Shea butter
Shea butter is a rich, nutrient-dense fat extracted from the nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa tree, native to Africa. Highly valued for its intense moisturizing, soothing, and healing properties, shea butter is a staple ingredient in skincare products designed to nourish dry, sensitive, and damaged skin. Packed with essential fatty acids, vitamins A, E, and F, and natural antioxidants, it helps to restore the skin barrier, combat dryness, and promote overall skin health.
One of shea butter’s key benefits is its deeply hydrating and emollient nature, making it highly effective in preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). It forms a protective barrier on the skin while still allowing it to breathe, providing long-lasting moisture without clogging pores. This makes shea butter suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin, when used in the right formulations.
Beyond hydration, shea butter is known for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, which help to calm irritation, redness, and conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Its ability to boost collagen production and support skin elasticity also makes it a beneficial ingredient for anti-aging treatments, scar healing, and stretch mark prevention.
Unlike some heavy emollients, shea butter is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores) and absorbs well into the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. It is often found in body butters, face creams, lip balms, and even hair care products, where it works to repair and protect against environmental stressors.
Unrefined shea butter, which retains the highest concentration of nutrients, is often preferred in natural and organic skincare. However, refined versions are used in commercial formulations for a lighter texture and reduced scent. Whether used alone or blended with other active ingredients like coconut oil, jojoba oil, or hyaluronic acid, shea butter remains one of the most effective natural moisturizers for maintaining healthy, glowing, and resilient skin.
Shea butter (/ʃiː/ SHEE, /ˈʃiːə/ SHEE-ə, or /ʃeɪ/ SHAY; Bambara: ߛߌ߮ߕߎߟߎ, romanized: sìtulu) is a fat (triglyceride; mainly oleic acid and stearic acid) extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). It is ivory in color when raw and commonly dyed yellow with borututu root or palm oil. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer or lotion. It is edible and is used in food preparation in some African countries. It is occasionally mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different.
The English word "shea" comes from sǐ, the tree's name in Bambara. It is known by many local names, such as kpakahili in the Dagbani language, taama in the Wali language, nkuto in Twi, kaɗe or kaɗanya in Hausa, òkwùmá in the Igbo language, òrí in the Yoruba language, and karité in the Wolof language of Senegal. It is also known as Moo-yaa in the Acholi language.
