This is a unique, amazing substance that can give youth and beauty to everyone in whose hands it ends up. The butter is extracted from the fruits of the shea tree or its other name is shea butter.
Unlike most existing vegetable oils, shea butter has a solid texture and looks like animal fat, only with pleasant nutty notes in the aroma.
Before using externally, shea butter is always melted to a liquid state. In color it resembles cocoa butter - creamy, sometimes white or ivory.
What is shea butter made from?
Shea butter is obtained from the fruit of the Vitellaria amazinga tree, which grows in Central Africa. Other names for this tree are Shea or Shea. Oil production is a complex multi-stage process of processing the seeds of this tree.
When producing oil manually, the seeds are finely crushed, water is added to them and the resulting suspension is foamed. The collected foam is boiled and cooled. The resulting white substance is the final product.
The industrial production of this substance includes filtration and bleaching processes, from which the final product acquires a whiter color and loses its characteristic odor.
Shea butter composition
The basis of the oil is made up of polymer fat molecules, most of which are triglycerides. The fatty acids included in the product have the following composition:
- oleic – from 40%,
- stearic – from 35%,
- palmitic – from 3%
- linoleic – from 4%,
- linolenic – no more than 1%.
In addition, the oil contains unsaponifiable substances:
- phenols,
- tocopherols,
- steroids,
- triterpenes,
- terpene alcohols,
- various hydrocarbons.
The total proportion of unsaponifiable substances is less than 10% of the total mass.
Shea butter contains vitamins A, E and F.
What are the benefits of shea butter?
Shea butter is mainly used in cosmetology. At the same time, it has healing and culinary properties.
The beneficial properties of the oil are used in cosmetology to soften and moisturize the skin. It is used as an anti-aging agent - the use of oil allows you to smooth out wrinkles and carry out general rejuvenation of the skin.
The regenerating properties of this product are also known. It perfectly fights acne and eliminates the cause of flaking skin.
The beneficial substances contained in shea butter stimulate the synthesis of collagen and elastin in skin cells. This makes the skin firmer, more elastic and cleaner.
The beneficial properties of the oil are also used for hair regeneration. The bulbs moistened with shea butter become more viable and grow hair faster.
The healing properties of shea butter have proven themselves in healing scars, cracks and cuts on the skin. They also help in the fight against stretch marks. Regular application of oil to the skin stimulates blood flow in the capillaries and also protects it from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and low temperatures.
In cooking, this product is used as a fat substitute. It is used for baking and making desserts.
Application
Most of the oil produced by African households is consumed as food, with the excess sold in local markets. In Europe, oil obtained from mechanical processing is used for cooking, as a raw material for the production of margarine, as a substitute for cocoa butter and for the production of cosmetics[2].
Africans widely use shea butter for cosmetic purposes. It has a soft, pleasant aroma and combines well with essential oils, which allows you to give the desired aroma to the oil. Online sellers advertise shea butter as a moisturizer and emollient that can be used to rejuvenate skin and treat dry, damaged hair. Although there are few studies on the anti-inflammatory effect of the components of this oil [3] [4], evidence of its other claimed properties is currently lacking; There have been no in-depth studies of it from a medical point of view.
The African population uses shea butter in ointments to treat skin diseases. It is believed to help heal minor wounds and cracks in the skin. The oil is also used to care for eardrums and the skin around the eyes[2].
For economic purposes, shea butter is used as a sealant for adobe walls. Grease is most commonly applied to exterior walls, windows and doors for waterproofing during the rainy season[2].
Healing properties of shea butter
The beneficial properties of the oil are used in the treatment of diseases of the skeletal system, skin and viral infections of various natures. Shea butter has a pronounced antiseptic and protective effect.
For sore joints
The manifestation of the beneficial properties of the oil is especially clearly expressed in their effect on sore joints. Due to its structure, oil molecules are able to penetrate deeply into the area of inflammation and effectively fight it, removing swelling and pain.
It is believed that this is one of the most effective remedies against the manifestations of diseases such as rheumatism and arthritis.
When sprained
Shea butter has a warming effect, so it is often used for sprained tendons and muscles. It is also used for muscle fatigue and to relieve local muscle tone.
For dermatitis
Thanks to the vitamin A contained in the product, shea butter exhibits its beneficial properties for various skin diseases - eczema and dermatitis. To reduce the development of inflammation, it is necessary to apply shea butter to the affected area already when the first symptoms of dermatitis appear.
The use of oil moisturizes the skin, partially eliminates the cause of inflammation and prevents the inflamed area from increasing in size.
Diaper rash
Diaper rash in newborns is a serious problem that can cause considerable discomfort to both the baby and his mother. The beneficial properties of shea butter make it easy to cope with this problem.
