Shea butter: properties and uses

Shea butter is native to the African continent. It is there that the shea tree, or shea, grows, which is common throughout central Africa. At the age of 50, the tree bears fruit that resembles small avocados. There is a nut inside the fruit, which contains the bulk of fats and carbohydrates.

Shea butter is the only source of vegetable fats in Africatherefore this product is very valuable for African people. They use it not only in cosmetic procedures, like residents of other continents, but also for medicinal and food purposes.

Due to the fact that the ripening of the fruits of the shea tree is quite long, the law of African countries prohibits the felling of this valuable and vital for the inhabitants of the continent, the “tree of life”.

Shea butter is a product rich in fatty acids, and fat occupies the lion's share of the total composition.

Fatty acids in the product are represented by the following components:

• oleic acid - 55%;

• stearic acid - 45%;

• palmitic acid - 7%;

• linoleic acid - 8%.

But it's not just the fatty component that makes shea butter so valuable. It also contains many other useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the human body. For example, tocopherols and steroids, which are involved in cell regeneration and rejuvenation.Triterpenes help oxygenate cells, and polyphenols are involved in the fight against viruses and microbes.

Shea butter is divided into 5 classes according to the degree of processing and the method of extracting the product from the kernel of the fruit:

• category A - unrefined oil extracted from the core by water;

• category B - refined product;

• category C - highly purified product;

• category D - a product containing a minimum amount of various kinds of impurities;

• category E - product with impurities.

Basically, there are two types of shea butter - refined and unrefined. Due to the fact that a refined product is purified, it loses a small part of nutrients, for example, the same vitamin E. But the product does not lose its nutritional and moisturizing capabilities. An unrefined product is stored for a shorter amount of time and has a rich composition, which includes tocopherol, which is very important for female beauty, or vitamin E, which is necessary to fight the formation of free radicals, as well as many more serious diseases.

Unrefined shea butter can also be identified by its specific subtle nutty smell. A refined product loses this property during processing.

First of all, the oil has a positive effect on the quality of the skin. With regular use, the epidermis oil consumes the required amount of fluid, thus getting hydration and nourishment. Thanks to vitamins A and E, the skin is tightened, wrinkles on the face become less noticeable, and inflammation and peeling are quite similar. This effect of the product is especially relevant on the driest areas - elbows, knees, feet.

The oil has no contraindications when used during pregnancy, and this is very important for a woman who is expecting a baby, since many cosmetic products are prohibited at this time. Shea butter is a great help for pregnant women in the fight against stretch marks during gestation.

As a rule, stretch marks appear in the 3rd trimester, when the active phase of growth of the fetus and, accordingly, the abdomen begins. The skin is under great stress at this time. Shea butter will help a woman to soften and increase the elasticity of the epidermis at this difficult time.

It also has a beneficial effect on the restoration of the skin after sunbathing. It is also used as a protection against UV rays, because shea butter has a UVF6 protection degree.

The product assists in the fight against cellulite. Its benefit lies in the fact that it gives the skin elasticity by stimulating collagen synthesis.

This product is widely used in the care of delicate baby skin. It is used both in composition with baby cream and in pure form. It copes well with the appearance of diaper rash, therefore, it is usually applied under a diaper in order to protect the child from such troubles.

Shea butter has practically no contraindications, except for individual intolerance.

After coming to Europe and America, shea tree fruit extract has become widespread and used in the field of cosmetology.Being an excellent moisturizer, it is used in the care of the skin of the face, body and hair. The oil is added in the production of shampoos, soaps, anti-stretch marks cream, in after-sun lotions and in almost every cosmetic product that is aimed at combating dryness and irritation.

On the body of each person there are areas with dry and rough skin, which certainly need additional moisture. Shea butter can be an indispensable aid in the care of dry skin of the body, as well as rough skin of the feet.

You can buy Shea Butter at any beauty store that specializes in body care products. Many products on sale already contain shea butter, but you can buy it in its pure form.

For home procedures, both refined and unrefined products are used. But the most noticeable effect can be obtained from butter, using it in a whipped form. The whipped consistency is perfectly absorbed into the skin and has a soft, airy texture. For the manufacture of such a product, any oil is suitable - both refined and unrefined.

To make whipped shea butter, you will need:

• refined product - 80 g;

• jojoba extract - 18 g;

• vitamin E - 1 g;

• any broadcast of your choice - 1 g.

If the oily product is in a solid state, then it must be heated until it reaches a soft texture. It is also advised to heat jojoba oil to 40 degrees. Then the ingredients are mixed by hand using a whisk or mixer.

Once the correct consistency is achieved, vitamin E and an ester with your favorite scent, such as orange tree ester, are added to the product.

If the end product turns out to be very fatty, corn starch can correct the situation. By adding 2-3 g of this product, it will become less greasy and more pleasant to the touch. It is recommended to apply such a remedy to the body every evening after a shower on a wet or dry body.

