With the rising focus on natural skin care, people are starting to delve deeper into learning about the ingredients in their cosmetics. Natural ingredients are being brought into the spotlight for being a cleaner alternative to many of the chemicals in drugstore brand items. Skin care products do not need to be packed with laboratory constructed compounds to have beneficial and enriching effects. One of the best multi-purpose natural ingredients is shea butter (butyrospermum parkii.) Shea butter is extracted from the shea tree as fat from the tree’s nuts. It has a creamy consistency and is solid at room temperature. The vast majority of the world’s shea butter supply is produced in West Africa, where the shea tree is native to. Shea butter has long been touted as a skin-care staple, in fact it has been used in different cultures for centuries.

The shea tree grows in 19 different African nations and has for a long time provided a source of income for women in these regions. It is sometimes referred to as “women’s gold” for providing many women and their families with a living. Many mothers pass down their knowledge of the production of shea to their daughters and thus it has become for many families a legacy. The production of shea butter starts with the boiling of the shea nuts to make the shells easier to remove. Then, the women begin the painstaking process of ensuring every shell is removed one by one. The shea nuts are then roasted before being beaten with water to extract the fat from within. Once the fat has been separated, it is boiled and then sifted to become the final shea butter that is used in many cosmetics and skin care products.

So what are the benefits of using shea butter?

Shea butter is extremely high in fatty acids, along with possessing high vitamin concentrations. Shea butter is a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin F. Shea butter also contains great antioxidant compounds. This natural product is a powerhouse of healthy elements, all of which are great for your skin. There are so many benefits to using shea butter as part of your skin care routine, let’s explore a few of the main ones.

Shea butter has been most commonly used for its moisturizing effects. Its high concentration of fatty acids means that these healthy oils are absorbed into the skin. They produce a soothing, moisturizing barrier to protect your skin from drying out. They also help to moisturize your skin from within by restoring lipids. By adding moisture from within and protecting from dryness outside, your skin will feel saturated and soothed. You can use shea butter on areas of your skin that are feeling extra dehydrated like cracked heels, dry cuticles and rough patches. There are also many people who use shea butter for acne treatment.

Shea’s high antioxidant content means that it helps protect your skin from free radicals. Free radicals are particles that can damage healthy cells in your body. Free radicals can be found in many un-avoidable places such as air pollution, UV rays and smoke. Antioxidants have been shown to help protect your skin from the effects of free radicals by reducing their reactivity. Antioxidants are a large component of any anti-aging routine as well. By helping your skin cells to protect themselves from environmental contaminants, antioxidants can be part of the solution to slow down early signs of aging in the skin. Shea butter can help to prevent the appearance of early wrinkles by keeping your skin protected and nourished. It has also been shown to improve the production of collagen in the skin to help maintain your skin’s natural elasticity.

Shea butter has been proven to have great anti-inflammatory properties. This means it is often used as a topical solution to soothe skin irritations such as eczema, sunburns, or insect bites. Shea butter absorbs into the skin’s layers very quickly which can help produce immediate relief for those suffering from irritation flare ups. The high content of fatty acids in shea butter also help to heal skin faster by keeping it moisturized and protected. It can be used to help heal peeling sunburns, skin rashes and stretchmarks. It is a very popular remedy used by pregnant women to help reduce the appearance of stretchmarks. Many “baby bump” creams contain shea butter to help keep skin supple and moisturized throughout pregnancy. Many mothers also use shea butter for babies since it is a natural product that is safe for their sensitive skin.

These are just a few of the many benefits of using natural shea butter. As you can see, there are many reasons to swap out some of the store-bought cosmetic products that contain chemicals to make the switch to a more natural option. There is a great sense of relief knowing exactly what is in your products, where it came from and how it was made. Shea butter is one ingredient that may make a great addition to your skin care system. There are many ways you can incorporate it into your daily routine. One common use for shea butter is to apply it topically as a skin cream. It can be applied directly to the skin, and its creamy consistency allows it to spread smoothly and evenly. Many people also choose to use shea butter for hair as a conditioning treatment. You can apply it directly to the ends of your hair for a moisturizing effect. One of our favourite uses for shea butter is as a lip moisturizer. We use it as one of the main ingredients in our Earthy Good Lip Balm Making Kit.

Shea butter is used as the main base for our Lip Balm Making Kit because it produces a beautifully hydrating lip balm. Shea is combined along with other natural ingredients to create a homemade lip balm to keep your lips feeling smooth and hydrated.