Shea butter 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 is where the majority of the product comes from.
For many years Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient. Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids .
 |
I have been using shea butter in my How to make Deodorant , my homemade body oil balm and homemade hair lotion. Shea butter is very low in the proteins that can trigger allergies and doesn’t contain chemical irritants known to dry out skin, and it doesn’t clog pores. It’s appropriate for nearly any skin type. |
Benefits of Shea Butter
Anti-inflammatory and has healing properties
Shea butter has been proven to have extensive anti-inflammatory properties. When applied to the skin, 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.
Emollient properties
The rich tree-nut oils in shea butter can soak into your skin, creating a smooth and soft barrier that seals in moisture. This moisturizing effect can last several hours.
It wont make your skin Oil
Shea butter contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid, which balance each other out. That means shea butter is easy for your skin to fully absorb and won’t make your skin look oily after application.
It’s antioxidant
Shea butter 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.
Antibacterial
According to 2012 study , oral doses of shea bark extract can lead to decreased antimicrobial activity in animals. there is still a need for more research to find out the possible antibacterial benefits in humans.
Antifungal
Shea tree products have been established as powerful ingredients to fight skin infections caused by fungi. Bare in mind shea butter may not be able to treat every kind of fungal infection. It is known that it kills spores of the fungi that causes ringworm and athlete’s foot.
Help to prevent acne
Shea butter is rich in different kinds of fatty acids which is a unique composition helps clear your skin of excess oil (sebum). It also 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 benefits
- 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
One thought on “Benefits of shea butter”