NSP :: Shea Tree :: Chelyabinsk

What is shea butter made from?

Shea butter is obtained from the fruit of the Vitellaria amazinga tree, which grows in Central Africa. Other names for this tree are Shea or Shea. Oil production is a complex multi-stage process of processing the seeds of this tree.

When producing oil manually, the seeds are finely crushed, water is added to them and the resulting suspension is foamed. The collected foam is boiled and cooled. The resulting white substance is the final product.

Shea butter composition

The basis of the oil is made up of polymer fat molecules, most of which are triglycerides. The fatty acids included in the product have the following composition:

oleic – from 40%,
stearic – from 35%,
palmitic – from 3%
linoleic – from 4%,
linolenic – no more than 1%.

In addition, the oil contains unsaponifiable substances:

phenols,
tocopherols,
steroids,
triterpenes,
terpene alcohols,
various hydrocarbons.

The total proportion of unsaponifiable substances is less than 10% of the total mass.

Shea butter contains vitamins A, E and F.

Contraindications

Since shea butter contains some part of latex, and its base resembles a nut. Then you need to make sure that you are not allergic to these components. I think you already know how to check for allergies, you need to smear it on your wrist and rub it. Then wait about 15 minutes. If there is no reaction, then you can use this product.

Before using any product, you must make sure that you have no contraindications to it.

This is where we end. Use it and be beautiful and healthy, until we meet again.

What are the benefits of shea butter?

Shea butter is mainly used in cosmetology. At the same time, it has healing and culinary properties.

The beneficial properties of the oil are used in cosmetology to soften and moisturize the skin. It is used as an anti-aging agent - the use of oil allows you to smooth out wrinkles and carry out general rejuvenation of the skin.

The regenerating properties of this product are also known. It perfectly fights acne and eliminates the cause of flaking skin.

The beneficial substances contained in shea butter stimulate the synthesis of collagen and elastin in skin cells. This makes the skin firmer, more elastic and cleaner.

The beneficial properties of the oil are also used for hair regeneration. The bulbs moistened with shea butter become more viable and grow hair faster.

The healing properties of shea butter have proven themselves in healing scars, cracks and cuts on the skin. They also help in the fight against stretch marks. Regular application of oil to the skin stimulates blood flow in the capillaries and also protects it from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and low temperatures.

In cooking, this product is used as a fat substitute. It is used for baking and making desserts.

Shea butter properties and uses

This irreplaceable cosmetic product has one feature. Its composition is 80% triglycerides. The rest consists of unsaponifiable fats. The fruits of the African tree also contain vitamins E, F and A. Unfortunately, cosmetology has displaced the shea tree from the medical field. However, skin care is also useful in this case due to its healing properties:

anti-inflammatory;
healing;
softening;
moisturizing;
protective;
restorative.

Shea essential oils are used both undiluted and in fat-free compositions. The range of applications is quite wide. Processed shea fruits are added to face and body creams, hair masks, shampoos, balms and shower gels. The Avon company produces a whole series of spa products based on the properties of African wood.

See also...

✅ Hair oils best list and tips for use

✅ Face masks with essential oils at home

✅ Kefir hair mask at home

✅ The best cosmetics for the face: rating of world products

Application of shea butter for hair

Shampoo, conditioner or hair mask restores hair structure and protects it from ultraviolet exposure. For dry scalp and split hair, prepare a mask with shea ether and jojoba taken in equal quantities. It is better to apply it at night. Reviews advise using this method all summer.

A mask against split hair with an egg will be effective. Place 2 tbsp into the beaten egg. l. melted shea butter and almond ether. Whisk thoroughly and add a few drops of ylang-ylang. Apply the product to damaged hair, insulate with film and leave for at least an hour.

A mask of their tandem of vegetable fats will give excellent results. Combine 1 tbsp. l. burdock, apricot, oil vitamin E and 2 tbsp. l. flax Separately, you need to melt 40 gr. shea milk and add to the rest of the mixture. Use as above. Some reviews write that African fruit milk should be added to baby shampoo.