The shelf life of the whipped product depends on the presence of antioxidants and, in particular, vitamin E. Without additives, the cream will last from 1 to 3 months, and with them the butter can be used for a longer period.

Winter cream:

• coconut oil - 20 g;

• shea oil extract - 20 g;

• grape seed oil - 20 g.

All components are mixed in a heated form, and then the mass is left to cool slightly. Then they use it on dry areas of the body. The cream itself is recommended to be stored in the refrigerator to avoid damage to the product.

You can make a cream that is lighter in texture, more like milk, and use it in the spring or early fall.

Ingredients:

• coconut oil - 20 g;

• shea butter - 20 g;

• sea ​​buckthorn oil extract - 20 g;

• aloe vera oil extract - 20 g.

Such a product is prepared similarly to the winter version of the cream. The ingredients are heated in a water bath to a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees and then mixed in one container. After cooling down, transfer the resulting milk into a bottle with a dispenser, from which it will be convenient to apply the product to the body.

Oil-based wraps can also be performed at home without unnecessary expenses and trips to beauty salons.

Ingredients:

• chocolate 75% - 100 g;

• shea oil extract - 20 g;

• natural yogurt - 100 g.

To prepare the composition, it is necessary to turn the chocolate from a solid to a liquid state using a microwave. After melting the tile, add softened shea butter and yogurt, stirring the mixture until smooth. It is applied to areas of the skin with visible cellulite and wrapped in polyethylene.The procedure time varies from 20 minutes to 1 hour. It is advisable to wash off the mixture in the shower with a sponge and body gel.

Dry skin of the face constantly needs hydration. Redness and flaking is a clear sign of a lack of moisture. Shea butter helps to replenish the hydrolipid balance. When used on dry skin, the epidermis is instantly moisturized thanks to the oily texture of the product. After using the oil product, it remains moisturized for a long time, and with its systematic use it becomes silky, soft and smooth without signs of peeling and irritation.

Ingredients:

• ripe avocado pulp - 20 g;

• shea butter extract - 5 g;

• honey - 5 g;

• oil extract of jojoba - 5 g.

To prepare the mask, you need to mix all its ingredients and apply the mixture to the skin of the face, avoiding the area around the eyes, for 12 minutes. After the time has elapsed, the remnants of the mask can be removed with a napkin, wash your face with warm water and apply the cream.

For owners of aging skin, we recommend a cream with chamomile and lavender. This recipe recommends the use of shea butter. Therefore, before preparing the cream, it is necessary to leave the container with oil in a warm room or put it on a battery to melt the oil substance.

Ingredients:

• ghee shea butter - 10 g;

• almond oil extract - 20 ml;

• chamomile ether - 3 drops;

• lavender ether - 2 drops.

All components of the cream must be warmed up and mixed warm in one bowl using a whisk. After stirring the product, you need to leave it for a while to solidify, and then transfer it to a storage jar and use it overnight, using not your fingers to remove the cream from the jar, but a special disposable spatula.

Shea butter extract works great on oily skin, which also needs hydration. Contrary to expectations, the oil product does not clog the pores at all, although it has a greasy texture. That is why shea butter, due to its excellent absorbency and lack of shine on the face, is also suitable for problem skin. For the same reason, acne scars heal faster, and fewer scars form.

Ingredients:

• shea butter extract - 10 g;

• honey - 10 g;

• walnut oil extract - 3 drops;

• salicylic acid tablets - 1 pc.

The ingredients are mixed in one container, preheating the shea oil extract, and the mixture is applied to the face. The mask can be used both pointwise, only on the problem area, and on the entire surface of the face, if the site of inflammation is large enough. Remove the mask without water, using only a clean dry towel or napkin. The procedure is best done at night and immediately afterwards go to bed.

Shea tree extract is an excellent youth activator. With the help of products with shea butter, wrinkles on the face become less noticeable, and mimic ones can disappear altogether, so girls over 30 should take a closer look at this magical product that delays the moment of age-related changes on the face. By starting to use the oil at the stage of the appearance of superficial mimic wrinkles, you can completely eliminate them.

Ingredients:

• shea butter essence - 5 g;

• aloe vera oil essence - 5 g;

• rose water - 5 g.

After mixing all the components of the mask, you must carefully apply its composition to the face along the massage lines and leave for 20 minutes. After the mask is removed with wet wipes and washed with warm water.

Ingredients:

• shea extract - 50 g;

• wax - 30 g;

• infusion of cinnamon - 30 ml.

Before preparing the cream, the wax must be warmed up so that it becomes soft and pliable. After oil, wax and cinnamon are mixed in one container using a blender or mixer. Having received a homogeneous mass, it is transferred to a cream jar and used as needed. This cream perfectly moisturizes and tightens the skin.

Ingredients:

• shea extract - 40 g;

• wax - 20 g;

• avocado extract - 10 g;

• orange juice - 10 g;

• sandalwood oil - 3 drops.

