Beauty Secrets of Organic Shea Butter

    Shea butter is an African herbal skin remedy that is becoming increasingly popular in the natural body care and cosmetic industry for a very good reason. 

It has been used for centuries in Africa for its moisturizing and healing properties, where it has been used to protect and condition inflamed or damaged skin. The Igbos name for shea butter cream is ' Ôri '. My grandmother swore by it as a healing balm.

I this article I will examine the unique attributes, healthcare uses and benefits of shea butter.

Shea butter (Ori) is a skin superfood that comes from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea (Karite) tree and that is naturally rich in essential fatty acids and in vitamins A, E and F. 

The cream is extracted and prepared without the use of chemicals. The best Shea butter for skin use is prepared by cold press methods without the use of added chemicals or preservatives.

Shea butter has a creamy ivory colour with a distinctive aroma, often described as thick and nutty. 

Skin Moisturizer

Shea butter is an intense moisturizer for dry skin, and is a wonderful product for revitalizing damaged skin. 

The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in Shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils.

Its soothing nature and rejuvenating effects, make it a perfect ingredient to include in your body care recipes and skin care regime. 

It is also wonderful to use in the summer, harmathan and extreme weather conditions as a moisturizer before and after exposure to reduce the possibility of the skin peeling or becoming dried out.

UV Skin Protection

Shea butter offers a low level of UV protection (approximately SPF-6), and may be incorporated into natural sunscreen recipes.

Anti-inflammatory

Shea butter reduces swelling or oedema.

A study published in a 2010 issue of the "Journal of Oleo Science" by Toshihiro Akihisa and colleagues found that shea fat has significant anti-inflammatory properties.

A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter was anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne.

Another study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology by the Department of Pharmacology at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos concluded that shea butter is an effective nasal decongestant. 

Participants were given two to four applications of shea butter in the nasal cavity, and within just 12 to 24 hours they showed no signs of inflammation, congestion or nasal damage.

Anti-ageing

Shea butter has been used for centuries as a wrinkle reducer. Shea butter contains essential fatty acids, along with vitamins A and E, which are imperative to maintaining your skin's elasticity and suppleness.

In a clinical study done by Frank Renard, Ph.D., shea butter was found to have significant antiaging properties and was proven to help rebuild and rejuvenate collagen. 

Participants in this study were given shea butter to use as a balm to massage on their skin for four to eight months. The results showed clearer, brighter skin with less wrinkles and sun damage.

Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.

Skin repair and healing

Shea Butter has such a large healing fraction, in addition to moisturizing fraction, regular use of this natural cream can treat many skin problems. 

It's anti-inflammatory properties hep alleviate blemishes, wrinkles, itching, sunburns, small skin wounds, eczema, skin allergies, insect bites, frost bite, and other skin conditions.

The Vitamin E in Shea butter acts an anti-free radical agent thereby aiding in preventing the deleterious effects of sun and environmental exposure. 

It is because of these unique healing properties that the Shea tree got its name, the karite tree, which means the TREE OF LIFE.

The American Shea Butter Institute advises that for the above health benefits use raw, unrefined, Grade A Shea butter. 

There are many refined Shea butters that are odor free and bleached to be completely white, but the refining process removes some of the beneficial properties.

Once Shea Butter is aged it loses its natural integrity, many of these wonderful benefits are also lost. Shea butter contains the ingredient cinnamic acid that treats inflammation and sweelling. 

Shea is very closely related to cinnamon in the kitchen cabinet. The Cinnamic acid in Premium Shea butter is mainly bound to other ingredients. 

As Shea butter loses its natural integrity the amount of bounded cinnamic acid decreases, and the amount of free or unbounded cinnamic acid increases.

Premium Shea Butter is a soft uniformly beige coloured creamy solid that readily melts in the hands and is quickly absorbed by the skin.. When left in a hot room or near a heat source, Shea Butter will readily melt just as any other butter.

At room temperature, using a butter knife, Premium Shea Butter spreads very nicely as soft butter or margarine does. 

Shea Butter is not yellow, green, gray, dark brown, or white. Shea products with these colours are modified substitutes sometimes bearing the name 100% Shea Butter. 

Shea butter is ordourless after 10 to 20 minutes on the body

Pure natural Shea Butter has a characteristic smell. Once you smell pure natural Shea Butter, you will always know the smell. But it becomes odourless after it has been applied to the body.

Thanks for being here and goodluck on your journey to optimal health and wellness. I hope you enjoyed reading this piece. 

I invite you to check out more of my over a hundred health and beauty articles that may interest. Please use the search button at the top of the page. See you in the next one. Ciao. God-isLove.

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