Shea butter, also known as karite butter, is a cream-colored fatty
substance made from the nuts of karite nut trees (also called
Mangifolia trees) that grow in the savannah regions of West and
Central Africa. Karite trees, or shea trees, are not cultivated.
They grow only in the wild, and can take up to *0 years to mature
(they live up to **0 years!). In most parts of West Africa,
destruction of the shea tree is prohibited because this little nut
provides a valuable source of food, medicine, and income for the
population. In fact, shea butter is sometimes referred to as
“women’s gold” in Africa, because so many women are employed in the
production of shea butter.
Why is shea butter in such demand? Western countries are just
beginning to recognize the considerable health and beauty benefits
of shea butter, something Africans have known for thousands of
years. Shea butter has been used to help heal burns, sores, scars,
dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, and stretch marks. It may also
help diminish wrinkles by moisturizing the skin, promoting cell
renewal, and increasing circulation. Shea butter also contains
cinnamic acid, a substance that helps protect the skin from harmful
UV rays.
Shea butter is a particularly effective moisturizer because
contains so many fatty acids, which are needed to retain skin
moisture and elasticity. The high fatty acid content of shea butter
also makes it an excellent additive to soap, shampoos, anti-aging
creams, cosmetics, lotions, and massage oils—its soft, butter-like
texture melts readily into the skin.
Shea butter protects the skin from both environmental and
free-radical damage. It contains vitamins A and E, and has
demonstrated both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Unrefined shea butter is superior in that it retains all its
natural vitamins, especially vitamin A and vitamin E.