To do this, you need to clean your baby's skin by washing it with water and mild soap, and then dry it thoroughly. Then you should rub shea butter into the affected area until it is completely absorbed. Then you need to wait a few minutes and change the baby into a new diaper.
Excerpt describing Shea Butter
Berg blushed and smiled. “And I love her because she has a reasonable character - very good.” Here’s her other sister - the same last name, but a completely different one, and an unpleasant character, and no intelligence, and such, you know?... Unpleasant... And my fiancee... You’ll come to us... - Berg continued, he wanted to say dinner, but changed his mind and said: “Drink tea,” and, quickly piercing it with his tongue, released a round, small ring of tobacco smoke, which completely personified his dreams of happiness. Following the first feeling of bewilderment aroused in the parents by Berg’s proposal, the usual festivity and joy settled in the family, but the joy was not sincere, but external. Confusion and bashfulness were noticeable in the relatives' feelings regarding this wedding. It was as if they were now ashamed of the fact that they loved Vera little and were now so willing to sell her off. The old count was most embarrassed. He probably would not have been able to name what was the reason for his embarrassment, and this reason was his financial affairs. He absolutely did not know what he had, how much debt he had and what he would be able to give as a dowry to Vera. When the daughters were born, each was assigned 300 souls as a dowry; but one of these villages had already been sold, the other was mortgaged and was so overdue that it had to be sold, so it was impossible to give up the estate. There was no money either. Berg had already been a groom for more than a month and only a week remained before the wedding, and the count had not yet resolved the issue of the dowry with himself and had not spoken about it with his wife. The count either wanted to separate Vera’s Ryazan estate, or wanted to sell the forest, or to borrow money against a bill of exchange. A few days before the wedding, Berg entered the count's office early in the morning and, with a pleasant smile, respectfully asked his future father-in-law to tell him what would be given to Countess Vera. The Count was so embarrassed by this long-anticipated question that he thoughtlessly said the first thing that came to his mind. - I love that you took care, I love you, you will be satisfied... And he, patting Berg on the shoulder, stood up, wanting to stop the conversation. But Berg, smiling pleasantly, explained that if he did not know correctly what would be given for Vera, and did not receive in advance at least part of what was assigned to her, then he would be forced to refuse. - Because think about it, Count, if I now allowed myself to get married without having certain means to support my wife, I would act basely... The conversation ended with the Count, wanting to be generous and not be subjected to new requests, saying that he was giving away bill of 80 thousand. Berg smiled meekly, kissed the count on the shoulder and said that he was very grateful, but now he could not get settled in his new life without receiving 30 thousand in clear money. “At least 20 thousand, Count,” he added; - and the bill then was only 60 thousand. “Yes, yes, okay,” the count began quickly, “just excuse me, my friend, I’ll give you 20 thousand, and in addition a bill for 80 thousand.” So, kiss me. Natasha was 16 years old, and the year was 1809, the same year that four years ago she had counted on her fingers with Boris after she kissed him. Since then she has never seen Boris. In front of Sonya and with her mother, when the conversation turned to Boris, she spoke completely freely, as if it were a settled matter, that everything that happened before was childish, which was not worth talking about, and which had long been forgotten. But in the deepest depths of her soul, the question of whether the commitment to Boris was a joke or an important, binding promise tormented her. Ever since Boris left Moscow for the army in 1805, he had not seen the Rostovs. He visited Moscow several times, passed near Otradny, but never visited the Rostovs. It sometimes occurred to Natasha that he did not want to see her, and these guesses were confirmed by the sad tone in which the elders used to talk about him: “In this century they don’t remember old friends,” the countess said after mentioning Boris. Anna Mikhailovna, who had been visiting the Rostovs less often lately, also behaved with particular dignity, and every time she spoke enthusiastically and gratefully about the merits of her son and about the brilliant career he was on. When the Rostovs arrived in St. Petersburg, Boris came to visit them. He went to them not without excitement. The memory of Natasha was Boris's most poetic memory. But at the same time, he traveled with the firm intention of making it clear to both her and her family that the childhood relationship between him and Natasha could not be an obligation for either her or him. He had a brilliant position in society, thanks to his intimacy with Countess Bezukhova, a brilliant position in the service, thanks to the patronage of an important person, whose trust he fully enjoyed, and he had nascent plans to marry one of the richest brides in St. Petersburg, which could very easily come true . When Boris entered the Rostovs' living room, Natasha was in her room. Having learned about his arrival, she, flushed, almost ran into the living room, beaming with a more than affectionate smile. Boris remembered that Natasha in a short dress, with black eyes shining from under her curls and with a desperate, childish laugh, whom he knew 4 years ago, and therefore, when a completely different Natasha entered, he was embarrassed, and his face expressed enthusiastic