It should be noted that shea butter has long been used by Africans for the treatment of various skin diseases, which marked the first time its healing property. On the African continent there is a tree with an interesting name Vitellaria amazing (from the Latin Vitellaria paradoxa), which in English translates to shea-buttertree, and the seed pulp of which is the source of shea butter.
The process of obtaining oil from the bones is extraordinarily interesting and time consuming. So, before gathering the harvest from a tree that is sacred among African peoples, it must be at least 30 years old. Next, the fruit is peeled, and the bones are dried. After which they split, crushed, pounded, like a thousand years ago, in a wooden mortar to the state of flour. Then add water and cook until a green homogeneous mass is obtained, which is covered over the surface with an oily film. The evolved film is removed and the remaining mass is collected, washed, cooled and laid out in the form of bars for storage in a cool dark place. The result is butter, a white and milky color, which does not have a smell. Some note only a slight nutty flavor.
Shea butter is unusually rich in its chemical composition. Consisting mainly of triglycerides (up to 80%) and unsaponifiable fats (up to 17%), it also contains oleic, stearic and palmitic acids.
Due to its rich composition, shea butter is used both for skin regeneration and for preventing premature aging. The oil is quickly absorbed into the skin, leaving no greasy shine on it and not clogging the pores. In addition, vitamins and fatty acids, which are in shea butter, have high sun protection properties, are excellent ultraviolet filters. Shea butter perfectly soothes the skin, prone to dryness and irritation, eliminates stiffness and peeling. This effect is due to unsaponifiable fats, which contribute to the activation of the collagen synthesis.
It should be noted that the shea butter not only nourishes the skin, but also increases its elasticity and elasticity. Together with the antiallergic effect, it is ideal for pregnant women to care for the skin of the abdomen and avoid stretch marks after childbirth.
Positive effect of oil on the baby's skin was noted. Some people still have a tradition of rubbing the skin of newborns with oil, to prevent skin diseases.
Thus, thanks to all the above properties, shea butter is widely used in cosmetics, and is a component of high rank. Soap, made with shea butter, is considered one of the best. This is due to its low toxicity and high calming effect. Based on shea butter, creams are produced for delicate skin around the eyes, which help to avoid swelling, bruising through the eyes, fine wrinkles, relieve fatigue from the eyelids, making the skin more elastic.
It is also used to prepare various body creams. The oil is gently applied to the skin, perfectly absorbed, leaving a feeling of lightness and smoothness. It promotes excellent slip of the hands of the masseur, as a result of which you will not experience unpleasant sensations during the massage. In addition, shea butter will not leave feelings of stickiness and fatiness of the skin. Shea Butter is an indispensable component for the production of an anti-aging series of cosmetics, thanks to its restoring properties.
If you want to buy cosmetic products based on shea butter, you should carefully look at the list of ingredients. It is desirable to achieve the best effect for this component to be at the top of the list. This guarantees its greatest content in the product, and, therefore, the most effective result. Now you know how useful shea butter is, the medicinal properties of which we advise you to experience on yourself!