It smells beautiful and exhibits a whole range of valuable properties. Shea butter is very widely used in beauty care. It is ideal for moisturizing dry skin and hair or chapped lips. Get to know this natural cosmetic and find out that it can be a real remedy for many skin problems.
What is shea butter and how is it made?
The natural cosmetic from Africa is gaining huge popularity. It is also known as karite butter, but its most popular name is, of course, shea butter. Its moisturizing properties have made it into many preparations. The shea butter is made from the nuts of the Parka butter tree, which in natural conditions grows in the western and central areas of Africa. The nuggets of butter have a white-brown hue, and when warmed in the hands, they change consistency to oily oil.
Shea butter is made from ripe nuts, which are boiled and peeled, dried and broken into small pieces. The next step is roasting and then grinding. This makes a velvety paste that still needs to be cleaned. The paste is rinsed with distilled water and heated. A layer is deposited on the liquid, which must be collected so that hardens. This traditional way of making shea butter in Africa is passed down from generation to generation.
Shea butter – properties
Wondering whether to reach for shea butter? The properties of this natural cosmetic speak for trying it. It is rich in unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, contains vitamin A and vitamin E.
Shea butter:
- Nourishes and regenerates the epidermis,
- Intensely moisturizes the skin,
- Gives skin silky smoothness and elasticity,
- Delays aging processes and protects it from free radicals (thanks to vitamin E),
- Soothes irritation,
- Protects skin from adverse effects of external factors.
Valuable properties of shea butter, and use in cosmetics
The abundance of valuable ingredients and related properties of shea butter make it widely used in cosmetics. It has regenerative, nourishing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. It is very well absorbed into the skin, and at the same time does not cause skin irritation and unwanted allergic reactions.
Shea butter can be used:
- On face – suitable for all skin types, intensely moisturizes, regenerates and nourishes. It is known as a remedy for dry and damaged skin. They can be added to creams and masks,
- on lips – moisturizes and regenerates chapped skin, protects lips from frost, wind and UV rays,
- Under eyes – neutralizes the action of free radicals and delays aging, so will be perfect for thin and delicate skin under the eyes. Its regular patting helps neutralize swelling and reduce dark circles,
- on hands and feet – it will perfectly moisturize and regenerate dry and cracked skin. Just apply a thick layer of shea butter at night and put on gloves or socks,
- For acne – vitamin A and E soothe redness, even out the natural color and accelerate wound healing, and cinnamic acid derivatives act antibacterially,
- at hair – ideal for dry, thin and damaged hair. It can replace mask to smooth the texture of the hair, moisturize it, give it elasticity and shine.
