Shea Butter & Your Skin

Shea butter is gaining in popularity in recent months. Why? Because of its wonderful effects on people's skin. This butter made from the Shea (Karite) tree is packed full of essential vitamins that nourish and protect the skin. In fact, by itself, Shea butter provides UV protection from the sun's harsh ultra violet rays. Also, the fatty acids stimulate collagen production for healthy skin. Shea butter has been used in Africa for years to clean, strengthen, and nourish skin and hair.

Shea Butter Can Help Reduce Wrinkles

There have been many reports of people seeing wrinkle reduction and skin softening when using Shea butter. This is because of the essential fatty acids oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic that increases collagen production which helps prevents the skin from drying out. Soaps made with Shea butter can increase your skin's vitality. Just make sure the one you select doesn't use harsh chemicals that counteract the butter's healing effects.

Shea Butter Is a Great Moisturizer

The natural vitamins that are concentrated in Shea butter combine with the fatty acids to moisturize and protect your skins natural oils.   Popular personal care products that use Shea butter's moisturizing effects include:
-natural soaps
-lotions
-lip balm
-foundation (makeup)
-deodorants
-SPF 6 sun screen

Choosing Shea Butter

If you plan on purchasing Shea butter consider what kind you order. Refined and odorless Shea butter often has most of the beneficial nutrients removed through bleaching or other refining methods. It's good to look for labels that mention that the butter is unrefined, unbleached, organic, and Grade A.

Raw is a good choice to ensure you have the core nutrients and fatty acids. However, sometimes it can come with extra particles. If you purchase raw Shea butter, you may want to strain out some of the nut's trace particles by gently heating it and pouring through a strainer or cheesecloth.

Avoid using Shea butter if you have a nut allergy.