Recipes for face and body

Cosmetics made from the medicinal properties of shea butter perfectly soften and nourish the skin. Reviews say that a face cream based on it is ideal for sensitive skin. They can be used to wipe the eyelid area and heal lips. They use unrefined raw materials and combine them with other esters. This can be etherol of cocoa, apricot, ylang-ylang and chamomile. Shea butter for face and body in creams can be found in the Avon catalog.

To prepare a cream for sensitive and aging skin, use this recipe. Combine 2 tsp. shea butter and 4 tsp. almonds Add 2 drops of lavender ether and 3 drops. daisies. Apply daily for 30 minutes. Huge benefits of shea butter for a mature face. Melt 2 tsp in a water bath. unrefined shea butter and combine with the same amount of macadamia. You also need to stir in 1 tsp. cocoa and avocado ether. Remove the mixture from the bath and cool. Then add a couple of drops of rose oil. Reviews advise using this face cream no more than 3 rubles. for a week.

A mask with banana pulp is well suited for dry and rough skin of the face and body. Make a puree from the banana (you will need 2 tbsp) and add 1 tsp. liquid shea butter Also add 1 tsp. wheat germ and melted honey. If the product is very thick, then beat in half the yolk. Apply the mixture to problem areas and leave for 20 minutes.

A very good lip balm from our ingredient. Melt 0.5 tsp. beeswax and shea butter. Put 0.5 tsp into the warm mass. honey and cocoa ether. Once all the ingredients have melted, you can add a drop of lemon balm or chamomile essential oil to make the scent last longer. This remedy is used before bedtime and in windy weather. Reviews write that its effect is much stronger than that of hygienic lipstick. Many people used it to heal their hands after burns.

How to choose cream with shea butter?

It is worth noting that this raw material is not easily obtained. Many manufacturers use low-quality (diluted) oil to save money. The industry defines 5 classes of shea butter. To benefit from a cream, soap, spray or shampoo, choose a product that contains grade A or B shea. Reviews of commercial varieties are not good.

Which oil is better, refined or unrefined?

Refined raw materials are processed. Unrefined is obtained using water. It retains all the beneficial substances, so it will be much healthier.

Balm and shampoo with shea butter prepared at home

It’s easy to prepare hair care products at home. For the balm you will need 250 g. shea butter, 50 gr. castor oil and 5 drops. cocoa ether, apricot. Melt the fatty oils, and then pour in the essential oils. Apply the mixture to your scalp and damp hair for 30 minutes.

When washing your hair, pour 1 tsp into the usual portion of basic shampoo. melted shea butter. This shampoo will strengthen the hair follicles and add moisture to the hair.

Healing properties of shea butter

The beneficial properties of the oil are used in the treatment of diseases of the skeletal system, skin and viral infections of various natures. Shea butter has a pronounced antiseptic and protective effect.

For sore joints

The manifestation of the beneficial properties of the oil is especially clearly expressed in their effect on sore joints. Due to its structure, oil molecules are able to penetrate deeply into the area of inflammation and effectively fight it, removing swelling and pain.

It is believed that this is one of the most effective remedies against the manifestations of diseases such as rheumatism and arthritis.

When sprained

Shea butter has a warming effect, so it is often used for sprained tendons and muscles. It is also used for muscle fatigue and to relieve local muscle tone.

For dermatitis

Thanks to the vitamin A contained in the product, shea butter exhibits its beneficial properties for various skin diseases - eczema and dermatitis. To reduce the development of inflammation, it is necessary to apply shea butter to the affected area already when the first symptoms of dermatitis appear.

The use of oil moisturizes the skin, partially eliminates the cause of inflammation and prevents the inflamed area from increasing in size.

Diaper rash

Diaper rash in newborns is a serious problem that can cause considerable discomfort to both the baby and his mother. The beneficial properties of shea butter make it easy to cope with this problem.

To do this, you need to clean your baby's skin by washing it with water and mild soap, and then dry it thoroughly. Then you should rub shea butter into the affected area until it is completely absorbed. Then you need to wait a few minutes and change the baby into a new diaper.

