PLANT BUTTER
Shea Butter
A rich, plant-derived butter pressed from the nut of the shea tree, used to soften, condition and calm skin during and after cleansing.
Source
Shea tree nut kernels
Used for
Dry-feeling skin, softness
How it works
Shea butter is extracted from the nut of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), and has been used traditionally for skin and hair care for generations. It's rich in oleic and stearic fatty acids alongside plant compounds like tocopherols (vitamin E) and phytosterols, which give it both emollient and antioxidant properties.
As an emollient, shea butter helps soften and condition skin by filling in the gaps between skin cells and reducing water loss. Shea butter's role here is best understood as a well-tolerated, calming emollient.
In a cleansing formula, shea butter's role is to soften and condition skin during the wash step rather than to sit on skin afterwards, so it rinses away rather than needing to be layered under other products. It's well tolerated by most skin types, including those prone to dryness or occasional sensitivity.
As an emollient, shea butter helps soften and condition skin by filling in the gaps between skin cells and reducing water loss. Shea butter's role here is best understood as a well-tolerated, calming emollient.
In a cleansing formula, shea butter's role is to soften and condition skin during the wash step rather than to sit on skin afterwards, so it rinses away rather than needing to be layered under other products. It's well tolerated by most skin types, including those prone to dryness or occasional sensitivity.
-
01
Softens and conditions skin as a rich emollient
-
02
Rich in antioxidant plant compounds (tocopherols, phytosterols)
-
03
A well-tolerated, calming emollient suited to most skin types
Questions
What is shea butter?
Shea butter is the fat taken from the nut kernels of the shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, which appears on ingredient lists under its older botanical name, Butyrospermum parkii. Traditionally the kernels are roasted and pressed, then the liquid is churned with water, boiled, sieved and cooled to give the butter. (Honfo et al., 2014; USDA GRIN Taxonomy)
What does shea butter do for skin?
Shea butter is used in skincare as a rich emollient that softens and conditions skin. Its fats are mostly stearic and oleic acids, which is why it feels rich yet softens as it is smoothed in. Alongside its fats it carries small amounts of natural compounds such as tocopherols, forms of vitamin E. (Poljšak & Kočevar Glavač, 2022; Honfo et al., 2014)
Is shea butter gentle on skin?
Shea butter has been tested on people's skin in patch studies, where it caused no visible irritation on healthy skin. If you have a nut allergy, see the note below. (Poljšak & Kočevar Glavač, 2022)
About the plant
The shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, belongs to the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae) and is native to a broad belt of tropical Africa, from Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Ghana in the west through Nigeria and Cameroon to Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia in the east. In French it is known as karité. (USDA GRIN Taxonomy)
Its nut kernels are rich in fat, which is why the tree has long been valued for its butter. The composition of that butter is not fixed: reported levels of its fatty acids and other natural compounds vary widely between samples, partly because of where the trees grow. (Honfo et al., 2014; Poljšak & Kočevar Glavač, 2022)
Its nut kernels are rich in fat, which is why the tree has long been valued for its butter. The composition of that butter is not fixed: reported levels of its fatty acids and other natural compounds vary widely between samples, partly because of where the trees grow. (Honfo et al., 2014; Poljšak & Kočevar Glavač, 2022)
Good to know
Shea butter comes from a tree nut. If you have a nut allergy, check with your doctor or allergy specialist before using it.
The research
- Poljšak N, Kočevar Glavač N. Vegetable Butters and Oils as Therapeutically and Cosmetically Active Ingredients for Dermal Use: A Review of Clinical Studies. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022;13:868461. PMID: 35548366. (opens in a new tab)
- Honfo FG, Akissoe N, Linnemann AR, Soumanou M, van Boekel MAJS. Nutritional Composition of Shea Products and Chemical Properties of Shea Butter: A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2014;54(5):673-686 (opens in a new tab)
- Chawla KK, Bencharitiwong R, Ayuso R, Grishina G, Nowak-Węgrzyn A. Shea butter contains no IgE-binding soluble proteins. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2011 (opens in a new tab)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, GRIN-Global Taxonomy: Vitellaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn. (opens in a new tab)
Found In
Type: Face Care
Hyaluronic Acid Radiant Eye Cream
15mlRegular price £38.00Sale price Regular price
New
New
