What Is Shea Butter?

What is shea butter?

What Is Shea Butter?

Shea butter has been overlooked by the masses for sometime now.  It doesn’t get the attention that store bought products get and it is not a product that you see advertised on TV. But,  as people have become more knowledgable about shea butter, overtime they have added it to their personal care routine and have experienced amazing results for doing so.  Even though shea butter offers great benefits and results, it is still new and unfamiliar to many.  For this reason many people still ask the question what is shea butter?  We will take a deeper dive into what it is, where it comes from and how it can be used.

What Is Shea Butter And Where Does It Come From?

Shea butter is a type of fat that is found and extracted from the nut of the shea tree, which is found in the regions of East and West Africa.  When the shea is extracted from the nut it is normally an off white or ivory color.  The more processed shea butters are a brighter white color and in turn offers less benefits than the unrefined raw version. 

What Is Shea Butter Used For?

Today it is used in cosmetics for moisture.  It is a wonderful moisturizer as I must say so myself.  It can be used to moisturize the hair and skin.  The consistency is very thick and keeps the hair and skin moisturized all day long.  It does not clog the pores and keeps the hair and skin healthy.

Contains The Best Vitamins

What I also like about shea butter is that it contains some of the most important vitamins that are needed for the hair and skin.  The vitamins found in it are a, e and f.  These are all antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and the growth of healthy new skin cells, leaving you with healthy skin and hair.  You can also find palmitic, oleic fatty acids, linoleic and stearic.  With all of these ingredients you hair and skin is sure to thrive.

How Does It Improve The Skin

This moisturizer is heaven sent.  It is known as one of the greatest skin superfoods around.  It really does its job at repairing and restoring problem and damaged areas on the skin.  Because of its abilities to nourish and hydrate, it can remove dark spots, blemishes, dryness, wrinkles, stretch marks and uneven skin tones.  By adding this product to your skin care routine, you are sure to take off a few years of aging.  Your skin will be toned, soft and conditioned.

The Hair

If you have natural hair then shea butter is what you absolutely should be using for moisture. We all know how dry natural hair can be and this product will whip your hair right back into shape.  It can be applied to the hair strands for a nice treatment that effectively and temporarily mends split ends so that they won’t look so damaged while also helping the hair to grow.   After all it is known as mother natures conditioner.  If you are into hair care than you may have heard of the “loc method”.  Shea butter can be used as the “O” in this routine for locking in the moisture.  Not to mention, it protects against the heat that can be damaging to the hair from heat tools such as blow dryers and flat irons.

Uses Of Shea Butter

There are several uses of this amazing moisturizer.  To apply and use it most effectively, it is best to use it in its whipped state.  When shea butter is whipped it has a creamy consistency and makes it easier to apply to the problem areas.  Shea is naturally hard so it is almost impossible to spread it evenly throughout, without frustration.  Here are other ways that it can be used on the body:

– make all natural deodorant

-create a hair moisturizer

-under eye cream

-make a body butter

make an all natural lip balm

– use it while pregnant for stretch marks

-use as a suncreen

-remove scars and blemishes

-use as a diaper rash cream

-use on areas of skin with cellulite

-moisturize and oil your scalp

-combat acne (shea butter is anti-inflammatory)