{"id":16463,"date":"2023-07-10T14:51:51","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T13:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wowbeauty.co\/?p=16463"},"modified":"2024-09-27T16:25:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T15:25:46","slug":"ingredients-index-shea-butter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wowbeauty.co\/health-and-wellbeing\/ingredients-index-shea-butter\/","title":{"rendered":"Ingredients Index: Shea Butter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone else love shea butter? It\u2019s been used for centuries \u2013 and for good reason! Shea butter is amazing at moisturising the skin, frequently used in skin and hair care products, especially in its natural and pure form.<\/p>\n

<\/span>What is it? <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Shea butter is fat that\u2019s been extracted from shea tree nuts. It\u2019s rich in fats and is derived from the karite tree (also known as the shea tree) that your hair and skin will love. \u00a0Most shea butter comes from shea trees in West Africa.<\/p>\n

It gets absorbed quickly into the skin as it melts at body temperature making it a beautifully beneficial skincare ingredient. It can also be used in cooking.<\/p>\n

\"shea\"

<\/span>What are the benefits? <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/span>Anti-inflammatory<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Shea butter has proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by causing cytokine production to slow down. They are molecules that are secreted by immune cells that promote inflammation on the skin<\/a>. This may lead to it having healing properties\u2026 including for things like sunburn, eczema and other skin irritation.<\/p>\n

<\/span>It\u2019s an emollient<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Thanks to its vitamins A, E, and F content, shea butter soaks into your skin, creating a smooth and soft barrier<\/a> that seals in moisture and lasts several hours.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Anti-aging and antioxidant properties<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Its anti-aging and antioxidant properties that could promote collagen production by combating the effects of free radical damage. It has an abundance of\u00a0vitamins\u00a0A, E, and F to boost circulation and encourage faster generation of healthy skin cells, helping make the skin more elastic, to firm and strengthen the skin.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Strengthens the skin barrier<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Shea butter\u00a0helps strengthen the skin barrier – properties\u00a0like stearic, palmitic, and linoleic acids help lock in moisture, nourishing the skin and helping it retain moisture.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Rich in fatty acids<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

It has a range of anti-aging and antioxidant properties (a major amount coming from stearic and oleic acids), phytosterols, vitamins E and D, allantoin (good for healing skin irritations2), and vitamin A<\/p>\n

<\/span>It’s great for the hair<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

In haircare, shea butter can help smooth rough, damaged cuticles and reduce breakage whilst also moisturising the scalp.<\/p>\n

It can be used on all skin types \u2013 its natural and does not contain any irritating chemicals that cause the skin to dry out. It\u2019s also very low in proteins that may trigger proteins.<\/p>\n

\"shea\"

<\/span>How to choose the right shea butter? \u00a0Refined vs unrefined<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

<\/span>Unrefined<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n