It’s really a do-it-all ingredient.
One buzzy ingredient in a plethora of skin care products is shea butter, especially during the colder months.
But does it truly live up to the hype?
Photo:Madeleine Steinbach/Getty Images
Heres what you’re gonna wanna know.
What Is Shea Butter?
Unlike a typical body product, shea butter isnt made in a lab.
According to cosmetic surgeon,Dr.
Ariel Ostadit is entirely natural.
Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nuts of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa).
Its rich in essential fatty acids, including oleic acid, stearic acid, and linoleic acid.
It also contains vitamins A, and E, as well as cinnamic acid.
What Are The Benefits Of Shea Butter For Hair?
Shea butter is packed with antioxidants which can help reduce a flaky, itchy scalp.
“Shea butter is ultra-moisturizing so it can deeply penetrate strands and help heal damage and split ends.
What Are the Benefits Of Shea Butter For Skin?
It acts by preventing transepidermal water loss, which is loss of water through the skin barrier.
Products with shea butter can also be useful for anyone with irritated or damaged skin.
Dr. Ostad notes that the cinnamic acid in shea butter has anti-inflammatory properties.
Shea butter contains triterpenes which aid in the healing of wounds and the reduction of scars.
Its often recommended for minimizing the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
Lastly, it can help protect skin from the sun.
How Do You Use Shea Butter?
“That will help lock in the moisture.
Then just let it absorb into your skin.
If youre using shea butter in your hair, Gadegaard-West advises using it sparingly.
Depending on your hair key in, start with a little bit.
you might always add more.
Shea butter can weigh down fine hair and possibly be too rich for those with an oily scalp.
