Introduction to Shea Butter Ingredients and Functions

Ingredients of Shea Butter

Shea butter grows on a plant called "shea butter" in Africa. To grow the fruit that can extract shea butter, the shea butter must be at least 45-50 years old before it can be extracted from the fruit. Sufficient oil, and each fruit tree only produces about 4-5 kg of shea butter a year, which can be said to be very precious.

Shea butter contains 40%~50% vegetable oil, which also contains non-saponifiable repairing ingredients. Generally, the content of vegetable oil is less than 1%, and the proportion of ingredients such as shea butter is as high as 15%. It is not easy to be washed off by soap and facial cleanser, and it can also provide antibacterial and soft skin functions.

Shea butter is also rich in natural antioxidant ingredients, vitamins A, D, E, plant sterols, etc., rich in natural maintenance ingredients, so that shea butter can provide excellent moisture for the skin, and protect the skin The surface layer forms a protective film, providing the most natural protection.

The role of shea butter

1. Moisturizing

This is relatively easy to understand. Shea butter contains a large amount of triglycerides composed of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, which can form a protective film on the surface of the skin to prevent moisture from evaporating. There are some unsaturated fatty acids and other unsaponifiable ingredients, which can penetrate into the skin, nourish the epidermal cells, soften the skin, and exert an excellent moisturizing effect. This characteristic of shea butter makes her especially suitable for dry skin. There are numerous experiments that also demonstrate the long-term moisturizing effect of shea butter on the surface of the skin.

2. Anti-aging

In 1990, Dutch biochemist Jan dekker conducted an anti-aging clinical experiment with shea butter. A total of 30 volunteers aged 29 to 82 participated in the experiment. Volunteers massaged once a day with balm made of shea butter. After 4 to 8 months, the skin of all volunteers improved to a large extent: after several weeks of use, the grayish yellow rough skin changed Smoother, smoother skin and less wrinkles.

This anti-aging effect may be due to the high content of unsaponifiables, lipids in shea butter. In addition, shea butter may also have the effect of stimulating collagen production.

3. Anti-inflammatory

Shea butter is one of the effective medicines traditionally used by African aborigines to treat rheumatism. Research data have shown that shea butter has a certain healing effect on dermatitis, sunburn and scarred skin. However, there are not many research reports in this area, and the research is not thorough enough, and further research is needed.

4. Suitable for skin absorption

Shea butter is a pure natural vegetable oil, mild and non-irritating, suitable for sensitive skin, and very similar to the oil secreted by the human body, it is very easy for the skin to absorb.

5. Isolate UV rays

Shea butter contains "cinnamic acid", which is a natural sunscreen ingredient. There are also some latex substances in the non-saponifiable matter, which can effectively absorb UVB ultraviolet rays in the sun and prevent the sun from directly damaging the skin.

6. Natural Defense

The vegetable oil contained in shea butter can stay on the surface of the skin, creating a natural protective layer for the skin, isolating external stimuli, and at the same time reducing water loss in the skin.