surprise. This expression on his face delighted Natasha. - So, do you recognize your little friend as a naughty girl? - said the countess. Boris kissed Natasha's hand and said that he was surprised by the change that had taken place in her. - How prettier you have become! “Of course!” answered Natasha’s laughing eyes. - Has dad gotten older? – she asked. Natasha sat down and, without entering into Boris’s conversation with the countess, silently examined her childhood fiancé down to the smallest detail. He felt the weight of this persistent, affectionate gaze on himself and occasionally glanced at her. The uniform, the spurs, the tie, Boris’s hairstyle, all this was the most fashionable and comme il faut [quite decent]. Natasha noticed this now. He sat slightly sideways on the armchair next to the countess, straightening the clean, stained glove on his left with his right hand, spoke with a special, refined pursing of his lips about the amusements of the highest St. Petersburg society and with gentle mockery recalled the old Moscow times and Moscow acquaintances. It was not by chance, as Natasha felt, that he mentioned, naming the highest aristocracy, about the envoy's ball, which he had attended, about the invitations to NN and SS. Natasha sat silently the whole time, looking at him from under her brows. This look bothered and embarrassed Boris more and more. He looked back at Natasha more often and paused in his stories. He sat for no more than 10 minutes and stood up, bowing. The same curious, defiant and somewhat mocking eyes looked at him. After his first visit, Boris told himself that Natasha was just as attractive to him as before, but that he should not give in to this feeling, because marrying her, a girl with almost no fortune, would be the ruin of his career, and resuming a previous relationship without the goal of marriage would be an ignoble act. Boris decided with himself to avoid meeting with Natasha, but, despite this decision, he arrived a few days later and began to travel often and spend whole days with the Rostovs. It seemed to him that he needed to explain himself to Natasha, to tell her that everything old should be forgotten, that, despite everything... she could not be his wife, that he had no fortune, and she would never be given for him. But he still didn’t succeed and it was awkward to begin this explanation. Every day he became more and more confused. Natasha, as her mother and Sonya noted, seemed to be in love with Boris as before. She sang him his favorite songs, showed him her album, forced him to write in it, did not allow him to remember the old, making him understand how wonderful the new was; and every day he left in a fog, without saying what he intended to say, not knowing what he was doing and why he had come, and how it would end. Boris stopped visiting Helen, received reproachful notes from her every day, and still spent whole days with the Rostovs. One evening, when the old countess, sighing and groaning, in a nightcap and blouse, without false curls, and with one poor tuft of hair protruding from under a white calico cap, was making prostrations for evening prayer on the rug, her door creaked, and Natasha ran in, shoes on her bare feet, also in a blouse and curlers. The Countess looked around and frowned. She finished reading her last prayer: “Will this coffin be my bed?” Her prayerful mood was destroyed. Natasha, red and animated, seeing her mother at prayer, suddenly stopped in her run, sat down and involuntarily stuck out her tongue, threatening herself. Noticing that her mother continued her prayer, she ran on tiptoe to the bed, quickly sliding one small foot over the other, kicked off her shoes and jumped onto the bed for which the countess was afraid that it might not be her coffin. This bed was tall, made of feather beds, with five ever-decreasing pillows. Natasha jumped up, sank into the feather bed, rolled over to the wall and began fiddling around under the blanket, laying down, bending her knees to her chin, kicking her legs and laughing barely audibly, now covering her head, now looking at her mother. The Countess finished her prayer and approached the bed with a stern face; but, seeing that Natasha had her head covered, she smiled her kind, weak smile.
The use of shea butter in cosmetology
Despite the abundance of beneficial medical properties, the main use of the oil is cosmetic. Shea butter can be used on any part of the body - from the top of the head to the toes. Its effect on the skin is extremely positive.
But its main purpose in cosmetology is to carry out cosmetic procedures on “critical” areas - on the face and scalp. Shea butter is suitable for any skin type and in most cases can be used without fear of any allergic reactions.
For facial skin
Shea butter against wrinkles is prepared according to the following recipe:
Mix 10 ml of shea butter, olive oil and almond extract and apply to facial skin for 15 minutes. After which the mask must be washed off, but not with water, but with some herbal decoction (for example, from chamomile flowers).
Wrinkles are smoothed out and the skin becomes fresh. When preparing the mask, it is recommended to slightly warm the ingredients to enhance their beneficial properties.
Applying shea butter to the skin around the eyes. Mix 2 tsp. finely ground oatmeal with 1 tsp. shea butter and 1 tbsp. l. cucumber juice. Then add a few drops of sandalwood essential oil.
The composition is applied to the skin around the eyes in a thin layer for 5-7 minutes. The product is washed off with warm water. Then you need to apply eye cream to this area. The frequency of use of the composition is up to 3 times a week for a month. This use of shea butter helps eliminate swelling of the eyelids.
For body
Shea butter for stretch marks can be used either in its original form or in combination with any essential oil. The most commonly used is peach or almond.
