Shea butter
Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. It is usually ivory in color when raw, with more processed versions being white in color. It can be yellow when a root is added to it. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in foo…
Shea butter
Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. It is usually ivory in color when raw, with more processed versions being white in color. It can be yellow when a root is added to it. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in foo…
What's so special about shea butter?
Shea butter benefits
- It's full of antioxidants thanks to the tocopherol and catechins.
- It prevents signs of aging. ...
- It reduces inflammation. ...
- It has antimicrobial properties. ...
- It has UV protection. ...
- It's incredibly hydrating and moisturizing without the greasiness that comes from other moisturizing ingredients.
Is shea butter considered a "oil"?
The shea nut is found within the fruit of the tree, and it is oil rich. Widely eaten in Africa, in the West it is generally only consumed in the form of shea butter, which is used in confectionary as a replacement for cocoa butter. It’s also used extensively in cosmetics as a skin conditioner and emollient.
Is shea butter better for your skin than lotion?
Shea butter works for all skin types. It has anti-inflammatory qualities and can be used to treat rashes; this shows that it does not cause any harm or redness to the skin. Shea butter is rich in vitamin A, E, and F, enhancing the skin’s growth.
Does shea butter attract ants?
Yes, I did see some debris in it as well, like twigs or other things from the Earth. Thanks for the tip, I will refrigerate it. Ants love shea butter for some reason. I left my lid slightly open in my basket that sits in the window sill and lo and behold when I returned home from work, tiny black ants were all inside of the shea butter.
What's the difference between shea butter and shea nut oil?
Shea oil is fractionated from Shea butter; to produce Shea oil, Shea butter is melted, and the oleic oil is removed from the solid parts. The oleic oil is lower in stearic fatty acid content which is what gives shea butter its solid characteristics.
Is shea butter a nut butter?
In summary, although Shea is a nut, and butter is derived from the nut, allergic reactions to either must be extremely rare or, to this date, nonexistent, and Shea appears to be safe, at least according to all of the published data that we could find for children allergic to peanuts and tree nuts.
Does shea butter come from shea nuts?
Shea butter is a creamy, semisolid fat made from the seeds of shea trees, which are native to Africa. It contains many vitamins (such as vitamins E and A) and skin-healing compounds. It's used as a skin moisturizer and as an oil in foods like chocolate. Shea nuts are nuts from the shea tree.
Can I use shea butter with a nut allergy?
Thus, refined shea nut butter does not pose any known or likely allergenic risk to consumers including individuals with pre-existing peanut or tree nut allergies. Products containing refined shea butter can be safely used by all consumers.
What can be used instead of shea butter?
If you are looking for creamy and rich butters that have textures similar to Shea butter, you can try Sal butter and Mango butter. These two butters are super moisturizing and relatively soft like Shea butter. In addition, they have beneficial qualities that compare relatively well to Shea butter.
Why does shea butter make me itch?
Natural latex is found in nearly 10% of all plants. This complex emulsion contains proteins, starches, sugars, oils, and other substances. Because the shea tree can contain natural latex, it may trigger a reaction in people with a latex allergy.
How do you make shea butter from shea nuts?
The ways Shea butter is extracted from Shea nutStep 1- Shea shell is cracked by the hand to release the Shea nut.Step 2- After that extractors wash the nuts and leave them for drying in order to remove moistures.Step 3- Extractors pound the nuts and crash them into small pieces.More items...•
Can I eat shea butter?
It is safe to consume provided that it is 100% raw and unrefined. Make sure your Shea butter product is at least grade A and comes from a reputable source. In Ghana and other African countries, Shea butter is commonly used in food preparation.
What are the side effects of shea butter?
Shea butter has soothing and anti-aging properties that may make skin appear smoother and reduce aging. However, pure shea butter on your face could lead to breakouts. Even using some products that just contain a smaller percentage of shea butter may lead to acne.
Is shea nut related to peanut?
Dr. Sicherer: Shea nut butter or oil is derived from the seed of the fruit of the shea tree, which is indigenous to parts of Africa. The relationship of proteins from this nut to other nuts or peanut, has not been reported, although shea nut is distantly related to Brazil nut.
Can shea butter irritate eczema?
Allergic reactions to shea butter are extremely rare, with no reported cases of it in the United States. However, if you experience worsening eczema symptoms, such as increased inflammation or irritation, you should stop use immediately and contact your doctor or dermatologist.
Does raw shea butter cause breakouts?
If you have acne prone skin, shea butter could cause breakouts. While some shea butter brands claim the ingredient is noncomedogenic (meaning it doesn't clog pores), there are no studies that support this. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, shea butter could clog your pores, and in turn, cause breakouts.
Where does shea butter come from?
It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory color. Shea trees are native to West Africa, and most shea butter still comes from that region. Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries. Its high concentration of vitamins ...
What are the ingredients in shea butter?
linoleic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic fatty acids, ingredients that balance oils on your skin. vitamins A, E, and F, antioxidant vitamins that promote circulation and healthy skin cell growth. triglycerides, the fatty part of the shea nut that nourishes and conditions your skin.
