shea butter benefits for skin

Native to the African continent, shea butter has long been treasured as a super-ingredient when applied on skin for its moisturizing, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. The diverse shea butter benefits on skin are actually so potent that experts generally recommend using products infused with shea butter versus applying the ingredient directly onto skin in its raw form. That’s why you’ve probably seen a bunch of infused shea butter body wash products pop up on the skin care aisle.

And we’re obsessed. Love Beauty and Planet offers a range of skin cleansing products infused with shea butter, like our Majestic Moisture shea butter body wash and our Majestic Exfoliation shea butter bar soap, because we know just how hydrating and velvety shea butter really is. In this article we’ll dissect exactly what is shea butter, where is shea butter good for, and what makes this ingredient just so magical.

Shea butter is a fatty ingredient extracted from the seeds and nuts of the Shea tree (also called the karite tree), which only starts bearing fruit when the tree reaches between 10-15 years old. While shea butter is solid at room temperature, its particular shape and consistency comes from the precise proportions of its fatty acid composition between oleic acid and stearic acid. Due to its naturally high fat percentage, it is considered an emollient with super smoothing skin benefits and even contains collagens and antioxidants that strengthen the skin.

Where Does Shea Butter Come From?

The Shea tree is cultivated from West Africa in Senegal all the way to East Africa in parts of Ethiopia. For our hair and skin products infused with shea butter, like the Love Beauty and Planet shea butter body wash, we carefully selected and partnered with a supplier who sources shea nuts from Burkina Faso & Ghana, two countries where harvesting is a key job for women in that region.

1. incredible moisturization

Shea butter is classified as a skin emollient and humectant, which are properties that deliver those skin smoothing and moisturizing shea butter benefits we know and love. This is why shea butter makes a great infused ingredient in products like body wash and bar soap. The high fat content of shea butter hydrates the skin and locks in long-lasting moisture, leaving skin healthy and smooth.

Where is shea butter good for? Since the fat composition of shea butter is denser than other skin emollients, shea butter is super effective at softening those frustrating dry spots like elbows, knees, hands, cuticles, and heels. Cleanse your skin with a shea butter body wash and lock in moisture with a shea butter body lotion, and you can say bye-bye to dry skin.

2. botanical solution to inflammation

Don’t let eczema or swelling bog you down, nature has a solution that is gentle and pampering. Shea butter contains a variety of substances that can reduce skin swelling and inflammation, which is part of the reason the ingredient has been used for centuries as a medicinal ointment. If you have scrapes, rashes, sunburns and even frostbite, shea butter body wash can help reduce inflammation and minimize any associated stinging sensations.

3. anti-blemish hydration

Beyond easing inflammation and conditions like dermatitis and eczema, shea butter is a reliable mitigator of blemishes, rough patches, and peeling, itchy skin. By melting once contacting the body, shea butter quickly absorbs into the skin faster than that of other hydrating ingredients. By doing so, its hydrating properties soothe skin and enhance natural collagen production, which fights against blemishes giving you clear and healthy skin.

4. no more razor irritation

For those plagued with sensitive skin, you probably dread shaving day in expectation of those irritating and painful razor bumps. Once bumps begin to show up, apply products with shea butter to help heal the irritation. Shea butter is very smoothing and has antibacterial properties that soothes away razor bumps, so you can enjoy your skin care routine without fear of stinging pain or irritation.

5. anti-aging

Shea butter is packed with vitamins, particularly Vitamin A and Vitamin E. These substances are important for boosting skin elasticity, which in turn counteracts wrinkles and makes you look (and of course feel!) younger. It also accelerates the production of anti-aging proteins and antioxidants.

From natural healing power to pampering moisturization, shea butter benefits are too hard to resist. Love Beauty and Planet makes sure to create products that don’t just make you look good, but feel good too. That’s why we choose to infuse shea butter not just in our skin care products, but even in our products for dry hair.