Shea butter is the fat extracted from Shea tree nuts and has become a popular ingredient for softening the skin and other skincare routines. This wonder product has been around for centuries and isn't going anywhere soon because of the amazing benefits it has to offer. Not only does it offer healing properties but it also works wonders for your skin and hair. A large portion of the world's organic Shea butter requirement is met by the Shea trees in West Africa.

Regular use of natural shea butter softens the skin, conditions it, and creates a soothing effect because of its high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins. Along with its cosmetic benefits, Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It can be used on the face, the body, and hair as it is great for your skin. It can be used in the form of raw Shea butter or products having natural Shea Butter as the active ingredient.

Benefits of Shea butter of your skin and hair

Safe for all skin types

Unlike few other tree-nut oils, natural Shea butter doesn't have enough proteins to trigger any kinds of allergies when applied to the skin. It doesn't clog the pores on the skin and because of its moisture sealing characteristics, it doesn't dry the skin either.

Moisturizes and conditions the skin

Shea butter has fatty acid content, including oleic, linoleic, stearic, and palmitic acids that get absorbed into the skin when you apply it to the skin. These acids restore lipids and create moisture that lasts for several hours. Shea butter locks in the moisture by creating a barrier between the skin and the outside environment. It reduces the dry spells that attack your skin just a few hours after using a regular moisturizer and keeps it hydrated.

Doesn't make the skin look oily

As it gets absorbed well into the skin, Shea butter keeps the skin hydrated for long but doesn't make it look oily. The high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid in Shea butter balance each other out.

Anti-inflammatory and healing properties

Shea butter has extensive healing anti-inflammatory properties. Any redness or swelling on the face easily subsides with the use of Shea butter products. Applying organic Shea butter triggers cytokines and other inflammatory cells and slows down their production. It is also a great natural remedy for any skin irritation caused by environmental factors like dry weather or inflammatory skin ailments like eczema.

Anti-aging properties

This is another amazing benefit of using Shea Butter. Its anti-aging properties can be attributed to its ability to boost collagen production or decrease the breakdown of collagen present in the body.

Emollient properties

Shea butter has tree-nut oils that get soaked and absorbed into the skin and create a soothing effect on the skin. It creates a soft barrier that seals the moisture in the skin, making the softness last for several hours.

Sunscreen

Shea butter doubles up as sunscreen too! It gives an added sunscreen protection when you apply it over your regular sunscreen. It is estimated that the SPF levels of Shea butter are 3 to 4.

Great for your hair

Shea butter doesn't work its magic just on your skin alone but is a great natural health boost for your hair too! It treats dandruff and restores moisture to an itchy dry scalp. A great way to tackle your split-end woes is by using Shea. It reduces hair breakage to a great extent as well.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anti-fungal

Shea butter has a significant amount of vitamins A and E which makes it a great anti-oxidant. Antioxidants act as anti-aging agents by protecting the skin cells from free radicals. It prevents premature aging and dull-looking skin. Shea butter contains the natural chemical compound triterpenes that helps in deactivating collagen fiber destruction. The result is the lessening of fine lines and plump skin!

Application of natural Shea butter on the skin can reduce acne-causing bacteria because of its antibacterial properties. It also removes the excess oil (sebum) from the face and keeps acne at bay. Shea butter can help you tackle skin infections caused by fungi. Toe fungus is one such ailment that can be cured by it.

Ways to use Shea butter on the face

The easiest way to use Shea butter on the face is by applying a cream that has natural Shea butter in it. You can apply it directly onto the face at night and leave it overnight. Massage it well so that it gets absorbed into the pores of your skin well evenly. You can make it a regular part of your skincare routine in the morning too. Clean, tone and moisturize your face with Shea butter cream. However, it is sometimes difficult to put makeup over this cream so use it in the morning when you don't intend to put makeup.

How to create your own Shea Butter face mask

Face masks rejuvenate your skin as they are left on for a while as the skin soaks in the ingredients. A face mask made with raw Shea butter and other natural ingredients. Before you apply the mask, cleanse the face well with a face cleanser or warm water and mild face wash.

To make the mask, you need:

• 3 to 4 drops of grapeseed oil
• 1 tbsp of raw honey
• 1 tbsp of natural Shea butter

Mix these well and spread the mask evenly over the face. Leave it on for 10 to 12 minutes and then gently cleanse the face with warm water. Wipe the face by dabbing it with a soft washcloth.

(You can also do a patch test of this mask on your harm to check for any allergies that you may have to any of the ingredients in the mask)

Below are some Shea butter products that will make your skin smooth, soft, and glowing:

• Shea Butter Lip Balm

Soft and smooth lips add to the attractiveness of a face. Harsh weather like humidity and strong winds can cause dry chapped lips that look unsightly and are painful. When dryness on the lips becomes extreme it can also cause slight bleeding. This is where a Shea butter lip balm comes to the rescue. One slick of this lip balm will instantly heal your chapped lips and protect them from age and UV rays. This lip balm consists of Shea butter and lanolin that are both great for your lips. The other ingredients in this lip balm are aloe vera extract and cocoa butter that have skin-soothing properties.

• African Shea Butter Cream

Organic Shea butter when applied to the body helps in soothing it and making the skin supple and soft. The African Shea Butter cream is enriched with vitamin E and it moisturizes the body. Applying it can help you get rid of the crow's feet on the face and stretch marks on the body. This Shea Butter Cream also has the goodness of Olive Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, and Sweet Almond Oil among other ingredients that make your skin super soft.

• Natural African Shea Butter

This unrefined raw Shea butter does not expire soon and this organic Shea butter offers all healing and beauty benefits. This can be used as part of face masks or can be applied to the skin, mixed with other oils of your choice like olive oil or cocoa butter.

• Unrefined Shea Butter

Anything derived from nature is in its best form when it is used in its unrefined and raw form. Raw Shea butter in this unrefined form is 100% natural. It offers healing and moisturizing benefits to the skin when applied as a body lotion. Its rich, thick and creamy texture instantly softens the skin. In its unrefined form, Shea is also a great natural remedy for people with sensitive skin and those having skin ailments like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Unrefined Shea can be used as a diaper rash cream and for healing broken skin, crack on heels, toe fungus, or chapped lips. It is great for healing itchy, dry scalp and split ends.

• Shea nut oil

If you want to enjoy the benefits of Shea but not in the form of butter, then Shea nut oil is what you need. The oil is extracted directly from the Shea tree nuts and offers the same benefits as Shea butter. One of the advantages of using Shea nut oil is that it is easy to apply evenly on the body and can be used in hot oil treatment or as a deep cleaning conditioner.

• Scented Shea butter

Adding aromas to organic Shea butter makes it even more enticing as it keeps you hydrated all day and smelling great too. Scents like Lavender, Vanilla, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Lavender Vanilla, Black Cherry, and Coconut are some of the fragrances that you can try in Shea butter.