Miracle Shea Butter

Continuing the oil theme

We are publishing an ode to a unique discovery in cosmetology -
shea butter
.

Interesting:

The peak use of this butter was in the 1930s, then due to the fashion for cheaper cocoa butter, it disappeared from sales and returned only in the 1980s, as shea butter began to be used as a natural base for the production of many products.
The shea tree (karite) grows in Tropical Africa. Other names vary for different countries: shea, karedye, shi, kolo, kare.
The evergreen Shea tree lives up to 300 years and is capable of growing exclusively in its historical homeland - there are many unsuccessful attempts to grow it in other latitudes. Similar to an oak tree, the tree can sometimes grow up to 20 meters in height and reach a trunk diameter of up to 2 meters.
The fruits resemble plums. Collecting fruits is a painstaking task and predominantly carried out by women. When the fruits fall, they sink into the soggy ground, and they need to be fished out before their competitors—pigs and sheep—appear.
One of the first mentions of Shea was found by an Arab geographer as early as 1348: “oil is used in whitewashing houses, refilling lamps, and making soap. They store it in pumpkin vessels, as it corrodes the rest.”
The nuts are fermented and sun-dried, then heated for several hours in large vats with water added until the oil collects on the surface.
The tree is considered sacred in Africa. African peoples are famous for their elastic and smooth skin, and since they have always known the magical regenerating properties of the oil, they even rubbed it on children, protecting them from the scorching sun.

Shea butter has entered our cosmetic life for so long and firmly that no one thinks about how and why it appeared in cosmetics. Hand creams, soaps, hair products, balms - they all contain shea butter as a main ingredient.

External characteristics of the oil:

dense granular mass;
whitish tint, closer to cream;
subtle elusive smell, closer to peanut aroma.

Beneficial properties of shea butter:

Unlike other oils, shea butter emulsifies and heats up slightly when it comes into contact with the skin, which is why it easily penetrates the skin without leaving a greasy residue on the surface.
But this is not only an excellent skin softener, far from it. Shea butter contains natural tocopherol (vitamin E), which moisturizes and makes the skin elastic. Vitamin E in shea butter is about 1% - which is a lot for vegetable oils.
Thanks to the content of special components, shea butter soothes irritated skin and also has anti-inflammatory properties (ideal for sensitive skin prone to irritation).
Shea butter also has sunscreen properties: the natural cinnamic acid esters contained in the oil are responsible for this. And although the protection factor is not very high (SPF 2), it is enough for you to stay in the sun twice as long.
In cosmetology, oil is called transport oil, as it has an excellent ability to penetrate deeply into the skin, affecting even its deep layers.
Unsaponifiable fats have regenerating properties, which is why the oil can stimulate collagen synthesis - feel free to use it for mature, aging and stretch mark-prone skin!

Compound:

The oil is mainly composed of triglycerides

(0.8 part) - that is, from substances that are formed by oleic, stearic and palmitic fatty acids.
The rest is fats and vitamins F, E and
A.
It also contains unsaponifiable fats
(caristerols) - that is, the active substances of the pulp of fruit seeds. It is the union of fatty acids and unsaponifiable fats that makes the oil so popular in cosmetology.

How to use pure shea butter?

During the cold season, it is especially good to apply a thin layer of shea butter to the skin in the evening and wear cotton gloves overnight: in the morning the skin will be so tender and soft that this simple procedure will be repeated again and again.

We offer 10 ways

Use pure shea butter:

Shea butter replaces hand cream and dry cuticle oil
Add 2 tablespoons of shea butter when taking a bath to soften and moisturize the skin
Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, shea butter is convenient to apply to the skin after hair removal and shaving.
Shea butter is ideal for restoring skin after the sun
Soften your heels with a thin layer of shea butter instead of cream
In winter, use shea butter to protect the delicate skin of your lips and face from frost, as well as to restore cracked skin after a long walk outside.
The oil does not have the ability to constrict blood vessels, but it will cope perfectly with a runny nose - thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties

If you are a fan of homemade natural cosmetics, then you certainly do not miss the opportunity to prepare a healthy product with shea butter.

