Benefits for skin from Shea butter

What does all that nutrition do for your skin? Shea butter's chemical composition is perfect for skin care.

• Moisturizing Shea butter contains fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic. It is a great moisturizer because it easily absorbs into skin and acts as a barrier between skin and the environment. This keeps the moisture in.
• Easy to absorb - For those with oily skin, moisturisers may seem daunting. However, the linolenic and oleic acids create the perfect balance. They aren't too thick, or too thin, and they absorb into the skin quickly leaving no residue.
• Lipcare Shea butter is a common ingredient in lipsticks and lip balms because of its moisturizing, healing and soothing properties. It's also a great moisturizer and sunscreen. It is important to have an external product that can build up moisture in dry winter months, as our lips are unable to produce their own oil.
• Anti-inflammatory Shea butter is rich in triterpenes and tocopherol. These sterols slow down the growth of inflammatory cells. Chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can cause severe redness and itching. Shea butter can help to soothe and prevent these symptoms. A study found that shea oil had the same effects as ceramides, which are commonly regarded as one among the most effective skin care ingredients to control eczema symptoms. Shea butter can be used to soothe skin inflammation and muscle soreness.
• Soothing Shea butter can soothe and save your skin if you forget to apply sunscreen. Shea butter is a soothing ingredient that can be used to soothe sunburns as well as bug bites and beestings due to its combination of anti-inflammatory and fatty acids.
• Anti-aging- Antioxidants can be used to fight free radical damage, which accelerates the signs of aging. Vitamins A, E and D are powerful antioxidants in shea butter. Triterpenes are also present, which prevent collagen from being broken down. A reduction in collagen can lead to dry skin and wrinkles. Triterpenes as well as antioxidants work together to combat early signs of aging.
• Sun Protection Shea butter is known to absorb ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer, sunburns, and aging. This doesn't mean that you should abandon your sunscreen. Shea butter has an SPF rating of only 3-4. So, if you want to be safe, use a mineral sunscreen with at least 15 SPF. You can also apply shea butter for extra protection.