Shea butter (shea butter) comes from Africa, where it has been used in medicine since ancient times. It is extracted from the nuts of the shea carite tree, which grows in the tropical regions of West Africa. The fruits of the tree are very similar to small avocados or horse chestnuts, but have fragrant flesh. The shea extract contains unique fatty acids that are used in various branches of cosmetology. Hazel nuts are first collected, then finely chopped, fried and finally crushed. Then they need to be boiled for many hours in water to get shea butter, which is carefully scraped and cooled. At room temperature, the oil becomes thick and ready to use. Pure white oil , no odor. After two years, shea butter loses its healing properties. In Africa, this oil is used even when cooking.
It takes a lot of time and effort to get shea butter, since it takes 15 years to grow the fruits of the highest quality tree.
The presence of fatty acids and a large amount of vitamins in the oil promotes accelerated healing of the skin and protection from harmful sunlight. It contains cinnamic acid, which perfectly protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Shea butter is known to be a great way to fight stretch marks. It also helps those who suffer from dermatitis and excessively dry skin. Those who want to look young and beautiful can also use shea butter. The properties of this oil allow it to be used to combat facial wrinkles. It contains vitamins A, E, F, which soothe rough and cracked skin and have a rejuvenating effect. Shea butter is easily absorbed and does not clog pores at all. In addition, it perfectly protects from wind, restores the elasticity of the skin, evens out skin tone, softens rough skin on the legs, makes hair shiny and healthy looking.
It should be noted that shea butter has a rather rare contraindication - hypersensitivity to latex. The problem is that the product contains a small amount of latex. But, fortunately, an allergy to latex is an infrequent phenomenon.
Pure shea butter is extracted using water. The oil produced by this method has a look similar to whipped cream. This oil is pure, without preservatives and various mineral oils. Hexane is used in the extraction of refined shea butter . It has a white color. Some people like the nutty smell that exudes pure shea butter, others like the highly refined version, which is filtered with clay and then deodorized. If the oil is odorless, check if its expiration date has expired. Shea butter does not need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Using soap with shea butter is very helpful. It is non-toxic, so the soap containing this product is perfect for skin diseases such as dermatitis and eczema. Soap and other products with shea butter help eliminate waste products of metabolism and nourish tissues with oxygen. Soap with shea butter in combination with coconut oil has a soothing effect.
Shea butter lotions moisturize the skin and make it more supple. Most often, lotions are used for areas such as knees, elbows, hands. Sometimes lotions with shea butter also contain extracts of chamomile, cucumber, aloe vera juice.
Shea butter products have firmly taken a niche in the market of cosmetic products, as its anti-aging and soothing properties have been proven and tested by many people. With shea butter, shampoos, lip balms, massage creams and sun protection creams are released. But you should beware of products with a lot of different ingredients and only a hint of the content of shea butter.