In order not to lose its beneficial properties, try not to heat it up just like that (this applies not only to shea butter, but also to other oils). To mix with others, melt the butter in a double boiler until it becomes liquid.

Masks

Nourishing and tonic

Add 1 tbsp to the raw yolk. dried lemon peel, crushed to a powder. Stir and leave for 15 minutes. Then add melted shea butter and walnut oil 1 tsp each. Apply the mask for 20 minutes. Rinse off with slightly warm water.

For drier skin

Add 1 tsp to 2 tablespoons of crushed avocado (or banana) pulp and a spoonful of liquid honey. shea butter and jojoba oil. Stir everything thoroughly, apply the mask for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with slightly warm water.

Remember that shea butter does not cause irritation, and the skin simply will not absorb its excess.

For hair

Apply melted oil to your hair before washing, paying attention to the roots and ends, and wrap your hair in a towel for half an hour. Then wash your hair as usual.

Don’t be afraid to overdo it: shea butter does not cause any unpleasant reactions, and the skin will not absorb its excess.

Ready-made products with shea butter:

Avalon Organics Aloe Unscented Bath & Shower Gel

Caudalie Night Infusion Cream

L'Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap

Contraindications

Not so long ago it turned out that an allergy to natural latex slightly overshadows the use of shea butter, but, you see, it is rare, so the magic of this product is still unique and undeniable.

Finally, I’ll share the recipe for the Fragrant Balm

with shea butter:

I experimented a lot with shea butter and the texture of balms, and settled on this proportion: 4/5 parts shea butter and 1/5 part liquid oil. The liquid oil can be almond, apricot, jojoba or argan oil. This formula produces a balm that is pleasantly firm and not sticky. To flavor the balm, I usually use 1% essential oils; this dosage is suitable for any person, including pregnant women and children. For autumn, I advise you to choose citrus essential oils, they improve your mood and immunity, and if you suffer from insomnia, then take lavender essential oil, it relaxes you before bed.

Since there are no preservatives in this recipe, I recommend making the balm in small quantities and using it several months in advance. It can be stored at room temperature.

Recipe:

20 grams shea butter 5 grams jojoba oil 5 drops sweet orange or lavender essential oil

How to cook:

Heat the shea butter in a water bath over low heat, add jojoba oil and mix the mixture well. Remove from heat, cool slightly, add essential oil and pour the mixture into a glass jar. Leave overnight for the balm to harden. Make a label and write the name of the balm and the date of its preparation. Enjoy!

Some advice for future shea butter fans:

If possible, buy unrefined shea butter, it contains more anti-inflammatory substances. This oil can be distinguished by its color: it is never white.
If you buy refined shea butter, ask the seller how it is made. It would be great if the oil packaging was marked “hexane-free.”
Store oil in a cool and dry place. Shea remains fresh consistently for 2-3 years.
Shea butter and shea butter are different names for the same oil. Call it what you like!
Before use, warm the oil in your hands and apply to the skin using pressing movements.

Be healthy and beautiful!

The use of shea butter in cosmetology

Despite the abundance of beneficial medical properties, the main use of the oil is cosmetic. Shea butter can be used on any part of the body - from the top of the head to the toes. Its effect on the skin is extremely positive.

But its main purpose in cosmetology is to carry out cosmetic procedures on “critical” areas - on the face and scalp. Shea butter is suitable for any skin type and in most cases can be used without fear of any allergic reactions.

For facial skin

Shea butter against wrinkles is prepared according to the following recipe:

Mix 10 ml of shea butter, olive oil and almond extract and apply to facial skin for 15 minutes. After which the mask must be washed off, but not with water, but with some herbal decoction (for example, from chamomile flowers).

Wrinkles are smoothed out and the skin becomes fresh. When preparing the mask, it is recommended to slightly warm the ingredients to enhance their beneficial properties.

Applying shea butter to the skin around the eyes. Mix 2 tsp. finely ground oatmeal with 1 tsp. shea butter and 1 tbsp. l. cucumber juice. Then add a few drops of sandalwood essential oil.

