What Is Shea Butter?

Shea butter is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree and that is naturally rich in vitamins A, E and F. It offers UV protection (it is SPF ~6) and provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production.

Shea butter has been used in Africa and many other locations for years to improve skin and hair. It also has a long history of medicinal use, such as in wound care and even treating leprosy.

It’s also not uncommon in that part of the world to eat shea butter as well, much as we use palm oil in products. There’s differing opinions on whether or not it’s healthy to eat, and since some studies suggest that ingesting shea butter may interfere with the digestion of other proteins, I use it externally only.

Shea Butter Benefits

• Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils.
• Reduces Inflammation: A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter was anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne.
• Skin Smoothing: Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long-term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.

The good news is, it’s great to use on kids and babies too!

Ways to Use Shea Butter

Shea butter is one of the most versatile natural beauty ingredients and I use it daily in some form. I’ve used it for years in everything from my homemade lotion bars and original magnesium body butter to homemade lip balms and healing salves.

Some of uses for shea butter:

1. By itself for face and body as a natural moisturizer
2. In a shea butter lotion bar stickfor easy use
3. After sun or beach exposure to replenish skin
4. Alone or in a pregnancy salveto ward off stretch marks
5. As a natural cuticle cream
6. As the best under-eye wrinkle removerand bag-reducer
7. As a massage butter
8. In my homemade velvety soft whipped body butter
9. On sore/raw noses during a cold or flu

• Added to basic homemade lotion
• On scars to naturally help collagen production
• As a base for homemade deodorant
• By itself for low-grade sun protection
• Whipped into magnesium body butter
• As a natural baby-care product (alone) or ingredient in baby care recipes
• By itself on the lips or in homemade lip balms
• In a homemade shimmer lip balm
• On the eyelids before applying makeup to make it last longer
• To improve skin elasticity (some even say it helps with cellulite)
• On the hair or scalp (in mixture with other natural ingredients)
• In homemade liquid creme foundationand makeup

TIP: If the shea butter is too thick for what you’re trying to do, melt it over very low heat and then use. Do not let it get close to boiling or you will lose beneficial properties. You can also emulsify it with other oils using the technique in my lotion recipe.

What Kind of Shea Butter Is Better?

There is a huge variation in the quality of shea butter depending on the manufacturer, so if you’ve tried shea butter before and haven’t liked it, it may have been the brand.

The American Shea Butter Institute warns that one of the main healing components in shea butter, cinnamic acid, is less present in inferior brands. They have issued classifications of different grades of quality, and the best grade with the highest cinnamic acid content is Grade A.

We Should use raw, unrefined, Grade A shea butter. There are many refined ones that are odor free and bleached to be completely white, but the refining process removes some of the beneficial properties.

Storing Shea Butter

using shea butter Should be externally. Ask a doc or dermatologist before using, especially with underlying skin conditions. Those with nut allergies should avoid or check with an allergist.

Store shea butter out of direct light or heat. Several sources suggest shea butter may go rancid or expire within 12-24 months.

This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Scott Soerries, MD, Family Physician and Medical Director of SteadyMD. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.