Shea butter has been considered a miracle cure for sensitive skin for more than 2000 years. Cleopatra supposedly swore by the effects of shea butter and had the precious cream imported to Egypt.
The fruit of the karité tree is prized throughout Africa for its skin-nurturing and beautifying properties. It’s also used for protection from the sun, wind, and weather.
In Europe, shea butter appears on the additive lists of many cosmetics; however, that is not the same as using pure shea butter, deploying its full strength to protect and nourish the skin. It’s important to note that only unrefined shea butter contains all the nutrients.
Shea butter, which is solid at room temperature, has a melting point of approximately 37˚C. This makes it very creamy and easy to apply by hand. Alternatively, you can use a water bath to liquefy it.
Shea butter for dry skin
In skin and body care, shea butter is ideal for dry skin, since it works very well as a moisturizer after bathing. It has the same effect on chapped lips and hands. Since shea butter has more unsaponifiable fatty acids than any other natural oil, it can permeate the skin well to deliver its valuable ingredients.
The high percentage of antioxidants protects the skin against premature aging. It strengthens the skin barrier, protecting it from drying out. Externally, shea butter coats the skin and protects it against sun, wind, weather, and UV rays. Its SPF is comparable to a sunscreen with a strength of four. Even after sunbathing, it gives the stressed skin a chance to regenerate.
Shea butter absorbs slowly and is mostly used as a night moisturizer, since the skin glistens for a while after application. The shiny areas of the face (primarily the chin, nose, and forehead) can be blotted well with a paper towel. The sheen disappears, but the nourishment remains.
The applications are numerous:
Shea butter can actually be used for every skin type due to its nourishing and regenerating properties. It’s especially suitable for dry, chapped, and sensitive skin, as it relaxes and soothes the skin, smoothing and moisturizing it. And it works for the whole body. The skin becomes velvety soft and supple. This is especially noticeable on the neck and upper chest.
The skin around the eyes is very thin, making this a good place for shea butter’s valuable ingredients. Used with a cooling eye mask, it can minimize or even eliminate rings and bags under the eyes.
Weather and manual labor can quickly cause hands to chap and crack. Thanks to shea butter’s nourishing and regenerating properties, the hands become soft and smooth again.
Applying shea butter even helps with swollen, tired feet and calluses.
Shea butter makes a great natural lip balm. Lips which have been exposed to winter wind and weather become pleasantly soft and shiny.
Treatment with shea butter is highly recommended during and after pregnancy. It reduces stretch marks (similar to scars) and tightens the skin after birth.
In Africa, shea butter is also used by healers. This is not superstition! The benefits of shea butter for skin irritations are known in our latitudes as well. For example, it can stop the itching and improve the skin’s overall appearance in the case of neurodermatitis. It even softens the rough texture of scars.
Since shea butter has a natural SPF of approximately 4, it protects (to a limited extent) against the sun. In Africa, locals use it as a sunscreen. After sunbathing or a sunburn, shea butter is an optimal after-sun cream thanks to its high moisture content and special ability to permeate the skin.
Shea butter helps with insect bites because of its soothing anti-itch effect.
Naturally, shea butter is also suitable for men’s skin care. As an aftershave balm, it soothes the stressed skin and prevents irritation.
By the way, shea butter can be used for pets. It is reported that dog owners rub it on their four-legged friends’ paws during the winter to protect them from road salt.
As you can see, there are lots of possibilities. Pure and unrefined shea butter is great for your skin’s health.