A skin superfood, Shea Butter is naturally rich in essential fatty acids, phenolics and vitamins A, E and F and exhibits a number of skin-healing benefits.
Considered to be a sacred tree, the Shea Tree (also known as the Shea-Karite tree) grows naturally in the wild in the dry savannah belt of West Africa. A centuries-old legend tells that Egyptian Queen Nefertiti had discovered the miraculous Shea Butter with which she could take care of her incredible beauty.
Types of Shea Butter
Refined Shea Butter
Refined Shea Butter is known as the ‘processed form’ of Shea Butter. It’s used in large plants by manufacturers, using chemicals such as hexane. The chemicals help break open the seeds and speed the process of separating the fat (or butter) from the whole of the nut. These chemicals usually remove any odour and help make it smooth, allowing manufacturers to add perfumes and preservatives to increase shelf life.
Unrefined Shea Butter
Unrefined Shea Butter is the purest, most natural form of Shea Butter. Unrefined Shea Butter is removed manually from the seeds which allows for its vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other properties to retain. Workers will gather the seeds and then boil them. After this, the nuts are crushed by hand so they can be slowly roasted in the butter. By boiling the seeds, the shells will be easier to use. Any bits of broken shell are removed so that the inner seed can be beaten along with water and then boiled again to extract the fat. As the fat cools, it’s whipped to make it smoother and a usable product.
Benefits of Shea Butter For The Skin
Highly Moisturising
Shea Butter is rich in vitamins A and E making it an excellent moisturiser for the skin as it nourishes and conditions even the most dehydrated and driest skin. Its fat content helps it to absorb into the skin easily and hydrate and smooth the skin without clogging up pores.
Anti-inflammatory
Shea Butter is packed with derivatives of cinnamic acid which have a ton of anti-inflammatory benefits for sensitive skin and acne breakouts, redness and flakiness flare ups. The essential fatty acids found in Shea Butter helps to lubricate and the protect the skin against inflammation and the effects of inflammation.
Anti-Oxidants
Shea Butter contains plant antioxidants such as vitamins A and E as well as catechin which work to protect the cells from free radicals and environmental damage. The cinnamic acid esters in the fat of Shea Butter help in preventing skin damage from
Sun protection
Shea butter acts as a natural sunscreen, containing natural SPF, providing protection against the ultraviolet radiations of the sun, though the level of protection offered may be variable. Shea butter is considered as the best skin care for winter and after-sun care as it provides the extra moisture, nutrients and protection needed by your skin during the cold season and summer.
Healing agent
Shea Butter has amazing healing properties, being often used as a base in medicinal ointments due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used since ages for the treatment of scars, eczema, blemishes, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretch marks, dark spots, and in reducing the irritation caused by psoriasis. Due to its high content of vitamin A, it is effective in promoting healing and disinfection, and soothes skin allergies like poison ivy and insect bites. The vitamin F in Shea Butter acts as a rejuvenator for soothing and healing rough and chapped skin.
Anti-Aging
Shea Butter is considered to be one of the top anti-aging ingredients for the skin. Vitamin F found in Shea Butter helps to restore the elasticity of the skin and even skin-tone, hydrate and soften the skin. Shea Butter also works to promote the production of collagen to diminish wrinkles and fine-lines and reveal a radiant, youthful appearance. The anti-aging properties found in Shea Butter also help to stimulate blood circulation, promote cell renewal and the anti-oxidants help to fight free radicals which increase the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Shea butter is one of the most used, and probably most versatile natural beauty ingredients and you can find it on our Glamour Ageless Anti-Aging Serum, Amazing White Illuminating Serum and Caviar Enrich Eye Cream.
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– Kathleen Natural