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I LOVE shea butter.  It’s in my top 5 DIY ingredient must-haves but I actually don’t always end up putting it in a recipe.  I like to use it all on it’s own!  Shea butter has so many amazing properties.  Basically, you get a lot of bang for your buck with shea butter.   It has tons of uses and offers so many benefits for not only the skin but also the hair! Let’s dive into the skin benefits of shea butter!

Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree in western parts of Africa.  It has been used for centuries to nourish skin and hair and is edible and high in saturated fatty acids, like coconut oil.  In fact, it is said that even Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba used shea butter for beauty purposes!  Unlike cocoa butter or kokum butter, shea butter is soft and can be directly applied to the skin as a moisturizer.  It has a very distinct smell that I find heavenly.  I also find that the smell works well when combined with lavender and citrus essential oils.

Skin Benefits of Shea Butter:

• High in vitamin A which encourages collagen
• Heals and repairs skin
• Moisturizes deeply-results are INSTANT!
• Repairs and hydrates the scalp and hair
• Smooths skin
• Reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars
• Prevents and relieves diaper rash due to it’s anti fungal and antibacterial properties
• Has an SPF of 6-10
• Relieves psoriasis and eczema
• Soothes skin rashes and hives
• Protects the skin from harsh climates as well as pollution
• Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
• Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and redness)
• Vitamins E, F and fatty acids
• Fights fine lines, wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone
• Contains phenols, the same antioxidants found in green tea
• Helps stop the itching of stretching skin
• Long shelf life

The uses for shea butter are simple yet vast.  I personally have been using a small amount of shea butter on the ends of my hair.  The shea butter is helping to repair my hair from dryness and damage as well as tame and smooth hair strands.  I find using a small amount of shea butter on my hands and feet greatly help with dry, cracked skin.  I have also been known to dab a small amount under my eyes for hydration, collagen stimulation and skin smoothing.  Plus, it gives a lovely glow!

Where to Buy Shea Butter:

I have tried many, many different shea butters.  I have landed on what I think is the best at Mountain Rose Herbs.  They have the best smelling shea butter around.  The quality is amazing and they are affordable.  Mountain Rose Herb’s unrefined shea butter is organic, 100% pure and raw.

Mountain Rose Herbs also carries 100% pure mango butter, unrefined cocoa butter, beeswax, plus several carrier oils.  Mountain Rose Herb’s products are all-natural, organic, raw ingredients that have no harsh chemicals.  You can shop on their lovely website HERE.

As for using it in DIY skin care, shea butter is excellent in lip balms.  Adding just a bit to a lip balm recipe can make a balm thicker and much more moisturizing!  I absolutely love it in THIS lotion as well.  I use it in my solid eye stick and my dry skin stick which are some of the most nourishing recipes I have.

If you haven’t tried shea butter, try it asap!  With winter well on it’s way, I know my skin can’t go without it!

xx, Jenni

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