The composition is applied to the skin around the eyes in a thin layer for 5-7 minutes. The product is washed off with warm water. Then you need to apply eye cream to this area. The frequency of use of the composition is up to 3 times a week for a month. This use of shea butter helps eliminate swelling of the eyelids.

For body

Shea butter for stretch marks can be used either in its original form or in combination with any essential oil. The most commonly used is peach or almond.

The remedy for stretch marks is prepared as follows: in 1 tbsp. l. Add 3-5 drops of essential oil to slightly heated shea butter. The product is applied to pre-steamed skin to enhance its beneficial effect. It is best to do this procedure after taking a warm bath.

After application, the problem area is wrapped with film or simply wrapped with some kind of cloth.

For hands

Shea butter recipe for dry skin. Grind the peel of one lemon in a blender or coffee grinder, then beat the resulting mass with the yolk using a whisk. The resulting composition is covered with a lid and allowed to brew for 15 minutes.

To enhance the beneficial properties, the composition is heated and 1 tbsp is added to it. l. shea butter and avocado pulp, stirring the mixture until smooth.

The mixture is applied to the skin and left for 5 minutes, after which a second layer is applied. The skin is washed after 15 minutes, and then a moisturizing gel is applied to it. A similar composition can be used for facial skin.

After using the product, the skin stops peeling and its color evens out. This also relieves redness and irritation.

For hair

Ingredients of the restorative hair mask: 2 tbsp. l. shea butter is heated in a water bath and 3 drops of lavender essential oil and 3 drops of jojoba essential oil are added.

The mask is applied to the hair half an hour before washing your hair. In this case, the hair needs to be slightly moistened. Shea butter is applied to the entire volume of hair, after which it is combed with a comb with large teeth. After distributing the mask, the head should be wrapped in cling film and wrapped in a towel. After half an hour, wash off the mask with shampoo.

A full recovery course consists of 10 procedures performed every two days. After which it is advisable to carry out preventive restorations: once a week in winter, and once every two weeks in summer.

For lips, eyelids and eyelashes

For problem areas of facial skin, the following ingredients are used:

2 tsp. shea butter,
1 tsp. aloe juice

It should be applied twice a day to the skin of the eyelids and around the lips. In this case, it is advisable to treat the skin with an ice cube before the procedure. You can make ice yourself from some herbal decoction (roses, calendula, chamomile, etc.)

Treatment of problem areas removes peeling and prevents the appearance of cracks and fine wrinkles.

For tanning in solariums and in the sun

The use of shea butter allows you to get an even and safe tan over the entire surface of the skin. In this case, the source of ultraviolet radiation can be any: the natural Sun or an artificial lamp in a solarium.

Tanning mixture:

shea butter – 50 ml,
coconut oil – 50 ml,
jojoba oil – 25 ml,
raspberry seed oil – 5 ml,
carrot seed oil – 30 drops.

All ingredients must be mixed and applied to the skin half an hour before going out into the Sun or starting a procedure in a solarium.

In soap making

Shea butter also finds its use in making soap. It makes the soap hard and fragrant. Soap made using a shea butter base foams relatively little, but has excellent cleansing properties. At the same time, such soap can moisturize the skin and make it silky.

Attention! It is better not to make soap from scratch at home on your own. It necessarily contains sodium hydroxide, which causes severe burns if handled carelessly.

It is best to buy a ready-made soap base, which contains from 15 to 30% shea butter and limit the preparation of soap to only adding flavorings and auxiliary substances.

In aromatherapy

Shea butter is used in aromatherapy. Its aroma improves sleep and has a relaxing effect on the body. In addition, its aroma helps with a runny nose.

The recipe for the aroma lamp mixture is quite simple: for every 10 ml of shea butter, add 5 drops of essential oil. Before “charging” the aroma lamp, the shea butter should first be melted.

Shea butter uses

The miraculous oil is used for a wide variety of skin diseases, and with a combination of other vegetable fatty and essential products, it can enrich creams, masks, shampoos, conditioners and other cosmetics with beneficial properties.

