What is Shea Butter & Its’ Benefits?
Have you ever ordered a Shea Butter product just because it looked pretty online but didn’t really understand the benefits of it? You have come to the right place! What I hope to accomplish in my very first blog (yay me!!) is for you to learn at least one benefit on how Shea Butter is heaven for your skin! I will also continue to blog about Shea Butter so that Kblessd Butters can be your one-stop shop for not only the education of Shea Butter and the products that I use but also to purchase from us! Also, I must add the disclaimer that I am not a doctor, and should you decide to use any of my Shea Butter products, which are all 100% natural, you are using them at your own risk. Now that we have all the legalities out of the way let’s get into it!
What is Shea Butter used for?
Its moisturizing effects have a lot to do with Shea’s fatty acid content, including several acids. The two main ones that I will discuss are Linoleic and Oleic acids. When you apply Shea Butter on your skin, the natural oils are rapidly absorbed, restoring lipids and rapidly creating moisture. This restores the barrier between your skin and the outside elements, holding in the moisture and reducing dryness. Because Shea Butter contains high levels of Oleic acid (Omega-9) and Linoleic acid (Omega-6 ), which balance each other out, it makes it easier for your skin to absorb without making it look oily after applying. I mentioned two acids that you may or may not have heard of before, but let us dive in a little deeper—but not too deep—in how they work. No, they are not the types of acids that will burn your skin the way that battery acid does. These acids are beneficial to us and are saturated fatty acids that make up the backbone of many of the natural oils and sebum.
Oleic acid (aka called Omega-9) is an essential fatty acid that our bodies need but cannot create and is perfect for dry and aging skin. It deeply penetrates the skin and locks in the moisture, which prevents your skin from developing fine lines and wrinkles. This anti-inflammatory acid also helps you restore your skin’s natural oil without clogging your pores.
Linoleic acid (aka Omega-6) is not produced by human bodies but plays a vital role in keeping your skin healthy and promotes healthy cell activity. But what makes Linoleic acid different from Oleic acid is that it doesn’t penetrate and moisturize your skin as much as Oleic acid does. It’s also an anti-inflammatory.
So far, you have learned:
What Shea Butter is
Where it comes from
How it’s moisturizing for the skin due to Oleic and Linoleic acids without making it oily and won’t clog your pores
How it’s both moisturizing and is an anti-inflammatory
Shea Butter has so many benefits:
Helps to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and scarring,
Is an antibacterial and an antifungal,
Helps boost collagen production,
Helps to prevent acne,
Offers added sun protection, helps soothe sunburn and other skin burns,
Helps soothe conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis,
Helps relieve arthritis pain,
Helps to promote wound healing,
Helps soothe muscle soreness,
Soothes insect bites,
Treats dandruff and helps to prevent hair breakage.
I bet you didn’t know all of this, did ya? I will discuss all these benefits in my next blog post so stay tuned!
I hope that I could provide information that you didn’t know and will continue to educate you more on Shea Butter. Stay tuned for my next blog post!! 😊