are prone to it.
Side effects and risks
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is an incredibly low-risk topical ingredient.
Allergic reactions to Shea butter (Shea Oil) are rare.
Even people who are allergic to tree nuts, the family that shea nuts belong to, have a low risk of reaction to Shea butter (Shea Oil) on their face.
Researchers believe this is because shea nuts contain little of the tree-nut proteins that trigger allergies.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any risks to using it.
Given the consistency of Shea butter (Shea Oil), it’s likely to be comedogenic.
Some websites on the internet claim that Shea butter (Shea Oil) is non-comedogenic or has a “low comedogenic rating.” It’s not clear where this evidence is derived from since there are no available studies to support this claim.
The American Academy of Dermatology supports the idea that Shea butter (Shea Oil) can clog your pores and cause acne. This is especially true if you have acne-prone skin.
Takeaway
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is a proven moisturizer for your skin.
There are plenty of skincare products, at a variety of price points that contain Shea butter (Shea Oil) as one of the main ingredients.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has soothing and anti-aging properties that may make skin appear smoother and reduce aging.
However, pure Shea butter (Shea Oil) on your face could lead to breakouts.
Even using some products that just contain a smaller percentage of Shea butter (Shea Oil) may lead to acne.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) has shown to be a superb moisturizer, with exceptional healing properties for the skin. We now have a growing list of skin conditions where 100% Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil) has shown to be effective. (See the list of 21 reasons to use Shea butter (Shea Oil) below)
Vitamin A in Shea butter (Shea Oil) is important for improving a number of skins conditions, including blemishes wrinkles, eczema, and dermatitis.
Additionally, Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil) cream has properties to treat skin allergies, insect bites, sunburns, frostbites, and a number of other conditions of the skin.
Shea butter (Shea Oil)’s unparalleled moisturizing property is due to several natural moisturizers present in the cream.
The moisturizers in Shea butter (Shea Oil) are the same moisturizers produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin.
If you buy the concept that the skin sebaceous glands produce moisturizers for the skin, then it’s no wonder that Shea butter (Shea Oil) is such a superior moisturizer.
The positive biochemical and physiological effect Shea butter (Shea Oil) has on skin injuries makes this cream ideal for wound healing.
Many users of Shea butter (Shea Oil) have reported that Shea butter (Shea Oil) promotes and accelerates wound healing.
The exact benefit of the Vitamin E in Shea butter (Shea Oil) is less clear.
Vitamin E is a vitamin whose exact function in human being is not entirely clear, although it has been described as effective in a number of conditions or circumstances.
Among these include anti-aging, anti-free radical agent, and exerting a positive effect on increasing the micro-circulation.
If the vitamin E in Shea butter (Shea Oil) is helpful for the skin, such benefits could be accomplished by at least two methods.
First, by increasing the micro-circulation to the skin, which results in increased blood supply to and from the skin.
Second, vitamin E may serve by as an anti-free radical agent thereby aiding in preventing the deleterious effects of sun and environmental exposure.
All Shea butter (Shea Oil)s are not equally effective:
Only high quality Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil) can offer the health benefits mentioned above.
Once Shea butter (Shea Oil) is aged or loses its natural integrity, many of these wonderful benefits are also lost.
For example Shea butter (Shea Oil) contains the ingredient cinnamic acid, a substance very closely related to cinnamon in the kitchen cabinet.
The Cinnamic acid in Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil) is mainly bound to other ingredients.
As Shea butter (Shea Oil) loses its natural integrity the amount of bounded cinnamic acid decreases, and the amount of free or unbounded cinnamic acid increases.
At The American Shea butter (Shea Oil) Institute, we have learned that the reduction in bound cinnamic acid correlates well with the loss of clinical effectiveness for healing.
However, Shea butter (Shea Oil) that has lost its natural integrity, (degraded Shea butter (Shea Oil)), retains its moisturizing effectiveness. We now know that poor quality Shea butter (Shea Oil) is ineffective in healing many of the skin conditions listed below ın the section 21 reasons to use Shea butter (Shea Oil).
This is a new finding and perhaps the single most important finding in the past 10 years in understanding why all Shea butter (Shea Oil)s were not equally effective.
Armed with the new finding on the clinical importance of bound cinnamic acid, it is now possible to avoid poor quality Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Determination of free and bound cinnamic acid content will provide the needed information on the quality of a given batch of Shea butter (Shea Oil) for treating various skin conditions.
The most significant factors responsible for variations in Shea butter (Shea Oil) quality are the multitude of methods used to prepare Shea butter (Shea Oil) (lack of a uniform procedure for preparation), and the environmental conditions the butter is exposed to after preparation.
In conclusion, the quality of Shea butter (Shea Oil) may range from excellent to very poor.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) of excellent quality may be used to treat a number of skin conditions, and serve as an excellent moisturizer as well.
On the other hand, poor quality Shea butter (Shea Oil) is good only for moisturizing purposes, and should be compared with products such as cocoa butter and mango butter.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) classification:
At the institute we classify various Shea butter (Shea Oil)s imported from Africa as one of the following classes.
Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class F. Where class A is Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil), while class F is poor quality Shea Moisturizer.
It is important to note that Class A is ideally suited for the 21 reasons listed below, as a well as a number of other healing properties not mention here.
While Class F has little or no healing properties and should be used as a moisturizer or mixed in cosmetic products like lotions and soaps for improved moisturizing.
If you are in need of only moisturizing properties, you should consider less expensive natural products such as cocoa butter or mango butter.
These two products are as effective as Shea butter (Shea Oil) for pure moisturizing.
At the Institute we encourage consumers to look for the Seal of the American Shea butter (Shea Oil) Institute on the container before they buy the product.
The Institute’s Seal will assure you are buying High Quality Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Buyers beware:
In the US, some alter their Shea butter (Shea Oil) in an attempt to give it a better fragrance and texture. Others alter Shea butter (Shea Oil) for economic reasons.
These alterations may disturb or in some cases destroy the natural integrity of the product.
While altered Shea butter (Shea Oil) may smell nicely, or when mixed with less expensive ingredients may cost much less, in many of such cases the altered Shea butter (Shea Oil) has lost significant properties.
Another problem the buyer must watch for is the age of the product.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) could be as much as two to three years old or older by the time it reaches the buyers hand.
At the Institute we know that as Shea butter (Shea Oil) ages the original clinical potency and healing power are also lost.
We recommended that Shea butter (Shea Oil) is used within 18 months from the date of extraction from the seed.
To avoid these problems be sure to look for The Seal of The American Shea butter (Shea Oil) Institute on the container before you buy.
At The American Shea butter (Shea Oil) Institute, we do not endorse, promote or recommend Shea butter (Shea Oil) that contains fillers, chemical preservatives, added chemicals or Shea butter (Shea Oil) has been improperly stored. Our goal is to recommend Shea butter (Shea Oil) that has retained its natural healing powers.
What sets Shea butter (Shea Oil) apart from other natural oils:
Most seed oils can be divided into two important fractions.
The first fraction is the called the saponifiable fraction, which contains most of the moisturizing properties,(moisturizing fraction).
The second fraction is called the nonsaponifiable fraction, which contains most of the healing properties, (healing fraction).
What sets Shea butter (Shea Oil) apart from other seed oils is its exceptionally large healing fraction.
The healing fraction, contains important nutrients, vitamins, and other valuable phytonutrients required for healing.
Depending on the source, the size of the healing fraction may range from 5% and upward.
Some report the healing fraction as high as 17%. The larger the healing fraction the better the chances are for a good quality Shea butter (Shea Oil).
In other seed oils, the healing fraction is very small, often in the range of 1% or less.
While other seed oils may have a good to excellent moisturizing fraction, these oils contain little or no healing fraction.
Because Shea butter (Shea Oil) has such a large healing fraction, in addition to moisturizing fraction, regular use of this natural cream can treat many skin problems, including blemishes, wrinkles, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, insect bites, frost bite, and other skin conditions.
It is because of these unique healing properties that the shea tree got its name, the karite tree, which means the tree of life.
What is the source of Shea butter (Shea Oil):
Shea butter (Shea Oil), the multi-purpose all natural vitamin A skin cream, is derived from the seed of the Shea tree.
The cream is extracted and prepared without the use of chemicals.
The best Shea butter (Shea Oil) for skin use is prepared by cold press methods without use of added chemicals or preservative.
Characteristics and availability:
Shea butter (Shea Oil) substitutes are not likely to give you the results mention in this document.
At room temperature, Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil) is a soft uniformly beige colored creamy solid that readily melts in the hands and is quickly absorbed by the skin.
When left in a hot room or near a heat source, Shea butter (Shea Oil) will readily melt just as any other butter.
At room temperature, using a butter knife, Premium Shea butter (Shea Oil) spreads very nicely as soft butter or margarine does.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) is not yellow, green, gray, dark brown, or white.
Shea products with these colors are modified substitutes sometimes bearing the name 100% Shea butter (Shea Oil).
Furthermore, pure natural Shea butter (Shea Oil) has a characteristic smell.
Once you smell pure natural Shea butter (Shea Oil), you will always know the smell.
In fact, some first time users of Shea butter (Shea Oil) occasionally say the smell of Shea butter (Shea Oil) is not the most attractive smell.
However, after 10 or 20 minutes on the body the butter has no smell.
Unaltered Shea butter (Shea Oil) does not have a cologne or perfume fragrance.
If your Shea butter (Shea Oil) does not have the characteristic smell, color and does not spread like butter, it is probably not a good quality Shea butter (Shea Oil).
The worldwide availability of Shea butter (Shea Oil) Cream may depends at times on the needs of the chocolate industry.
The chocolate manufacturers to make chocolate use most Shea exported from producing countries.
Shea butter (Shea Oil) use in the cosmetic industry is a very small fraction of the annual shea harvest.