Shea butter: discover all the cosmetic properties of this precious ingredient
How many times have you heard of this ingredient?
Many! This is because the Shea butter has remarkable cosmetic properties, and over the years it founf it way into many formulations of face and body creams. With this article we will get into the secrets of this precious ingredient trying to understand why it is so special.
The origins of shea butter and its properties
The origins of shea butter and its properties
Shea Butter is obtained by refining the seeds of an African tree called Vitellaria paradoxa (also called Butyrospermum parkii ). This plant grows spontaneously in the most central part of Africa and is similar to a big oak whose fruits contain the seeds which are the base of the production process of the famous butter well known and appreciated by African women since generations.
The production of Shea Butter is mainly artisanal and consists in crushing the seeds ( previously peeled and toasted ) until a malleable paste is obtained .Then water is added, brought to a boil and then filtered to remove impurities.
At the end of the manufacturing process we obtain a buttery cream which can be either stored in containers to be used pure, or sent as raw material to cosmetic laboratories for the creation of many preparations.
Shea butter: a natural makeup companion
Why is it so loved? Because it nourishes, protects, soothes and heals, it is a wonderful emollient and elasticizer..
The feature that makes it so unique is its high content of unsaponifiable substances that make the skin elastic and toned at the same time, shielding it from external aggressions by a lipid film, protecting it from adverse weather conditions without clogging pores.
The composition of shea butter can vary depending on different conditions, such as the type of soil in which the plant is grown and the method of extraction, but we can say that its composition is mainly made up of a mixture of fatty acids with the addition of a fair quantity of fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant action (vitamin A and E).
Hereunder some the acids:
• Palmitic acid
• Arachic acid
• Alpha-linolenic acid
• Lauric acid
• Oleic acid
• Stearic acid
• Linoleic acid
Shea butter and eye contour
Precisely thanks to the beneficial properties already mentioned, to which we add the antioxidant properties and a mild sun filter action (let us remember that the sun is one of the main responsible for the premature aging of the skin), Shea butter finds space for good reason also in cosmetic formulations intended for very delicate and sensitive areas of the skin. A perfect example of this is our Bella Sveglia cream, intended for the eyes.
The area around the eyes is in fact very subject to signs, giving rise to the annoying fine lines called "crow's feet".
The aging of the skin is a process that is objectively impossible to stop, but that it is very possible to slow down if the right products and devices are used.
Shea butter on the lips
The eye contour is certainly not the only area of the face subject to easy marking, in fact we cannot forget the lips among the most "at risk" areas.
Cold, wind, climatic changes, makeup products with an inarent effect such as lip dyes, constantly put the labial mucosa's health to the test.
Also in this case Shea butter turns out to be an ally able to make the difference, whether it is used pure, or supported by the admixture with other nutritious ingredients and precious oils as in the case in our perfumed lip balms: i Lippini .
