Shea butter oil is produced from the wild Shea tree, found in West Africa. To produce the oil, Shea butter is cooled down, and stearic acid is removed. The butter contains 5 to 10 percent phytosterols, which aid in cell growth; the oil contains also traces of vitamin E.
What Is Shea Butter Oil For?
This fatty oil is often used in skin care creams, massage oils, lotions, body butters, and sun care products. It has excellent healing properties, such as anti-inflammation, cell re-growth, anti-bacterial, and moisturizing.
The oil is ideal for problem skin care issues, such as sun-damaged, dry, sensitive, stretch marks, and scar tissue. Its ability to moisturize, heal, and regrow cells makes it perfect for people needing a strong but gentle beauty oil.
Stretch marks, particularly during pregnancy, can be prevented with Shea butter. You can also use it to treat stretch marks. The butter is stronger, yet the oil is effective and generally more convenient to use. If you use it to treat scar tissue, be sure to blend it with vitamin E and a lighter oil.
Shea Butter Oil and Skin Care
Shea butter oil is good for all types of skin, but certain skin types should not use it. Be careful if you have acne-prone skin, oily skin, or large pores as this oil can aggravate the condition, as well as clog and enlarge pores. It's a great oil for sensitive or dry skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, and gentle enough for babies.
You can also use it to treat dry or damaged hair. The oil will help soothe dry, sensitive scalps. Its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties will help soothe minor skin infections or small abrasions.
It is fabulous in creating massage oils as it lends a rich body to the lotion. It's known for healing quickly and for making skin soft and supple. It's good for full-body massages, as it helps hands glide across the skin.
It does turn into a solid at room temperature, but don't worry. It melts easily on contact, so you won't have to worry about liquefying it. It has high levels of vitamin A and E, which help moisturize the skin as well as provide protection from the environment.
Shea Nut Oil Benefits Sun Damaged Skin
You can also create a sun care product with this oil. It will keep your skin moisturized and protected from the sun. It has an approximate 4 sun protection factor because of its high level of cinnamic acid esters. This is a similar level to the chemically produced sun protection products. The oil can help enhance color or pigmentation. You can also add it to your after-sun care product, as it helps heal and soothe the skin.
Shea butter oil can also be used in your cooking. It has a decent shelf life of 2 years. Its freezing point is 41 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Since it's rich, healing, and easy to use, Shea butter oil tops our list in must-have beauty oils.
References:
Shea Oil vs Shea Butter: What's the Difference?
Improving the optimized shea butter quality: a great potential of utilization for common consumers and industrials
