Yay for Shea

The fountain of Youth?  Well, not quite, but Shea Butter does offer your skin some amazing benefits. Extracted from the nut of the African Shea Tree, Shea butter is rich in fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins¹.

Shea butter contains:

• “linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic fatty acids, ingredients that balance oils on your skin
• vitamins A, E, and F, antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and healthy skin cell growth
• triglycerides, the fatty part of the shea nut that nourishes and conditions your skin
• cetyl esters, the waxy part of the shea nut butter that conditions skin and locks in moisture”²
• vitamin D contributes to skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism. It enhances the skin's immune system and helps to destroy free radicals that can cause premature ageing.³

Suitable for both dry and oily skin, “shea is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins, making it perfect for collagen production and UV protection.”⁴

My sister gave me some unrefined shea butter as a gift several Christmases ago. As someone who tends toward dry skin, especially in the winter, I found that applying it after a shower smoothed and moisturized my skin, relieved itchiness and yes, even reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Eventually it occurred to me that including it in my soap recipes would be a great compliment to the benefits of the natural vegetable oils I was already using.

This content is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding specific health questions.

¹ https://www.byrdie.com/shea-butter-skin-care-benefits-and-beauty-recipes-2442773

² https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/what-is-shea-butter#sore-muscles

³ https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/article/how-to-make-your-own-vitamin-d-face-mask#:~:text=Often%20called%20the%20%27sunshine%20vitamin,that%20can%20cause%20premature%20ageing

⁴ https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/shea-butter-for-skin