Shea butter is a natural product that is obtained from the fat contained in the seeds of Vitellaria paradoxa . This buttery vegetable lipid is increasingly popular in natural cosmetics, thanks to its protective, emollient, healing, moisturizing properties.
This precious substance has always been used in Africa for food, as a cosmetic and as a natural remedy with therapeutic properties, alone or in combination with other plants. Local people use it for example as an ointment for massages against rheumatism, sores, burns, ulcerations and skin irritations.
Shea butter: properties and benefits
Shea butter is very rich in fatty and unsaponifiable acids (12-18%), substances that are involved in the physiological process of production of fibroblasts, cells responsible for the formation of collagen and elastin fibers, which are very important for maintaining elastic skin. improve the tone. It has a good filtering capacity against sun rays, therefore it becomes an excellent protective and preventive of damage caused by exposure to UVA and UVB rays, which cause skin dryness, redness, wrinkles, up to sun rash.
Also rich in vitamins (A, B, E and F), which give it antioxidant properties, it counteracts the formation of free radicals, responsible for premature cellular aging. Furthermore, its application forms a lipid film on the skin with a protective action . In fact, shea butter preserves the skin from redness and cracking caused by winter frost and sun, wind and salt, during the summer season, has no contraindications and is completely non-toxic: it is therefore suitable for people of all age .
Massages: it is excellent if used as an ointment for massages, because it melts in contact with the heat of the body and spreads easily. To use it correctly, you need to soften a small amount in the palm of your hand and then apply it with circular movements over the area to be treated. It can also be enriched with essential oils; or it can be combined with other vegetable oils. In this way there will be a double benefit: on the one hand the presence of essential oil will act as a preservative, while on the other hand the butter will convey the active ingredients of the essence.
Face: applied pure it carries out a nourishing and anti-wrinkle action, because it intervenes in the process of tissue repair; in this way it reduces wrinkles, restoring an extraordinary elasticity and compactness to skin that is no longer young. Body shows a buttery consistency, but melts at body temperature and can therefore be easily spread. It can be used absolute, to take advantage of the elasticizing and toning action for the body . In particular, its use is recommended during pregnancy, because it prevents the formation of stretch marks on the abdomen and breast.
Children : being a completely natural product, it is indicated for the care of the delicate and sensitive skin of the newborn. Its soothing and protective properties make it very effective in case of redness, irritation and diaper changes. Hands used as a cream, it softens the calluses of both the hands (and feet) thanks to the repairing action, because it softens and strengthens the tissues, preventing the formation of irritations, cracks and sores; used regularly it counteracts the dryness of the elbow, knee and heels.
Hair: A few packs are enough before shampooing, to restore strength and vitality even to the most exploited, brittle and dry hair.
Shea butter: description of the plant
( Vitellaria paradoxa or Butyrospermum parkii - Sapotaceae )
The Shea tree is widespread in a vast area of central Africa, which extends between Sudan in the east and Senegal and the Gambian area in the west. It is between 10 and 15 meters high, with a trunk that can reach one meter in diameter. The bark is very thick to protect itself from the high temperatures found in the savannah. The plant is endowed with stubby hooks, on which the leaves grow in tufts . These are elongated and provided with a petiole; in youth they are of a red color tending to rust, developing they acquire a dark color. The flowers are green with shades of yellow and pleasant fragrance.
Shea butter: processing
The extraction of shea butter still takes place in the place of origin, with an artisan process . After the harvest of the fruits, similar prunes, we pass to the selection of the seeds and their crushing: in this way we obtain a fatty substance similar to butter, of variable color from light green to yellow, of pleasant smell and almost sweet taste, which can be used pure, or, given its richness, it can be used as a base for homemade creams.
