Raw shea butter is a popular skincare ingredient. You see this everywhere in moisturizers, lotions, lip balms, and many other products. But can you apply the butter directly to your face? If so, how to apply raw shea butter to the face?
As you know, the skin on the face is more sensitive than the skin on the rest of the body. It's thinner and more prone to clogging, hence the appearance of acne. Since raw shea butter is thick and creamy, people worry that using it directly on the face can clog up the pores.
What Is Raw Shea Butter Anyway?
If you don't know yet, shea butter is a kind of fat that's taken from shea nuts. It has a creamy consistency and off-white or pale-yellow color that's similar to the butter that we use for cooking. It's a very popular cosmetic and skincare ingredient due to its high antioxidant and vitamin content.
You can get shea butter in its raw or unrefined form. The raw form is its purest state since there are no additives or preservatives mixed in it. If you like to maximize the effects of shea butter, get it in raw or organic form.
Benefits of Using Raw Shea Butter on Your Face
You can apply raw shea butter directly to your face. These are the benefits that you can get:
It Helps Reduce Inflammation
Do you have sensitive skin that's prone to inflammation? Even little things such as eating spicy foods can cause swelling. Raw shea butter has a calming effect on the skin because of its anti-inflammatory benefits.
When you apply a thin layer of this on your skin, the redness and unevenness of your skin tone will fade faster. It can also help minimize the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
This Helps Keep Your Skin Hydrated Longer
There are a lot of moisturizing products out there. The problem is, many of them only work for a few hours. After that, your skin starts to become dry and flaky once again. People with extreme skin dryness might have a hard time finding moisturizers that will work for a long time.
Shea butter is the perfect solution if you want long-term hydrating effects. That's because it has excellent emollient properties that seal moisture in your skin.
Shea Butter Slows Down Skin Aging
The first step towards slowing down skin aging is keeping the skin hydrated. When the skin is dry, it becomes more prone to damages. Just rubbing your skin could tear the dry and delicate skin tissues inside.
Shea butter acts as a protective layer against these damages. Moreover, shea butter can help stimulate the production of collagen. Collagen is the skin component that's responsible for maintaining the youthful structure of the skin.
As we get older, our body's ability to produce collagen declines. Using shea butter may help your skin produce more collagen so you can maintain young and healthy skin.
How to Properly Use Raw Shea Butter on Your Face
There are many ways to use raw shea butter on your face. Here are the things that you can do:
Buy Raw Shea Butter Product Intended for the Face
You can find skincare products for the face that already includes shea butter. This is the safest option since it contains the right concentration and amount of shea butter. You don't have to worry that you're putting too much.
The downside is that you don't know what kind of shea butter has been used. Some shea butters are not organic. For you to experience the most benefits of shea butter, you should get it in raw or organic form, devoid of harmful chemicals, additives, and pesticides.
Apply It Directly On Your Face
Yes, you can apply it directly to your face. Get unrefined shea butter. Scoop out a small portion of it and apply it on your palms. Gently melt the butter using the heat from your palms before applying it to your face.
A little bit goes a long way. Don't put too much of the shea butter or it can feel too heavy on the face. On the other hand, there are raw shea butters that feel light on the skin. Try checking out the reviews to make sure you pick the ones that won't weigh down the skin.
Add It To Your Mask Recipe
Another thing that you can do is to mix a little bit of shea butter into your mask recipe. You can mix a tablespoon of raw shea butter with the same amount of raw honey and a few drops of grapeseed oil.
After cleansing your face, apply the mask. Massage the mixture on your skin using a circular motion to allow it to penetrate deeper. Leave it there for at least 20 minutes before washing it off with warm water. Pat your skin dry.
Are There Side Effects to Using Raw Shea Butter on Your Face?
Because raw shea butter is a natural and gentle ingredient, side effects are uncommon. It's also rare to find people who are allergic to shea butter. Even if shea is a kind of tree nut, its allergenic components seem to be low.
However, you need to be careful of its comedogenic properties or its ability to clog the pores. Some websites will say that it's non-comedogenic but since there are no studies to back it up, it's best to test it first on a small portion of your skin for a few days before completely using it all over your face.
Conclusion
Raw shea butter can be a good addition to your skincare routine. Use it as extra protection against pollutants and free radicals. With raw shea butter, you can slow down your skin's aging.