Shea butter is one of the most popular ingredients being used in skin care products. If you have a body butter or body lotion, chances are it contains shea butter. This ingredient is popular for a good reason – it has so many benefits! The benefits of shea butter go beyond just being moisturizing on skin. You’d be surprised to know that there are so many good things that shea butter can do for you.

But before we get into that, you might be wondering - what is shea butter, anyway? It is actually fat that has been extracted from nuts. Shea nuts from shea trees, which are native in West Africa, are harvested and grounded until they become a paste.

The result is a product that’s pretty much skin superfood!

Here are just some of the known benefits of shea butter:

Highly moisturizing

First on our list is, of course, is its ability to moisturize the skin. It’s not just moisturizing, it’s HIGHLY moisturizing. Even extra dry skin can be turned into soft and smooth skin with regular use of shea butter. Shea butter has been used as a moisturizer for centuries now. Thanks to its fatty content, the butter is able to restore the lipids and moisture on the skin.

Safe for all skin types

While there maybe a lot of other moisturizing agents out there, not all of them are gentle. Shea butter is one of the safest moisturizing agents to use because it is gentle and safe for all skin types. It is always best to choose plant-based products over commercial products that contain toxic ingredients. Harsh chemicals are often the culprit of skin breakouts!

Helps reduce inflammation

She butter contains natural anti-inflammatory properties. One of these is lupeol cinnamate, which has been found to help with skin inflammation. This is why shea butter is beneficial for those who have acne. It can help calm acne-prone skin and reduce redness.

Smoothens out skin

Want velvety soft skin? Lather on shea butter after a shower. Thanks to its healthy acids, shea can help your skin boost collagen production. With regular use, skin will not only get softer, shea can also help reduce fine lines.

Soothes irritated skin

Shea butter is a great alternative medicine to treat irritated skin. This is often used to treat minor skin problems like windburn, dry patches and even diaper rashes. Because it has vitamins A and E, it will soothe and heal the skin. Aside from that, it also has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Can also moisturize hair

Not just for skin but can also be applied on hair. If your hair is feeling a little dry, one of the benefits of shea butter can is restoring moisture on hair. Just keep in mind to apply this only on the ends and not the roots to avoid oily build-up on scalp. Well-moisturized hair is less prone to breakage and will be shinier.

These are just some of the reasons why shea butter is so popular and widely used. The many benefits of shea butter make it a wonder ingredient and it is also not as expensive as other organic options.

Love shea butter? Check out our shea-infused moisturizers here.