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shea butter
Organic Shea Butter. Emollient & Emulsifier
Description: Plant fat of the nuts of the African Karite tree (ambuk butter). Off-white to grey-green solid fat, no or faint odor. Soluble in alcohol or oils, insoluble in water.
CAS: 91080-23-8
INCI Name: Organic Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter
Benefits:
Contains allantoin, vitamin A and E, and various cinnamic and unsaponifiable lipids (e.g. stearic and oleic acids)
Potent moisturizer and emollient providing effective skin protection against environmental stress factors
Has anti-irritant and soothing properties and improves the appearance of aging skin
Use: Warm to melt before use. Add to oil phase of formula. Typical use level 3 - 100 % (can be used pure). For external use only.
Applications: Lotions, creams, sun care & after sun products, facial moisturizers, body butter, ointments.
Overview
Shea butter is a seed fat that comes from the shea tree. The shea tree is found in East and West tropical Africa. The shea butter comes from two oily kernels within the shea tree seed. After the kernel is removed from the seed, it is ground into a powder and boiled in water. The butter then rises to the top of the water and becomes solid.
People apply shea butter to the skin for acne, burns, dandruff, dry skin, eczema, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In foods, shea butter is used as a fat for cooking.
In manufacturing, shea butter is used in cosmetic products.
Shea butter works like an emollient. It might help soften or smooth dry skin. Shea butter also contains substances that can reduce skin swelling. This might help treat conditions associated with skin swelling such as eczema.
Shea butter has also been reported to have anti-aging properties. If true, the exact mechanism isn’t well-known and may be related to promoting collagen production or decreasing the breakdown of collagen that’s already present.
Shea butter is an incredibly low-risk topical ingredient. Allergic reactions to shea butter are rare.
Even people who are allergic to tree nuts, the family that shea nuts belong to, have a low risk of reaction to shea butter on their face. Researchers believe this is because shea nuts contain little of the tree-nut proteins that trigger allergies.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any risks to using it. Given the consistency of shea butter, it’s likely to be comedogenic.
Some websites on the internet claim that shea butter is non-comedogenic or has a “low comedogenic rating.” It’s not clear where this evidence is derived from since there are no available studies to support this claim.
The American Academy of Dermatology supports the idea that shea butter can clog your pores and cause acne. This is especially true if you have acne-prone skin.