How to apply shea butter to skin?
Raw, unrefined shea butter is easy to spread. You can use your fingers to scoop a teaspoon or so of shea butter from your jar, and then rub it onto your skin until it’s completely absorbed.
What is shea butter used for?
Shea butter is typically used for its moisturizing effects. These benefits are tied to shea’s fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids. When you apply shea topically, these oils are rapidly absorbed into your skin.
How does shea help your skin?
It helps promote cell regeneration. Shea’s moisturizing and antioxidant properties work together to help your skin generate healthy new cells. Your body is constantly making new skin cells and getting rid of dead skin cells. You actually get rid of anywhere between 30,000 to 40,000 old skin cells each day.
Does shea butter make your skin look oily?
Shea butter contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid. These two acids balance each other out. That means shea butter is easy for your skin to fully absorb and won’t make your skin look oily after application.
Is shea butter safe for skin?
It’s safe for all skin types. Shea butter is technically a tree nut product. But unlike most tree nut products, it’s very low in the proteins that can trigger allergies. In fact, there’s no medical literature documenting an allergy to topical shea butter.
What Is Shea Butter?
Shea butter is a fantastic skin super food, popular in skin and beauty care products. It originates in West Africa where shea trees are native and shea butter itself is made from the fat extracted from seeds that come from these trees inside fruit.
What Is Shea Oil?
Shea oil is actually a possible extract from the process of making shea butter. It is also sometimes called shea butter oil or shea nut oil – these terms can be used interchangeably.
Benefits Of Shea Butter
Shea butter has many benefits and has been used for many different things over many centuries. This is thanks to how nutrient-rich it is along with the useful fatty acids it contains.
Benefits Of Shea Butter Oil
Shea butter oil benefits are very similar to that of shea butter thanks to its similar make up. It contains many of the same acids and vitamins but since the amount of these differs, it does lead to different results.
Shea Butter Vs Shea Oil
If you have read up to here, it may be confusing whether you should use shea butter or shea oil as they are quite similar. So let’s find out who is the winner of shea oil vs shea butter!
Conclusion
I hope you have found this guide to shea nut oil vs shea butter useful with everything you need to know to pick the right product for you.
By Cara Davis
Cara Davis is a food lover and health fanatic who likes to make life as stress free as possible - thus why she loves to eat quick and healthy!
Is mango butter good for hair?
If you find the nutty scent of shea butter to be unpleasant, then mango butter is also a great alternative because of its milder, sweet scent.
Can shea butter be used as a sealant?
Shea oil is less odoriferous making it a great alternative for those who dislike the scent of shea butter. The oil can be used alone as a sealant or whipped with a butter like mango. It still contains the emollient properties of shea butter but without the nutty smell.
Is Cupuacu butter worth it?
This butter is a little more expensive, but it may well be worth it for those who desire a more moisturizing butter. Naturals who use this alternative tend to fall in love with it and use it in many mixtures (e.g., whipped butter, conditioner additive, styling agent). Cupuacu butter not only acts as a sealant but also has the ability to absorb water, thus restoring moisture to dry hair.
What is the difference between cocoa butter and shea butter?
Shea Butter vs. Cocoa Butter. The first difference between Shea Butter vs Cocoa Butter is their source: cocoa butter is extracted from cocoa beans, while shea butter is extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. Cocoa is a bean. Shea is a nut. The cocoa tree, also known as the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), is native to the tropical regions ...
What is the scent of unrefined shea butter?
The natural scent of shea butter is slightly nutty and smokey.
How long do shea nuts take to cook?
shea nuts are lightly boiled for several hours and then sun-dried prior to grinding into a paste. The fat is then extracted from the paste and turned into butter through churning.
Where does cocoa butter go?
Cocoa Butter is easily absorbed into the top layer of the skin and the dermis layer where the body is able to retain more moisture. Cocoa butter is rich in Vitamins A, E and stearic acid, and it will go deep into your scarred skin to slowly improve its appearance.
Is shea butter a strong scent?
The natural scent of shea butter is slightly nutty and smokey. Unrefined cocoa butter is a bit darker than shea butter, with a browner/coffee tint to it, and the natural scent is unmistakable: it is pure, strong chocolate scent. As for consistency, shea butter is soft and pliable, it’s easy to break off a pea size with your fingers, ...
Is cocoa butter a plant based fat?
Both Shea and cocoa butter are natural plant-based fats, packed with nutrients and vitamins that your skin will love. BOTH butter s are natural plant-based fats. Both unrefined shea and cocoa butter are extracts from the fruit of their respective trees, this is done through pressure, but in different ways:
Can you break off cocoa butter?
Breaking it off requires you to chip the butter with a knife or other tool and it’s almost impossible to break off a piece with your fingers unless you warm it up first. However, cocoa will also melt on skin contact, and when used in DIY whipped body butter, it requires melting before adding it to your recipe.