Preparation:

• soften wax and shea butter;

• mix orange juice, sandalwood extract and avocado juice;

• combine the resulting compositions in one bowl and mix with a whisk or mixer;

• apply the mask for 5-7 minutes;

• wash off the mask from the face with warm water.

Lips often crack in winter. In the cold season, they lack hydration and nutrition, so lip balm with shea butter will become a faithful assistant in the struggle for beauty.

Ingredients:

• shea butter extract - 15 g;

• oil extract of jojoba - 10 g;

• lemon tree oil extract - 3 drops.

On the stove, you need to prepare a water bath and place the components of the balm in a bowl, stirring the composition from time to time. When they reach a uniform consistency, take out the mixture, fill a storage jar with it and put it in the refrigerator. The balm can be used as a regular lipstick, as soon as the mass has cooled down.

After applying a few drops to the fingertips, they gently pass over the entire area under the eyes. Movements should not be sharp and rubbing. You just need to lightly touch the skin, gently driving the product into it. Such a massage will be especially effective for those who suffer from systematic edema under the eyes.

Shea butter is also often used in the care of eyelashes and eyebrows., using it both in pure form and in composition with other oils. The most convenient way to use the oil is to fill it in a clean empty mascara jar and apply pure shea butter or in combination with castor or burdock oil on eyelashes and eyebrows before going to bed. The result can be assessed after 3 weeks. The eyelashes will acquire bright pigment and the hairs will become denser.

Shea butter has a magical effect on dry feet. Applying it in pure form on the soles of the feet at night, putting on socks and falling asleep, in the morning it is possible to wake up with new skin on the feet. They will be absolutely soft and tender, like a child's.

Using the oil, you can prepare a wonderful foot balm that will work not only against dry skin. He is also able to tone the veins of the legs, which often suffer in the beautiful half of humanity.

Ingredients:

• shea butter extract - 40 g;

• arnica oil - 9 g;

• lavender oil extract - 12 drops;

• extract of mirocarpus - 10 drops;

• mint oil extract - 12 drops;

• rosemary extract - 0.5 g;

• chestnut extract - 0.5 g.

First you need to soften the shea butter, then add the arnica oil to it. After mixing them with a mixer, add the remaining components to the mixture, whisking for about a minute more. Transfer the mass to a prepared container. The balm is used at night before going to bed.

A universal foot cream that helps dry, cracked skin and fights excessive sweating, also contains shea butter:

• shea butter extract - 70 g;

• coconut oil extract - 35 g;

• cocoa oil extract - 12 g;

• wax - 9 g;

• almond extract - 9 g;

• avocado extract - 9 g;

• jojoba extract - 9 g;

• lavender oil - 9 drops;

• tea tree oil - 5 drops;

• peppermint oil - 5 drops;

• vitamin E - 5 g.

Preparation:

• liquidate shea butter, coconut and cocoa;

• add the rest of the ingredients and beat the mass with a mixer for a minute;

• send the cream to the prepared container for solidification in the refrigerator.

Some women often use various soaps rather than gels and foams in the washing process. They often contain additives in the form of scrubbing particles and moisturizing oils.

Ingredients:

• soap base - 100 g;

• glycerin - 3 g;

• clay - 5 g;

• tea tree ether - 6 drops.

• shea butter - 5 g.

Cut the soap base into 1.5 x 1.5 cm cubes and microwave the slices to melt the base. The clay should be mixed with glycerin, and the shea butter should be placed in a water bath to soften.

After the solid ingredients have melted, they need to cool slightly, and then combine everything in one bowl and mix thoroughly. Then add tea tree oil, mix again and pour into a mold prepared for soap.

Before spreading the mass into the mold, sprinkle it with alcohol to avoid the appearance of bubbles on the surface of the oil. After filling out the form, the surface of the soap must also be treated with an alcohol solution for the same purpose. The resulting product does not need to be put into the refrigerator, as it will harden even at room temperature.

The shelf life of shea butter depends on its quality. A good quality oil can be used for 1 year. In addition, shea butter should not be left in the sun and in a hot room, it is better to let it be a cold, far dark corner of the room or a refrigerator in which any oil will stand much longer. The melting temperature of the oil is 32 degrees, so its liquid consistency can remind the owner that the room is hot enough, so it is better to send the product to the refrigerator to preserve its useful properties.

Shea butter is not as popular as, say, coconut oil, so there are not many reviews on this product. It is not often found in the segment of the Russian market. Yes, it is available, but only a small number of people in our country, including cosmetologists, have recognized the effectiveness of the product and are happy to use it. Although there are few reviews about him, they are all only positive. The buyers of shea butter are more often women from 30 to 55 years old and they are completely delighted with its texture, smell and the result they get after using it. Therefore, the owners of shea butter are happy to advise using this product in skin care procedures, and who knows, maybe someday it will be able to compete with the same coconut oil, or even surpass it in some way.

For the properties and uses of shea butter (shea butter), see the next video.