This is Lovelier Shea Butter – All the goodness of Shea Butter, only lovelier. Trust you are doing well, despite the lockdown. We are so excited to be here chatting with you on shea butter and all its potentials. You probably know it has been referred to as a wonder of nature. So, today, we want to give the first word to a lady who wrote about this. After you have read it, you will agree that shea butter is a gift from God
She wrote about shea butter in Healthline and we have her permission to use the article as long as we reference Healthline. (Thank you, Healthline). We feature it below as an appropriate way to kick off our Lovelier Shea butter chat.
But because it is so comprehensive, we split it into sections so each one is not too long
What Is Shea Butter? 22 Reasons to Add It to Your Routine
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Acne
- Collagen
- Cell regeneration
- Scars and stretch marks
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Sun protection
- Hair
- Dandruff
- Eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis
- Burns
- Insect bites
- Wound healing
- Pain
- Sore muscles
- Congestion
- Ingredients
- How to use
- Side effects and risks
- Products
- Takeaway
In addition to knowing that Shea Butter is a gift from God, here is what to know .
What is it?
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 most shea butter still comes from that region.
Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries. Its 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.
Curious? Here are 22 reasons to add it to your routine, how to use it, and more.
- It’s safe for all skin types
Shea butter 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 butter doesn’t contain chemical irritants known to dry out skin, and it doesn’t clog pores. It’s appropriate for nearly any skin type.
- It’s moisturizing
Shea butter 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.
- It won’t make your skin oily
Shea butter contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid. These two acids 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 anti-inflammatory
The plant esters of shea butter 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.
- 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.
- It’s 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.
- It’s antifungal
Shea tree products have been established as powerful ingredients to fight skin infections caused by fungi.
While shea butter may not be able to treat every kind of fungal infection, we know that it kills spores of the fungi that cause ringworm and athlete’s foot.
