Grandma Sunshine used shea butter in her practice as a midwife in Ghana, inspiring Akuete's mom, Eugenia, to sell shea butter in bulk. But after Akuete's mom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2013, Akuete moved to Ghana to become her caretaker and soon after started to oversee the business. In 2014, she expanded the brand under the name Eu'Genia and launched a line of shea products. "We're literally sitting on nature's wonder balm, but it hadn't really been positioned that way before," Akuete says. Shea butter's fatty acids also help to condition the scalp and hair from the roots to the tips. It is very effective helping your hair appear moisturised without leaving it greasy or heavy. Is It Okay to Use Shea Butter Every Day? Westerners are wary of "Old Wives" Tales. They would rather trust to science than rely on traditional wisdom. So the American Shea Butter Institute was established to study the effects of Shea Butter and determine whether the seemingly extravagant claims made for its powers are borne out of fact.

Shea butter is composed of five principal fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic (see Table below). About 85 to 90% of the fatty acid composition is stearic and oleic acids. The relative proportion of these two fatty acids affects shea butter consistency. The stearic acid gives it a solid consistency, while the oleic acid influences how soft or hard the shea butter is, depending on ambient temperature. Megnanou RM, et al. (2015). Improving theoptimized shea butter quality: A great potential of utilization for commonconsumers and industrials. DOI: Shea butter is also commonly used in facial moisturizers due to its ability to deeply moisturize and nourish the skin and aid the process to keep the skin hydrated by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). It can help to improve the texture and tone of the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Because of its amazing healing properties and hydrating qualities, shea butter may possibly reduce the appearance of stretch marks and other scarring. Some people also use it to naturally improve the appearance of cellulite by smoothing and softening the skin. 6. Prevents Diaper Rash for Babies The healing properties of shea butter turn it into an excellent after-sun product. It will help you especially in case of sunburn. You can also make the most of the benefits of shea butter by applying it right after waxing, it will soothe your skin and facilitate healing.

Steer clear of hot oils! Your lip skin is sensitive, and oils like cinnamon, eucalyptus, or clove can cause a burning sensation.

It should be noted, however, that refined shea butter can and may also be labelled "pure" or "natural". This is slightly confusing, but in practice it is allowed. So if you want unrefined, i.e. natural shea butter, you can look out for the following: It should say "unrefined" on the tin, the colour should be light beige or the butter should have its own scent. Because unrefined shea butter, unlike refined shea butter, has its own characteristic scent. Shea butter is a much healthier, nourishing choice because most sunscreens are filled with noxious chemicals that penetrate the skin and enter our bodies. While the SPF of this sunscreen is only about 6, it can provide some protection in a more natural way and is perfect underneath makeup. It’s really a shea butter moisturizer and sunscreen in one! Butyrospermum parkii is also great for applying if you do get a sunburn. 5. May Reduce Stretch MarksHow do you get rid of stretch marks? While many believe that Retin-A and laser treatments are the only way to diminish stretch marks, raw shea butter may help with its natural vitamin A content.

Shea butter is safe for people with nut allergies. Allergens are proteins. While shea butter does come from nuts, it’s made entirely of fat, so it’s allergen-free. Additionally, no one has reported a reaction to it. The fruit of the shea tree is a green, plum-like fruit that contains a nut inside. The nut is then harvested and processed to extract the shea butter. Shea butter is a yellowish or ivory-colored fat that has a creamy texture and a nutty aroma. Shea Butter and Sustainable Communities This paste is then kneaded, mixed with water and is churned like butter. The fatty particles clump together and float on the water: this makes it easier to recover the butter. However, it is still necessary to finish evaporating the residual water by heating the butter for a long time. It liquefies, which allows it to be filtered and the one can remove impurities. Butter stiffens while cooling. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Shea butter is best kept out of direct sunlight, and sealed. You don't want any moisture to build up inside the container. It is perfectly happy at room temperature and doesn't need to be kept in a fridge.It is effective as an after-shave and prevents ingrown hairs. It works wonders on hair and scalp and softens cuticles.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) suggests using products such as shea butter within a few minutes of drying off. I have only used this for a few weeks and I can not believe the difference in my hair. I made a treatment (Shae, castor oil, lavender) and left it in for an hour then washed with shampoo and no conditioner but my hair is soft and smoother than ever. I was never able to brush my hair after it dried because it would frizz. Now it is not frizzing at all. Even though plant-based Candelilla (vegetable wax) and beeswax (an animal-derived product) have many of the same beneficial properties, the main difference is that Candelilla is a vegan wax, whereas beeswax is considered to be an animal byproduct. Candelilla wax is also harder than beeswax and typically melts faster under high temperatures.

Fairtrade shea beauty products:

Shea butter makes a great diaper rash ointment for your baby because of its anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties that can help fight off yeast. Raw shea butter can help improve blood circulation promoting cell regeneration while providing improved collagen production. This is set by Hotjar to identify a new user’s first session. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether this was the first time Hotjar saw this user. It is used by Recording filters to identify new user sessions. Wondering where to buy shea butter? You can easily find pure, organic shea butter at your local health food store or online. Always look for raw/unrefined and organic to ensure you getting the best quality. You can look for shea butter in facial and body care products. There’s also shea butter soap and body wash, too. How to Store Generally speaking, when stored correctly, Shea butter has a lifespan of between 12 to 24 months. Why Should I Buy From N-Essentials? Plus, it’s anti-inflammatory too! A study published in the Journal of Oleo Science reports that shea nuts and shea fat (shea butter) help to reduce inflammation. In addition, both shea nuts and butter have anti-tumor promoting compounds called cinnamate esters (which are also found in cinnamon). 2. Provides Anti-Aging Properties