Shea butter for the face: useful properties and applications in cosmetology

What is shea butter for face

Shea butter (shea butter) – a dense thick substance of white, cream or yellow color, is extracted from the seeds of the fruits of the karite tree of the same name, which grows in West Africa. The solid form of shea butter softens when heated to 35 degrees. At home, it is also known as women’s gold, and due to its benefits for skin and hair, ethereal is considered the number one for maintaining female beauty, health and youth.

The unrefined production technology makes it possible to obtain a solid or creamy oil that does not require preservation and remains fresh for up to 3 years. On an industrial scale, for the extraction of refined shea butter, cold-pressed technology is most often used – it allows you to maximize its beneficial properties.

Composition of shea butter

The main advantage of shea butter for the face is its unique composition: a complex of monoenoic fatty acids and triglycerides, necessary to maintain skin tone and increase skin turgor, makes up to 80% of the composition of the substance. Let’s take a closer look at its main components:

• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that prevents oxidative stress of cells and protects against premature aging. Vitamin E or tocopherol also heals, softens, strengthens and protects the epidermis.
• Vitamin A (retinoic acid) – the vitamin of youth, stimulates the regeneration of fibroblasts, slows down the aging process and photoaging, has an antimicrobial effect, improves skin cell metabolism.
• Vitamin F (linoleic acid) – relieves dryness, flaking, soothes and softens irritated skin, restores tissue elasticity, improves microcirculation, slows down the aging process of cells.
• Caristerols (lipids) stimulate the synthesis of collagen and elastin, increase skin firmness and elasticity, and are responsible for cell regeneration.
• It contains a small amount of natural latex, which has a sunscreen effect and strengthens the hydrolipidic protective barrier of the skin.

Application of shea butter for facial skin

There are several ways to use shea butter for the skin of the face and body, we will analyze them in more detail and highlight their main benefits.

In cosmetics

Shea butter in cosmetics is found in the basis of formulas for face and body skin care, as well as hair care. This component nourishes and moisturizes, prevents loss of firmness and elasticity of the skin. Shea butter for the skin is included in moisturizing and nourishing creams, body lotions and balms, as well as sunscreens.

As part of shampoos and hair conditioners, etherol helps to restore the hair structure, solves the problem of split ends, nourishes, softens and moisturizes the hair and scalp, fights signs of seborrhea, restores shine and smoothness to strands.

Benefits of shea butter for skin

1. Nourishes the skin due to its rich composition, improves the appearance, restores its softness, strengthens the hydrolipidic mantle.
2. Protects from external influence of negative factors of influence, UV radiation, temperature changes, strong wind.
3. Restores the skin, starting the processes of cellular regeneration, is responsible for the renewal of the epidermis.
4. Intensively moisturizes the skin, creates a protective film on the surface of the epidermis that prevents transepidermal moisture loss, reduces flaking and dryness, and smoothes dehydration creases.
5. Restores, moisturizes, nourishes, softens hair and scalp.

Indications for the use of cosmetics with shea butter 

• Signs of dehydration: dryness, flaking, feeling of tightness, skin discomfort.
• Violation of the lipid barrier and protective functions of the skin.
• Dry skin of the face, hands, whole body.

Features of using shea butter products for different skin types

Shea butter for the face can be used for any type of skin, including sensitive and oily with a predisposition to acne. We will analyze in what cases and for what skin problems shea butter is suitable.

• For dry

  For dry and dehydrated skin, shea butter is a real salvation. As part of a beauty routine, it compensates for the lack of lipids, strengthens the protective epidermal protective barrier, moisturizes, nourishes, and softens the skin. A deep moisturizer for daily use Toleriane Sensitive Riche.

• For sensitive

  The pronounced soothing, healing properties of shea butter allow it to be used to care for sensitive atopic skin. It has a regenerating effect, promotes tissue regeneration, protects against negative external aggressive factors, restores skin comfort and relieves the feeling of tightness. It is part of light fluids that are quickly absorbed and do not leave marks on the skin. Intensive soothing treatment for hypersensitive and allergic skin Toleriane Ultra Fluid contains neurosensin, squalane and shea butter – powerful regenerating and anti-inflammatory active ingredients.

Review of cosmetics with shea butter La Roche-Posay

Lipid repairing emollient shower oil Lipikar AP+ Oil for very dry and atopic skin of children and adults with shea butter, niacinamide and La Roche-Posay thermal water compensates for the lack of lipids, restores, protects, strengthens the skin, restores the microbiome. Instantly gives her a feeling of comfort, does not cause a feeling of tightness, moisturizes deeply and for a long time.

Lipid repair milk for dry to very dry skin Lipikar Lait with shea butter, protective lipid complex, niacinamide intensively nourishes, softens, moisturizes, soothes the skin. The barrier functions of the skin are increased, the hydrolipidic mantle is strengthened, and even very dry skin becomes comfortable. Suitable for baby and adult skin care.

Rich cream Toleriane Sensitive Riche not only moisturizes the skin and prevents moisture loss, but also helps to reduce signs of hypersensitivity: it soothes, eliminates the feeling of tightness, returns a feeling of comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions: answers dermatologist Alexander Prokofiev, La Roche-Posay brand expert

Can shea butter be applied on the face in its pure form?

Like any other etherol – a natural nourishing oil for the skin – pure shea butter has a hypoallergenic composition, which can cause allergic reactions. Owners of oily skin are also not recommended to apply pure shea butter to their faces in order to avoid clogging of pores and the development of inflammation. Choose proven pharmacy products, the formulas of which have undergone strict dermatological studies.

Does shea butter have medicinal properties?

Shea butter is one of the most sought-after substances in cosmetology and pharmacology due to its pronounced ability to restore, heal, soothe, rejuvenate, soften, nourish, moisturize and care for any type of skin, so it is found in the basis of formulas for skin with different needs.

Can shea butter replace cream when applied at night?

Vegetable oil cannot replace face cream because cosmetic formulas contain a whole complex of active ingredients aimed at solving a particular skin problem. The hypoallergenic composition of professional care products has proven effectiveness, does not cause irritation, does not create a film on the surface of the epidermis that prevents the supply of oxygen to cells, like most natural oils.