Shea Butter (African Karite)

The shea nut tree is native in the wooded savannahs of Western Africa.

Shea butter is traditionally used in Africa to treat rheumatism, muscular pain, and minor skin injuries and sunburn (UV filtering effect: 275 nm, possible sun protection factor without additives: 3-4)

Shea Butter is a solid moisturizer that melts at body temperature and has a richer texture and is more emollient than cocoa butter or lanolin.
It is cold pressed from the seeds of the Karite tree in Africa and has a very mild, pleasant smell that can be combined with essential oils for desired fragrance. African Americans especially enjoy Shea Butter as a natural lipstick base, or as a hair and skin softener in treatments.

Cosmetic & Therapeutic Use

Shea butter has soothing, moisturizing and protecting effects. Due to the presence of a sizeable quantity of unsaponifiable fats, its content in vitamins and other active elements, shea butter adds other more precise activities to these general properties.

·         It displays a protecting role against UV. The natural latex contained in shea butter would moreover prevent certain sun allergies.

·         Shea butter has also an activity on cell regeneration and capillary circulation. This favors the healing of small wounds, skin cracks and crevices, and skin ulcers. In the cosmetic field, this property is an asset against skin ageing.

·         It has restructuring effects on the epidermis, also on dry and fragile hair. Dry skin, dermatitis, eczema, sun burn, and burns are all helped by natural shea butter.

·         It has an anti-elastase characteristic which makes it a good active ingredient against stretch marks.

·         Shea butter can also be used to treat rheumatism and aching muscles, and to ease colds because it decongests nasal mucous tissues.

·         It is very well tolerated by the skin for it does not normally trigger any allergic reaction and can even be used on very sensitive skin areas such as mucous tissues and around the eyes. [I have one report of a person with latex allergy reacting to the natural latex in shea butter.] .

 

Skin Benefits

Repairs: Unique to shea butter is it’s high content of non-saponifiable fats. This natural fatty acid action is felt at the cellular level and contributes to the regeneration process of dry and wrinkled skin and can be used to treat rheumatism and aching muscles. 

Moisturizes: Shea butter penetrates deep into your skin and gives it back its elasticity. It will revitalize, soften and maintain moisture to your skin without greasiness. 
Nourishes: Shea butter’s high content of vitamins A, E & F will provide your skin with all the essential elements it needs for good skin balance.  Use it for the treatment of dry and wrinkled skin, sunburns, scars, skin irritations, cold sores, itching, diaper rash, eczema, burns, dermatitis and skin discoloration’s. Soothes and heals skin after shaving or waxing. We've also found shea butter to miraculously heal bed sores on bed ridden individuals and helps heal and restore elasticity to the skin of burn victims.

Hair Benefits

Shea Butter will add and maintain moisture to dry and brittle hair, revitalize split ends. It will also protect your hair from damaging sun rays, hair dryers, perms and dyes.
Unlike petroleum - based products, it will not clog pores and block hair shaft, allowing for easy breathing and stimulating growth.
Use it as a conditioning sheen to maintain hair’s natural shine, improve manageability and before swimming to protect you hair against chlorine or sea salt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPLICATIONS

In all cases, melt completely by rubbing smoothly in your hands before application until butter is perfectly liquid.

STRONG CONSERVATIVE AGENT WILL LEAVE YOUR HAIR SILKY AND REVITALIZED

a) Revitalizing application, the best of treatments : the day before shampooing, oil hair by massaging the points with a bit of butter. Wrap your hair in a hot towel, your keratin will absorb all that it needs.

b) Preparation. If you have a very dry hair, ten minutes after shampooing, apply a little bit of butter to bring brightness and life to your hair.

 

MOISTURIZING THE FACE SUPERFICIAL LAYERS

The face is the main beneficiary of the daily use of shea butter. Concentrate on inert parts (lower part of the nose, the corners of lips). Massage about ten minutes.

a) Flexibility : it is the high content unsaponifiable elements and vitamin F in shea butter that make it so flexible. You can feel the difference just by touching your skin after a massage.

b) Moisturizing : the superficial layers of the skin absolutely require an acceleration of blood circulation. You will notice a tingly sensation on your skin immediately after application.

c) Protection : the butter will penetrate deep into your skin, leaving a satin finish to the skin. The protection is real and will last a long time. Shea butter softens the lips and gives them a protective film against the cold. Shea butter also helps irritated noses due to allergies or colds. A little bit of butter may be applied in each nostril.

 

 

FOR USAGE ON THE WHOLE BODY

The Quick Answer: Applying one spoonful in a hot bath will leave your body soft and moisturized.

The Relaxing Solution : apply carefully on arms and thighs for instantaneous muscular well-being.

Local Applications : apply immediately after shaving or waxing to prevent irritation and to give your skin a lustrous, satiny look and feel.

 

REVITALIZING THE SKIN

A bit of butter on all exposed parts : forearms and legs. It is an ideal for softening dry skins.

 

ESSENTIAL FOR BABY'S DAILY CARE

Africans have been using shea butter daily for centuries as a unique link between mother and child to prevent delicate baby skin irritations.

 

COLD AND WINTER SHEA BUTTER IN THE MORNING TO PROTECT YOUR FACE

All of your body parts that are exposed, are attacked by the cold weather. The film that shea butter leaves on your skin will screen and protect it for hours. Never forget that the fight against ageing begins with protection.

 

SUN & SUMMER BUTTER IN THE EVENING: TO REGAIN FRESHNESS

Refer to the treatment mentioned for your hair which gets dry in the summer. Do not hesitate to oil hair before swimming and to maintain this treatment after the season is over.

Your skin suffers during the whole summer. Regular use of shea butter in addition to sun screen products, before and after sun exposition, leaves you with tanned skin and avoids peeling.

 

MEN AND ATHLETES PREFER THE BODY BUTTER

Use shea butter after shaving for a healthy and younger feeling skin.

Gentlemen, at least once a week, apply a generous amount from head to foot. With special care for joint (elbows and knees), toes, heels and nails.

 

SPORT AND SHEA BUTTER: Shea butter is particularly recommended for sportsmen. It has been used by African for centuries to relieve muscles tension and stress.

Before exercise: shea butter accelerates warm-ups.

Afterwards Shea butter helps drain toxins from sore muscles for a faster recovery.