Your skin is your largest organ and it works as a barrier to protect your internal organs from outside environmental factors. It does that much for you, is it not then deserving of the softest creamiest nourished life? Enter the amazing skin superfood that is shea butter.
I’m an advocate for natural skin care products that are derived from mother nature and have not had any added toxic or synthetic substances and fragrances. Its no wonder why I’m such a fan of shea butter and can without any doubt say that shea butter is “the girl she thinks she is”. I remember the first time I felt her rich creamy texture on my fingers and on my skin, I had a literal “wow” moment. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever felt before. So if there is one skin care product I would recommend everyone to try, this right here is it; raw unrefined organic shea butter.
What is it? And Where does it come from?
Shea butter is the fat extracted from shea tree nuts, which tree is indigenous to the African continent. Africans have been using this rich moisturizing butter for centuries to heal, nourish and soften their skin.
Nowadays you can find it as one of the added ingredients to most skin care products, maybe even in one of your favourites .
Besides the rich creamy texture and the soft feel on your skin, here are some amazing things shea butter can do for you and the reasons why you need to add it to your skin care routine soonest.
15 Amazing benefits of organic unrefined shea butter
- It has intense moisture
This rich creamy butter has amazing moisturizing effects on your skin. Because of all the fatty acids it contains (linoleic, palmitic, oleic, stearic) when applied it acts as a barrier and locks in moisture, preventing your skin from drying out. - Safe and suitable for all skin types and colours
It’s suitable for all skin types as it’s natural and free from additives, harmful man-made chemicals, synthetic fragrances, parabens, preservatives, silicone, toxins… which can all irritate your skin. And no study has proved otherwise… - It may help with acne and blemishes
Shea butter is rich in fatty acids which may help clear your skin of excess sebum (the oily substance that lubricates your skin and hair), resulting in fewer breakouts - Acts as an emollient
The high concentration of fatty acids in shea butter help to soften skin and make it smoother, preventing it from drying out, itching or flaking. This in turn makes your skin look and feel better. This is one of the reasons why it’s suitable for the treatment of dry skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. - It will not make your skin oily
Even though it’s very rich, shea butter absorbs immediately into your skin and will not make it oily nor leave any greasy layer. - Good source of collagen production
Shea butter helps boost the production of collagen, which promotes tissue regeneration of your skin. This in turn aids in plumping up your skin to restore its natural elasticity, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, . - Anti-aging benefits
It is rich in antioxidants, which protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals, thereby eliminating wrinkles and keeping your skin younger looking. It also contains lupeol, which inhibits enzymes which degrade your skin’s supportive proteins - Shea butter helps promote cell regeneration
Because of its abundance in vitamins A, E and F it encourages faster generation of healthy skin cells, keeping skin youthful. - It helps promote wound healing
Shea butter assists in quickening wound healing through Its ability to penetrate deeply into the skin, and form a barrier around the wound. This prevents germs from entering. Antioxidants contained in the butter also protect skin cells from free radicals helping wounds heal faster. - It helps soothe conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, intense moisture and emollient factors, shea butter is an excellent product which offers relief in the treatment of dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis (it locks in moisture, keeping your skin moisturized). - It helps reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scarring
It contains vitamin A which contributes to the reduction of visibility of stretch marks and scar tissue, and vitamin K which is essential in assisting with blood clotting. Together these vitamins assist in the reduction of scar tissue - It helps soothe insect bites
Shea butter is a natural anti-inflammatory and has skin soothing qualities. It’s been used traditionally to soothe and prevent insect bites and it also acts as a mosquito repellent! Before getting bit, for prevention apply shea butter. Still if you do get bit-apply shea butter. - It helps soothe sunburn and other skin burns
Vitamins it contains work to quickly heal any burns, by moisturising your skin to stop any stinging and ease or prevent peeling - It offers sun protection
Shea butter has an SPF of about 3-4, and will add to protecting your skin from sun damage. This happens to be one of the contributing factors to ageing skin. - It helps in treating dandruff and strengthening hair
Use shea butter to rehydrate dry damaged hair and treat dry flaking scalp, leaving your hair shinier and stronger and scalp well nourished
Uses
- For soft nourished skin, shea butter can be applied directly to the skin (head to toe), in its raw unrefined form to reap its maximum healing and nourishing benefits. Rub it in your hands and it will melt and soften and will be easily spreadable on your skin.
- Add it to your bath water for a luxurious rich nourishing and healing bath
- Some may find shea butter too thick and a bit hard to spread, in which case you may mix it with an oil and whip it for a smoother moisturizer.
- As a heel balm- apply onto heels and wear socks overnight
- Use as a natural substitute to your shaving cream, or use post shave to soothe irritation
- Haircare- to condition the scalp, alleviate dandruff and seal in moisture
To ensure you get the most out of your moisturizer and lock in maximum amount of moisture, apply moisturizer immediately after getting out of the bath/ shower while your skin is still damp. On the contrary, waiting too long before moisturizing results in your skin not being able to absorb enough moisture as its already dried up.
Make sure to source and use only organic unrefined shea butter, which has a yellow ivory colour, nutty earthy smell, is hard but melts into a smooth creamy consistency when rubbed in your hands. In its natural form, it contains all the nutrients and nothing synthetic would be added, nothing extracted from it. That way you’re rest assured you’re getting the maximum natural benefits without any toxins or chemicals. Shea butter that is white in colour has been refined and has a large amount of nutrients removed and has therefore lost its healing abilities- don’t do it.
If you haven’t yet tried it, maybe you should- now that you’re aware of the wonders it can do for your skin. Please leave a comment if you’ve already used shea butter, or maybe you even have a magic formula that can help someone in need of your ways…
Again, ensure that you get the unrefined organic type with all the yummy goodness in it, and please let me know how it goes…
Remember; good manners and good wine are timeless. Cheers to a life well-lived,
Makgoadi Ngoasheng
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