One of the best-known ingredients of natural products, famous since the time of ancient Egypt, with a growing demand, is the shea butter. Its french name “beurre de karité”, which we use in Europe, derives from the Senegalese word "ghariti" which means "sacred" and later attributed through the French as “karité”.
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| the shea tree |
The sacred tree thrives in West and Central Africa, where for centuries its butter was used by women to keep their skin gentle and to protect it from the dry climate of the region. Shea tree can reach up to 15 meters in height and is considered to be perennial (like olive trees in my country, Greece), and in order to get its seeds, it needs about one thousand millimeters of annual rainfall.
The seed is edible and nutritious and is used for both cosmetic and culinary use. It has been included in the protected species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
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| shea seeds |
Shea butter contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-9), but also contains saturated, such as stearic and palmitic acid, ingredients that give amazing moisturizing properties such as increasing skin elasticity and maintaining natural moisture. It is rich in phytosterols, catechins and vitamins A, D, E, F, whose synergy offers strong antioxidant and antimicrobial action, increases the skin's defense against infection and sunlight, fights free radicals (thus also acts as anti-aging factor) and helps in irritation, eczema and other skin conditions.
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| shea butter |
Shea butter contains large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-9), but also contains saturated, such as stearic and palmitic acid, ingredients that give amazing moisturizing properties such as increasing skin elasticity and maintaining natural moisture. It is rich in phytosterols, catechins and vitamins A, D, E, F, whose synergy offers strong antioxidant and antimicrobial action, increases the skin's defense against infection and sunlight, fights free radicals (thus also acts as anti-aging factor) and helps in irritation, eczema and other skin conditions.
It is used in creams for stretch marks, in anti-aging products, in facial moisturizing creams, hand and body lotions, nourishes dry skin, in lip products as well as in hair nourishing masks (stimulates keratin).
A nice article that I found and I think that you need to read it: Shea butter in Ghana, har labour for smooth skin)
Stella Crown©
