Benefits and Uses of Shea Butter

Craving for buttery soft skin? Shea Butter is an emollient super-food for skin and hair issues. Although Shea Butter has gained high popularity in recent years only, it is widely used as a cosmetic ingredient for ages. Let’s have an in-depth understanding of Shea Butter.

What is Shea Butter?

Shea Butter is rich fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree native to West Africa. It gets absorbed into the skin quickly and is highly loaded with vitamins and fatty acids. This ivory-colored fat doesn’t liquefy even at warm temperatures and is safe for all skin types.

•       It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-fungal in nature. Its rich properties succor you get rid of dry weather irritation, inflammatory skin (like dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema), free radicals, fungal infection (like ringworm and athlete's foot), and acne-causing bacteria.
•       It boosts collagen production and minimizes the appearance of fine lines. The presence of natural chemical compounds in shea butter prevents the eradication of collagen fiber, thus giving you plumper skin.
•       Even though it has a high concentration of fatty acids, it is equally beneficial to oily and acne-prone skin. Its unique composition keeps control of excess sebum production without stripping natural skin oils.
•       It promotes cell regeneration and skin rejuvenation. Shea Butter is also a time-tested ingredient to minimize stretch marks, scars, and sunburns.
•       Application of Shea Butter on the scalp makes hair stronger and shinier. It can also help in minimizing dandruff and dry scalp flakes.

Shea Butter for face

Organic Shea Butter has proven emollient and healing properties. A high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids makes it the perfect partner for wrinkle-free, soft, and radiant skin.

How to use

• Rosehip seed oil- 2 drops
• Shea Butter- 1 tablespoon
• Unadulterated honey- 1 tablespoon

Blend all ingredients and use it as a face mask. Rinse with lukewarm water after 10 minutes.

Shea Butter for hair

Its hydrating nature softens and protects hair follicles. It reduces dryness, revitalizes dull hair, controls split ends, and minimizes fizziness. It also acts as a shield to protect your hair follicles from sun damage and environmental factors.

How to use

• Shea Butter- 2 tablespoons
• Coconut oil- 1 tablespoon

Whip both ingredients and apply as a weekly hair mask. Wash with a mild shampoo after 30-60 minutes. You can also replace coconut oil with any other hair oil of your choice.

Shea Butter to clear dark spots

Shea Butter can also remove skin discoloration and dark spots. Its healing properties can fade acne scars and even out skin tone. Using Shea Butter for pigmentation can give you better results than store-bought expensive products.

How to use Shea Butter to lighten skin

• Raw Shea Butter- 2 tablespoons
• Pure rose water- 1 tablespoon
• Raw honey- 1 teaspoon
• Lemon essential oil- 1 drop
• Tea tree essential oil- 1 drop

Blend all ingredients to make Shea Butter face cream. Store it in a clean airtight container. Use this shea smooth body lotion twice a day on cleansed skin.

Shea Butter for eyelashes and eyebrows

Shea Butter can also help to grow eyelashes and eyebrows. The presence of vitamin E, Vitamin A, and fatty acids act as hair growth stimulants, thus giving you thicker, longer lashes.

How to use

• Pure Shea Butter- 1 tablespoon
• Castor oil- 1 teaspoon
• Vitamin E  oil- 1 drop

Whip all ingredients and store this shea butter eye cream in a clean, airtight container. Apply it carefully on the targeted area at bedtime.

Shea Butter for stretch marks 

Shea Butter is a centuries-old magic potion to remove stretch marks. It increases skin elasticity, promotes healthy cell growth, and heals scars.

How to use

• Shea Butter- 2 tablespoons
• Wheat germ oil- 1 tablespoon
• Lemon essential oil- 2 drops

Still all ingredients and use it daily as a Shea Butter lotion for stretch marks.

Shea Butter for lips

It hydrates dry lips and locks in moisture. Using Shea Butter for lips gives you soft, pink, and lines-free fuller-looking lips.

How to make Shea Butter lip balm

• Raw Shea Butter- 2 tablespoons
• Argan oil- 1 tablespoon
• Cocoa butter- 1 tablespoon

Combine all ingredients and store DIY Shea Butter lip balm in a clean dry container.

How to make Shea Butter moisturizer at home?

You can make Shea Butter cream easily at home in 5 minutes.

You just need-

• Raw Shea Butter- 2 tablespoons
• Rosehip oil or Jojoba oil- 1 tablespoon
• Rosemary essential oil- 2 drops

Blend all ingredients and store in a clean airtight container. You can use this lotion as Shea Butter hand cream as well.

Which is better Cocoa or Shea Butter?

Cocoa butter and Shea Butter have high concentrations of fatty acids but with different compositions. Both fats are ultra-hydrating in nature and heal damaged skin. Here are some key differences between Shea Butter and cocoa butter.

Shea Butter vs. Cocoa Butter

Is it safe to use Shea Butter on your private parts?

You can use pure and raw Shea Butter on your private areas as an aftershave (or after-wax cream) or as a moisturizer. Blending it with two 2-3 drops of vitamin B essential oil will reap added benefits.

Where to buy the best Shea Butter in India?

Mystiq Living’s organic Shea Butter is extracted from kernels of the nut of African Shea tree in Ghana. It is naturally rich in linoleic, palmitic, stearic, oleic fatty acids, and Vitamin A, E, and F that balance the oils of your skin. 

Take away

Using Shea Butter in your daily skincare regime- as soap, cream, face pack, hair mask, eye cream, lip balm, or in any other form- will give you soft and glassy skin. Use it carefully if you have extremely acne-prone or oily skin.

Lustrous skin is a luxury in itself. Stay luxurious.