Amazing Benefits of Shea Butter, and 11 Uses For It

What is shea butter?
Shea butter comes from the shea tree, which is less commonly known as Butyrospermum parkii. This tree comes from Central Africa, where it is considered sacred. The nuts from the tree create shea butter through these steps: remove the outer shell, crush them by hand, and slowly roast them into the butter. Afterwards, this butter is kneaded in a big basin of water, which helps to separate the oils aka fatty acids. The fatty acids are the coveted ingredients that contain endless skincare benefits to restore your glow. People have been using shea butter for centuries, with Cleopatra as one of its most famous users. Here are all the restorative uses and benefits that shea butter can bring to your skin.

Where do shea butter’s benefits come from?

There are many active ingredients in shea butter that help make your skin radiant. This is due to antioxidant vitamins A,E, and F along with nourishing triglycerides. Shea also contains palmitic, oleic, stearic, and linoleic fatty acids, which balance your skin’s natural oils. Finally, cetyl esters give shea butter its waxy feeling and locks hydration in.

1. Anti inflammation

Shea butter is a cheap but effective moisturizer that has anti-inflammatory benefits. This is useful for people with all kinds of skin issues. So many products on the market today have synthetic ingredients and chemicals. But shea is all-natural, and conditions the skin with some serious power.

2. Anti-aging

Stop spending hundreds on all kinds of solutions — that’s just expensive marketing. Raw shea butter promotes the regeneration of cells while softening skin, which in turn can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

3. Hair moisturizer

Yes, shea butter can be used on your hair and scalp — it’s not just for skin. It’s pretty much a one-stop beauty shop. Warm shea butter to soften it, and rub throughout the scalp and hair, leaving on for 20 minute. Afterwards, rinse this mask, apply shampoo and conditioner, and watch the results! If you’re worried about greasy strands, only apply to the ends.