The Benefits Of Shea Body Butter

Shea body butter is an all natural skin care ingredient used to hydrate the skin without clogging pores. It is a derivative of African Shea, which comes from the Karite Nut Tree found only in Africa. The tree grows fruits, each of which contains a nut. Shea is extracted from the nut and its result is a yellowish cream which moisturizes and heals the skin. The fatty acids found in the Shea extract make it an exceptional ingredient for skincare products.

Shea body butter is found in moisturizers, soaps and lotions because it is rich in vitamins A, F & E. Vitamins A & E keep the skin hydrated and healthy while vitamin F works as a rejuvenator, restoring damaged skin. Shea butter contains a cinnamic acid which protects the skin from harmful UV rays in order to prevent damage such as wrinkles or burns. Shea body butter has also been recognized for decreasing the visibility of stretch marks and is found in many anti-aging creams due to its ability to deeply hydrate the skin while still allowing the pores to breathe.

Below are additional benefits which Shea body butter may have for the skin:

• Dry skin relief
• Dry scalp
• Skin rash- including diaper rash
• Skin peeling, after tanning
• Itching skin due to dryness
• Sunburn
• Small skin wounds
• Skin cracks
• Soften tough skin on feet (especially heels)
• Frost bite
• Insect bites
• Muscle fatigue, aches and tension

• Minor burns
• Eczema
• Sun and wind protection
• Even skin tone
• Reduce scarring
• Eliminating scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing
• Preventing bumps after shaving
• Reducing acne (especially in combination with African Black Soap)
• Helps restore elasticity to skin
• Skin allergies such as poison ivy or poison oak

Class A is ideally the most beneficial class of Shea butter for the benefits listed above, while Class F is the poorest quality of Shea butter and may not cure all of the same issues as Class A. The best kind of Shea body butter for your skin is the kind prepared by cold press methods without the use of any added chemicals or preservatives.

Any Shea body butter substitutes are not likely to give you the same results as all natural Shea body butter. Noticeable results of natural Shea body butter sometimes take time. A consistent routine and patience are the key to seeing great results from Shea body butter. Skin care problems such as itching are relieved immediately but wrinkles and stretch marks are usually reduced over four to six weeks.

There are many other skin care products which claim to have the same benefits as Shea body butter but contain harmful chemicals which can cause even further damage to your skin. Shea body butter is an all natural skin care ingredient; therefore it rarely causes an allergic reaction. Many other moisturizers and soaps contain perfumes to create a particular scent and this causes some people to suffer an allergic reaction. Even leading moisturizers contain natural ingredients such as sunflower oil but often they also include different alcohols, which only further dehydrate the skin.

The majority of Shea use is from chocolate manufacturers. The amount of Shea used for cosmetic products is a small fraction of the annual Shea harvest but vital to skin care products; offering unique properties difficult to find in most body lotions. To receive the full benefits of Shea body butter look carefully at the ingredients to ensure you are receiving a natural ingredient that offers the greatest results.