Health Benefits of Shea Butter

Shea butter is an off-white fatty substance obtained from the nuts of the shea tree from West Africa, typically used in cosmetic and natural skin care products. Full of all-natural vitamin A, 100 percent pure, unrefined, raw shea butter aids in numerous skin conditions such as blemishes and wrinkles, stretch mark prevention during pregnancy, muscle fatigue, dermatitis, and radiation treatments for certain medical problems.

Indeed, because raw shea butter is extremely moisturizing and very hydrating, when applied to the skin, it provides immediate softness and smoothness. But it has other proven benefits.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information published a study indicating that shea nuts and shea fat (shea butter) constitute a significant source of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting compounds. Another study from the American Journal of Life Sciences claims that shea butter boosts collagen production, demonstrating anti-aging properties.

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Nutritional Background of Raw Shea Butter

Raw shea butter is rich in stearic, oleic acids and benefit-rich vitamin E and vitamin A. The shea tree is used as a source of vegetable oil containing about 45–50 percent oleic acid, 30–41 percent stearic acid, 5–9 percent palmitic acid and 4–5 percent linoleic acid. The best shea butter is extracted using cold pressed methods without added chemicals or preservatives.

Shea butter is smooth in texture and does not liquify at room temperatures; however, it will soften in your hands, making it easy to apply. Containing vitamins A and E, it has relatively high amounts of saturated fatty acids (like MCT oil) when compared to other plant-sourced lipids, such as grape seed oil, olive oil and canola oil.

Cosmeticsinfo.org reports that The Food and Drug Administration includes shea nut oil on its list of direct food substances affirmed at Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). While it is more common in beauty products, shea butter is often found in a variety of confections and chocolate as a cocoa butter substitute.

The safety of raw shea butter and related forms has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, and they note its popularity in cosmetics and personal care products as compared to many other oils with a total of 1,950 products, with 1,680 of those uses in leave-on formulations. They also note that “a recent survey of use concentrations for shea butter reports a maximum use concentration of 60 percent in leave-on products.”

The Journal of Oleo Science reported that through its studies, shea nuts and shea fat (shea butter) was found to reduce inflammation. The studies also showed that shea butter contains a significant source of anti-tumor promoting compounds such as cinnamate esters, which also make up the health benefits of cinnamon.

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 other countries for years to improve skin and hair.

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. (source) 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.

Shea Butter Uses

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 my favorite uses for Shea Butter:

1. By itself for face and body as a natural moisturizer
2. In a shea butter lotion bar stick for easy use
3. Alone or in a pregnancy stretch mark salve to ward off stretch marks
4. As the best under-eye wrinkle remover and bag-reducer
5. For massage butter
6. In velvety soft whipped body butter
7. or basic homemade lotion
8. As a base for homemade deodorant
9. As an SPF 6 skin lotion
10. In magnesium body butter
11. As a natural baby-care product (alone) or ingredient in baby care recipes
12. By itself on the lips or in homemade lip balms
13. Or homemade shimmer lip balm
14. To improve skin elasticity (some even say it helps with cellulite)
15. On the hair or scalp (in mixture with other natural ingredients)
16. In homemade liquid creme foundation and makeup
17. After sun or beach exposure to replenish skin
18. On the eyelids before applying makeup to make it last longer
19. As a natural cuticle cream
20. On scars to naturally help collagen production
21. On sore/raw noses during a cold or flu