Using shea butter for hair

The shea butter product is simply a godsend, because it can be used to care not only for the face and body, but also for hair. This product is used independently or as one of the components of a mask or balm; it performs the following functions:

Prevents the appearance of split ends. The oil saturates the hair with beneficial elements along its entire length. If you often dye your hair, especially the ends, or often use a hair dryer, straightener and other devices to give your hair a different look, do not forget to nourish your strands with shea butter.
Soothes irritated scalp. If you want to relieve an itchy scalp, as well as a feeling of tightness, shea butter will help you. After half an hour or an hour, do not forget to rinse off the product with shampoo and water. The oil is also used for medicinal purposes for psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.
Makes strands soft. Shea butter is an excellent helper for brittle and coarse hair. Being a natural conditioner, it perfectly smoothes strands, enveloping each hair with a protective barrier.

Using hair masks

Many women who have not yet begun to fully care for their hair are interested in what role masks play in the life of hair.
But there is no clear answer to this question, because the functions of a cosmetic product directly depend on the composition of the product. Of course, if we have a product in front of us where shea butter occupies a large part, we can already guess that we are talking about a mask that helps hair be softer, smoother and more vibrant. Shea butter protects curls from the effects of temperature changes and the negative effects of sunlight, it restores the water balance, natural shine and silkiness of the hair. No matter what shampoo manufacturers say, their product cannot have such a beneficial effect on the condition of hair as masks do. Conditioner added to shampoo can only neutralize the negative effects of chemical ingredients contained in shampoo. Masks can enrich hair with nutrients.

If you think that masks are aimed only at dry and brittle hair, but not at all at oily hair, you are mistaken. Excessive sebum production has nothing to do with hair nutrition.

How to use shea butter for hair

You can purchase restorative oil, which shea tree is rich in, at a pharmacy or through online stores. It can be used in its pure form, without adding any other components, but first the raw material itself must be prepared. Take the required amount of shea butter based on the length of your hair and melt it. This can be done using a microwave, palm heat or in a water bath. The oil should be warm, but not hot. If the purpose of using a valuable emulsion is to moisturize the ends of the hair, you should not waste the shea product on the hair roots. Distribute the oil using a comb or fingers. To enhance the effect, put a plastic cap or bag on top, and wrap your head with a towel. It is recommended to wash off the oil no earlier than after half an hour. Since the product is not washed off with plain water, shampoo is suitable for these purposes. To keep your hair ends from looking like straw and looking healthy, apply shea butter to the bottom of your hair every day.

Homemade masks with shea butter

If you do not want to use shea butter in its pure form for your hair, you can enrich shea butter with other beneficial ingredients, turning an ordinary, at first glance, emulsion into a full-fledged mask.

Revitalizing mask
. To restore your hair's natural shine and make your strands stronger, prepare 30 g of shea butter, 2-3 drops of sandalwood essential oil, vitamins A and E (5 ml each). Melt the butter in a water bath, and after it has cooled a little, add vitamins and essential oil. Instead of sandalwood essential oil, you can use ylang-ylang oil. It is better to apply the mask at night.
Mask for hair growth
. By enriching shea butter (3 tbsp) with castor oil (2 tbsp) and rosemary or thyme essential oil (2-3 drops), you can get a good hair growth product.
Hair strengthening mask
. Prepare an effective home remedy for improving the condition of strands: shea butter (2 tbsp), burdock oil (3 tbsp) and cedar oil (1 tbsp). It is recommended to leave this mixture of beneficial ingredients for 40 minutes, then wash your hair. Shea butter can be called a universal product that is suitable for all people, regardless of their age.

Video tips for using shea butter for hair:

How to choose and store shea butter

Shea butter is almost impossible to fake. However, adding some components can change its properties not for the better. These components include some solvents, in particular hexane. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with the composition of the purchased product to make sure there are no solvents.

Shea butter is stored in a closed container without access to light in a cool place. Recommended storage temperatures should not exceed +25°C. The shelf life is 2-3 years.