The remedy for stretch marks is prepared as follows: in 1 tbsp. l. Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to slightly heated shea butter. The product is applied to pre-steamed skin to enhance its beneficial effect. It is best to do this procedure after taking a warm bath.
After application, the problem area is wrapped with film or simply wrapped with some kind of cloth.
For hands
Shea butter recipe for dry skin. Grind the peel of one lemon in a blender or coffee grinder, then beat the resulting mass with the yolk using a whisk. The resulting composition is covered with a lid and allowed to brew for 15 minutes.
To enhance the beneficial properties, the composition is heated and 1 tbsp is added to it. l. shea butter and avocado pulp, stirring the mixture until smooth.
The mixture is applied to the skin and left for 5 minutes, after which a second layer is applied. The skin is washed after 15 minutes, and then a moisturizing gel is applied to it. A similar composition can be used for facial skin.
After using the product, the skin stops peeling and its color evens out. This also relieves redness and irritation.
For hair
Ingredients of the restorative hair mask: 2 tbsp. l. shea butter is heated in a water bath and 3 drops of lavender essential oil and 3 drops of jojoba essential oil are added.
The mask is applied to the hair half an hour before washing your hair. In this case, the hair needs to be slightly moistened. Shea butter is applied to the entire volume of hair, after which it is combed with a comb with large teeth. After distributing the mask, the head should be wrapped in cling film and wrapped in a towel. After half an hour, wash off the mask with shampoo.
A full recovery course consists of 10 procedures performed every two days. After which it is advisable to carry out preventive restorations: once a week in winter, and once every two weeks in summer.
For lips, eyelids and eyelashes
For problem areas of facial skin, the following ingredients are used:
- 2 tsp. shea butter,
- 1 tsp. aloe juice
It should be applied twice a day to the skin of the eyelids and around the lips. In this case, it is advisable to treat the skin with an ice cube before the procedure. You can make ice yourself from some herbal decoction (roses, calendula, chamomile, etc.)
Treatment of problem areas removes peeling and prevents the appearance of cracks and fine wrinkles.
For tanning in solariums and in the sun
The use of shea butter allows you to get an even and safe tan over the entire surface of the skin. In this case, the source of ultraviolet radiation can be any: the natural Sun or an artificial lamp in a solarium.
Tanning mixture:
- shea butter – 50 ml,
- coconut oil – 50 ml,
- jojoba oil – 25 ml,
- raspberry seed oil – 5 ml,
- carrot seed oil – 30 drops.
All ingredients must be mixed and applied to the skin half an hour before going out into the Sun or starting a procedure in a solarium.
In soap making
Shea butter also finds its use in making soap. It makes the soap hard and fragrant. Soap made using a shea butter base foams relatively little, but has excellent cleansing properties. At the same time, such soap can moisturize the skin and make it silky.
Attention! It is better not to make soap from scratch at home on your own. It necessarily contains sodium hydroxide, which causes severe burns if handled carelessly.
It is best to buy a ready-made soap base, which contains from 15 to 30% shea butter and limit the preparation of soap to only adding flavorings and auxiliary substances.
In aromatherapy
Shea butter is used in aromatherapy. Its aroma improves sleep and has a relaxing effect on the body. In addition, its aroma helps with a runny nose.
The recipe for the aroma lamp mixture is quite simple: for every 10 ml of shea butter, add 5 drops of essential oil. Before “charging” the aroma lamp, the shea butter should first be melted.
Masks, creams and balms based on shea shea
Mask for dry skin - recipe:
- 1 egg yolk;
- 1 large spoon shea butter;
- 1 small false rosehip oil;
- Crushed and dried lemon peel.
A machine-prepared product has a white color; when prepared manually, a yellow tint is noticeable.
Melt the shea butter in a water bath and mix with the yolk and ground lemon peel, then add the rose hips. Apply for about half an hour. The mask perfectly moisturizes and nourishes the face.
Lip balm with shea butter
We will need half a teaspoon each: shea, cocoa, and wax. Melt all this and add 1 drop each of cinnamon, chamomile and mint essential oil. Add honey, also half a teaspoon. This balm will have a refreshing effect and perfectly protect your lips from external influences and nourish them. This balm should be stored in the refrigerator.
Skin moisturizing cream
We will need shea butter - 100 g, beeswax - 60 g, avocado - 20 g, cinnamon tincture - 80 g, sandalwood oil - 8 drops, orange juice - 20 g.
First, melt the wax and drying oil, then add the rest of the ingredients. It is better to store in a glass jar.
How to choose and store shea butter
Shea butter is almost impossible to fake. However, adding some components can change its properties not for the better. These components include some solvents, in particular hexane. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with the composition of the purchased product to make sure there are no solvents.
Shea butter is stored in a closed container without access to light in a cool place. Recommended storage temperatures should not exceed +25°C. The shelf life is 2-3 years.
