Victoria’s Very Important Question:
Does shea butter work as a skin moisturizer? I have a friend who uses it around her eyes and swears that it helps minimize wrinkles. I use it on my heels and nothing seems to work as well.
The Right Brain‘s Rapid Response:
Shea butter is extracted from the fruit of the shea tree and it’s used in foods as a substitute for cocoa butter and in cosmetics as a moisturizer. Shea butter is a good natural moisturizier alone or when used in leave in creams and lotions but it doesn’t do much when used in shampoos or body washes.
It works the same way as petrolatum and mineral oil, by forming a barrier layer on top of the skin that reduces the amount of water that evaporates through the skin. You can read our previous post on the world’s top 5 moisturizing oils if you want more info. It’s oily nature also softens skin and it smells good too!
And in case you’re wondering, yes, that is a giant butter sculpture of Elvis Presley.
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I was about to ask that same question, Thanks!!
If you have ever smelled natural shea butter in its unpurified state, it smells pretty rank. You are supposed to melt it then purify it using cheesecloth to get the smell out.
My stepfather’s mother used to bring it from Africa for us all the time, in a giant brick like a pack of Crisco or something. She taught me how to purify it. They use it on the hair and skin, and she also said with disdain that “poor people cook with it” – people who can’t afford coconut oil or soy oil.
Now, before this shea connection and after, I’ve used cocoa butter, brazil nut butter, and cupuacu butter in the same way, on the skin and hair, and have found that shea butter just seems to absorb better on the skin. Is it all in my mind, or is it actually different from the other butters?
shea butter can be used on the skin everyday. i use daily for my face and dry areas on body…works amazing and gives your complextion such a healthy glow. it heals cuts/scraps quicker then anything. you can never go wrong with shea butter.
I found that there are two important properties with shea butter. 1) the moisturizing 2) the healing. Its all to do with the way they process shea butter that defines the good from the bad. I found a really good place to buy mine. please check aaasheabutter.eu, these guys promote certified and tested shea butter that really heals the skin.
http://www.aaasheabutter.eu/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=7
Hey!! SHEA BUTTER is a miracle on earth and trust me for it…Its a great moisturizer and is used in stretch marks,wrinkles and what not..
I wrote a post about it you can go thru it here
http://www.wiseshe.com/2010/03/shea-butter-is-basically-extracted-from.html