Shea Butter. The all-rounder for skin and hair care.
Shea butter is extracted from the seeds of Vitellaria
Paradoxa , a woody plant widespread in Africa. In reality, more than a plant,
the shea tree is a real tree that can reach up to 10 meters in height. When the
fruits are ripe, the shea nuts are extracted, that is brown seeds made up of
lipids. These seeds are then cold pressed to obtain the butter, in fact.
Pure Shea Butter has moisturizing, emollient and nourishing
properties, to the point that it is considered the natural cosmetic that is
friendly to the skin and for skin care.
Benefits of Shea
Butter Shea butter has numerous characteristics that make
this substance an indispensable product, as well as versatile. It is an
excellent antioxidant thanks to the high content of vitamins E, D and A and
helps, among other things, to protect
the skin from solar radiation and external agents, such as cold or wind. This
butter also has high healing and soothing properties : it is often used in case
of minor burnsand it can be applied directly on the affected area to take
action against muscle and joint pain or bruises .
Thanks to its moisturizing and emollient qualities , it can
be used as a substitute for the classic body cream by applying a small amount
to the skin that is still damp immediately after a shower, but it is also
excellent for nourishing and moisturizing the skin of the hands . In case of
particularly chapped and dry hands , just apply a right amount and cover them
with cotton gloves, leaving the product to act for a whole night.
In addition to the skin, shea butter is used for the care of
dry hair : you can apply it on the tips by making compresses before shampooing
and let it act for a few minutes.
Shea butter is also used by men, both as a shaving cream and
to heal cuts after shaving. At the same time, it is useful for women as a
post-depilatory cream.
Cosmetic uses of shea butter
This product, being composed of "unsaponifiable"
substances - that is, which do not lose their properties in case of reaction
with other substances - is used in cosmeticsfor the preparation of face creams,
even home-made (homemade). If used pure and applied to the face, the skin
regains tone, vitality and nourishment. Combined with olive oil, it helps to
make the skin more elastic and therefore is an excellent remedy against stretch
marks and wrinkles . With a little sugar, it is an excellent face scrub that
makes the skin soft and velvety.