7 Benefits of Shea Butter
Shea butter has become very popular in the beauty and skincare industries in recent years because of its numerous skin-health benefits. In fact, shea butter can now be found in almost any type of lotion, cosmetic, shampoo, or conditioner. We include it as an ingredient in our skincare products because of its many benefits, including anti-aging benefits like reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also aids in the soothing of eczema and other skin rashes. (1) But what is this excitement about shea butter, and should you join the trend? In a short while, we'll find out. First, though, a brief refresher on the origin of Shea butter.
What is Shea Butter?
Shea butter comes from the nuts of an African tree called the Shea tree. While being quite firm at room temperature, this luxury butter has a buttery, creamy consistency, making it perfect for use as a natural eye cream, lip balm, or body butter. Shea butter is found in the nuts of the shea tree's fruit. The nuts are often crushed, boiled, or cold-pressed to obtain the pure Shea butter, and keep it closest to its natural state as possible. The butter has a natural pale color. For centuries, people in Africa and all over the world have relied on this "skin superfood" to help them achieve healthier hair and skin. It has also been used medicinally for a long time to heal wounds and scabies. (5)
Shea Butter On The Skin: The Benefits Shea butter as a skincare ingredient is almost indisputably fantastic, and here are just a few of the advantages of shea butter for the skin: Shea butter serves as a moisturizer. Because of its high concentration of beneficial fatty acids like palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, shea butter is able to moisturize the skin effectively. The oils in shea butter are quickly absorbed by the skin and work from the inside to plump it back up. Re-fatting agents replenish lipids and generate moisture. It restores moisture to dry skin and preserves the skin's natural oils. Shea Butter is a powerful antioxidant. Shea butter is full of vitamins A and E, two of the most powerful antioxidants. Free radicals can cause early aging, dull skin, and other skin and health problems. Antioxidants stop these things from happening. The combination of ingredients in shea butter also aids in preventing free radical damage, which slows the aging process. Because of this, shea butter is a fantastic option for providing anti-aging benefits. (1) Shea butter has the ability to reduce inflammation.
Shea butter's anti-inflammatory characteristics make it a great remedy for skin irritations brought on by environmental causes like dry weather and inflammatory skin disorders, including contact dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne. (3) It also helps with other skin irritations, such as poison ivy and bug bites. It causes cytokines and other cells that cause inflammation to be released, which slows down their production. Shea Butter provides Anti-fungal properties There are five important fatty acids in shea butter, the majority of which are stearic and oleic acids. It also includes phyto-sterols, vitamins E and D, allantoin (which helps soothe skin irritations (2)), and vitamin A. Shea butter kills fungi by getting rid of the spores that spread them. Shea butter aids in the fading of scars. In addition to restoring health to skin damaged by acne or other factors, such as sunburn, cracks, or peeling, it can also help clear up skin that has been exposed to harsh environmental elements. Shea butter can lighten scars and marks like hyperpigmentation. (4) Shea Butter can help prevent acne. If you struggle with acne-prone skin, you should choose lotions with shea butter because they are often non-comedogenic and will not clog your pores or cause blackheads. Shea butter's other benefits include preventing outbreaks from occurring due to oil buildup on the skin. It prevents the skin from drying out and feeling oil-free and has also been proven to help seal moisture inside the epidermis. Shea Butter is a remedy for stretch marks
As a final resort, shea butter can help diminish the visibility of stretch marks. There are significant amounts of vitamins A and E in unrefined Shea butter, both of which are essential to collagen formation and skin elasticity.
Wrapping It Up That's a lot of info, but it's all right. The benefits of using shea butter are vast! You can't go wrong by including it in your organic skincare routine. Shea butter, in summary, is an all-natural product with many uses and benefits for the skin. If you're looking for a natural moisturizer, why not try shea butter-based products? And a not-so-secret substance used in Vermont skincare products is,...? You guessed it, shea butter! If you're on board the shea butter train, be sure to check out our Moisturizers
to help repair, nourish, and protect your delicate skin.
References
Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1):70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
Paller AS, Browning J, Nikolic M, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of the investigational topical cream SD-101 (6% allantoin) in patients with epidermolysis bullosa: a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial (ESSENCE study). Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2020;15(1):158. doi:10.1186/s13023-020-01419-3
Hon KL, Tsang YC, Pong NH, et al. Patient acceptability, efficacy, and skin biophysiology of a cream and cleanser containing lipid complex with shea butter extract versus a ceramide product for eczema. Hong Kong Med J. 2015;21(5):417-425. doi:10.12809/hkmj144472
Zhang J, Kurita M, Shinozaki T, et al. Triterpene glycosides and other polar constituents of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) kernels and their bioactivities. Phytochemistry. 2014;108:157-170. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.09.017
Ugwu-Dike, P., & Nambudiri, V. E. (2021). A review of ethnomedicinal uses of shea butter for dermatoses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dermatologic therapy, e14786. Advance online publication.