Did you know? incorporating shea butter into your regular skin care routine can work wonders, which is why most skin care lines include this ingredient in their products, but only a tiny fraction of it which is not enough to reach its full potential when using it in its pure form.
By using organic shea butter in its pure form, you can really maximize its well-known and beneficial effects for your skin.
- Moisturizes Dry Skin
The main components of shea butter include its moisturizing and healing properties of vitamins A, E, F and fatty acids. This is what helps heal and treat the skin from conditions like eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, also making it a great all over moisturizer. Its fat content is responsible for its emollient and humectant properties, which works by locking in moisture in the skin, thus keeping it nourished and hydrated. Shea butter is readily absorbed and does not clog pores.
- Reduces Skin Inflammation
Shea butter has several derivatives of cinnamic acid that exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. These properties make it beneficial for the improvement of skin conditions that result from an increase in inflammatory compounds. Generalized inflammations from conditions like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and rosacea can be alleviated by regular use of shea butter. Sunburns, rashes, cuts, and scrapes that can result in swelling can also be treated using shea butter.
- Anti-Aging And Anti-Free Radical Agent
Shea butter is considered as one of the best anti-aging agents for the skin. It stimulates the production of collagen, the youthful scaffolding protein in the skin. The vitamins A and E found in this butter keep the skin supple, nourished, and radiant. If used regularly, it reduces wrinkles and also prevents premature wrinkles and lines. Its anti-aging properties can also be attributed to its ability to increase circulation to the skin and promote cell renewal.
These vitamins, along with catechins, also exert an antioxidant effect against free radicals that damage the skin. These free radicals are often found in our environment in pollutants and irritants. The sun’s rays can also increase the free radicals in our skin, which can easily damage the skin cells. The cinnamic acid esters in the shea fat prevent damage from these compounds by giving your skin an antioxidant boost.
- Provides Relief to Itchy and Peeling Skin
For itching skin, both the moisturizing and the anti-inflammatory properties of shea butter prove to be beneficial. Dryness can cause your skin to start peeling and/or become flaky, causing the skin to itch. The moisturizing fatty acids of shea butter provide relief by supplying the skin with the oils it needs. If the itching is due to a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, the anti-inflammatory activity of shea butter works really well to alleviate it.
- Restores Skin Elasticity
The non-saponifiable matter and vitamin F in this butter are vital ingredients for maintaining skin elasticity. Shea butter also improves the production of collagen in the skin. Thus, its application restores the natural elasticity of the skin. Restored elasticity also ensures reduced wrinkles and blemishes.
- Reduces Stretch Marks
Shea butter is often used as a base in ointments or creams prepared commercially for stretch mark treatment. This is because it can dramatically help prevent and reduce stretch marks formed during pregnancy due to weight gain and/or weight loss. These marks are formed when the skin stretches beyond its elastic capacity. The application of shea butter will restore the natural elasticity of the skin and also improve collagen production. Daily application of shea butter to the affected area can also help lighten existing stretch marks.
- Helps Soothe Skin and Baby Diaper Rash
Unrefined shea butter is an excellent natural moisturizer that is devoid of chemicals. Thus it is ideal for baby care as besides being gentle and soft on the skin, it is specially adapted for the delicate and sensitive skin of new born babies and toddlers.
- Excellent Lip Care
Shea butter is easily absorbable and provides extra moisture and nutrients that the lips need during the cold season and dry weather conditions. Thus, it acts as a perfect lip balm and is also effective for treating dry and chapped lips. When applied, it forms a barrier on the lips and retains moisture in the skin.
- Wound Healing
Shea butter has skin moisturizing properties which are accompanied by healing properties, because of the wide variety of phytonutrients shea butter contains. With regular application of shea butter, wounds, cuts, and abrasions are healed quickly. This is because shea butter gets easily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin, where it supplies all the essential fats and nutrients while enhancing the cell repair function by increasing microcirculation.
The numerous beneficial effects of shea butter for your skin are undeniable, so why wouldn’t you want to have a jar of this wonder product in your beauty cabinet.