Did you know Shea Butter is popularly called 'Women's Gold' in Africa, where it comes from? And the reason is not its popularity in the skincare world.
The process of making Shea Butter is a generational heritage in Africa. It's a time-honoured practice amongst women of Africa. What makes it a valuable resource is the fact that these women can trade it to make money! So, just like gold is seen as a symbol of wealth in the community, shea butter is considered a symbol of strength and resourcefulness in the African community.
Thankfully, it has found its way from Africa to the rest of the world because, honestly, the skincare industry NEEDED shea butter for its natural purity and unparalleled nourishing properties. It has quickly become a staple ingredient in countless skincare products across countries, ranging from luxurious creams and rejuvenating hair creams to soothing balms. It is cherished as a sacred ingredient that harmonizes body and mind. Why? You are about to find out!
What is Shea Butter?
Shea butter is a rare ingredient abundantly found in skincare products. How? Shea butter comes from the nut of the African shea tree called shísu or Karite tree. They originate in the savannah regions of Africa.
And the beauty about them? They are not farmed. They only grow in the wild, growing up to 20 meters in height. Furthermore, it takes nearly 20 years to source their first edible nuts, and that only makes sense because these trees live for up to 200 to 300 years. Yes, you read that right!
The Composition of Shea Butter
Nutrients and Fatty Acids
Shea butter is abundant in fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. It is primarily composed of the following five fatty acids:
- Palmitic
- Stearic
- Oleic
- Linoleic
- Arachidic
Of these, Stearic and Oleic make up 80-90% of the total fatty acid composition. As a result it is these two fatty acids that determine the texture and consistency of the butter. Stearic acid is responsible for the butter's solid consistency, whereas Oleic acid determines how soft or hard the butter will be.
Besides fatty acids, Shea Butter contains an adequate amount of Vitamin A, E, and F. Like Green Tea, it contains phenolics, mainly catechin compounds famous for their antioxidant properties.
|
Fatty Acids |
Palmitic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic and Arachidic |
|
Vitamins |
A, E, F |
|
Phenolics |
Primarily Catechins |
Unrefined vs. Refined Shea Butter: Choosing Your Wellness Path
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other authorities categorize shea butter quality into five grades. 
Commercially, grades A, B, and C are used. Grade A butter, the highest quality, is extracted using water, appears creamish to greyish-yellow and has a nutty aroma. This makes it different from the other grades since the rest of them don't have a nutty aroma. Furthermore, grade C butter is white in colour, and up to 95% of the vitamins can be removed from this grade.
Which Shea Butter Should You Use for Your Skin?
Grades A and B are the best grades of shea butter for your skin. Grade A is suitable for all skin types including the sensitive type. It retains all properties. Thus maintaining full potency. In contrast, grade B is recommended for normal to oily skin. Since it undergoes some processing, some of its natural components are removed. As a result, it is lighter and less likely to clog pores.
Benefits of Shea Butter
Deep Moisturization
Shea butter is an excellent emollient and a skin-conditioning agent. As a result, it is the top choice for intense hydration and nourishment in the form of products like our Deep Moisturizer. We have consciously formulated it to nourish your skin with all the moisture it needs. Let's see how the shea butter in the formula actually works.
Oleic Acid in the Shea Butter helps to replenish the skin's natural oils, Thus creating a protective barrier that prevents moisture loss. It penetrates deep into the skin's layers, leaving the skin feeling soft, smooth, and supple.
Similarly, the stearic acid forms a protective layer on the skin, reducing water loss and locking in moisture. It also helps with the butter's thick, creamy consistency, making it easy to apply and provides long-lasting hydration.
The best part is that shea butter for the skin works beyond the surface level. Thanks to the presence of Linoleic acid, shea butter strengthens the skin's natural lipid barrier, keeping moisture in and environmental irritants out. This makes it super effective at managing skin concerns like eczema.
Anti-Inflammatory and Healing Properties
Besides moisturization, shea butter protects and heals. Its rich composition of vitamins and fatty acids acts as a gentle balm for irritated skin. Therefore offering relief from redness, itching, and inflammation. Here's how!
When applied, Shea Butter forms a protective barrier that locks in moisture. Additionally, it shields the skin from external aggressors, such as harsh weather, pollution, or irritants. This barrier function restores the skin's natural balance and reduces sensitivity, making it a win-win choice for sensitive skin.
The next step is healing. Stearic and Oleic acids nourish the skin and support the skin's natural repair process. This, in turn, accelerates wound healing and minimizes the risk of scarring.
Nourishing and Anti-Aging Effects
As we have discussed before, Shea butter is full of vitamins and fatty acids that go deep into the skin, nourishing the cells from within. Some of these components of shea butter help with cell migration (cell movement) and collagen deposition (forming of tissues during healing). Consequently, it is said to be effective for wrinkles.
Besides keeping your skin soft and supple, shea butter for skin has antioxidant properties that prevent premature aging of the skin. Simply put, the vitamins in this ingredient help your delicate skin fight against free radicals that cause oxidative stress.
Using Shea Butter in Your Daily Skincare Routine
If you are someone who is inspired by Japanese minimalism and thus likes to keep your skincare routine short, our Deep Moisturizer with Shea Butter is perfect for you.
Its thick, creamy texture glides effortlessly on your skin, absorbing into the deepest layers for an ultra-luxurious experience. Besides shea butter, it contains energizing Sea Fennel Plant Stem Cells to lock in hydration for a radiant complexion. The moisturizer is also packed with a traditional Japanese ingredient, Rice Germ Oil, to make your skin softer yet firmer.
Yet, if you prefer to have an elaborate routine, why not include a shea butter body lotion? Go beyond your face and shower some love on the rest of your body with some intense moisturization, and say no to dry scaly arms and legs. And while you are at it, don't forget your elbows and knees.
You could invest in a shea butter lip balm to soothe your chapped lips or in a hand cream for soft hands. In fact, shea butter is an excellent ingredient for your hair care routine as well. If you have a really dry scalp that makes you want to itch all the time and leaves you with dandruff, shea butter's moisturizing and soothing nature can solve this concern.
Plus, if your hair is super frizzy, making it unmanageable, here's a secret for you – you can use shea butter as a smoothening cream. Simply comb it through your hair, leave it for an hour, and then rinse it with a shampoo.
Shea Butter - The Women's Gold
Shea butter is an all-star ingredient with benefits for your skin and hair. From radiant skin to soft lips, baby-like hands, and gorgeous locks, it can be used everywhere, quite literally! So why are you holding yourself back from enjoying the goodness of this ultra-rich ingredient?
Look for the highest-grade shea butter product, patch test to see if your skin likes it, and if it does, welcome it into your skincare routine!
