Shea butter, a natural plant fat derived from the nuts of the shea tree, undergoes a meticulous process. After the shea nuts are lightly boiled and sun-dried, they are ground into a paste. Through churning, the fat is extracted, resulting in the creation of shea butter. While raw shea butter is typically yellow, more processed versions may appear ivory or white.
As a naturally-derived plant ingredient, shea butter boasts a diverse composition of oils and fats. It contains oleic acid (40-60%), stearic acid (20-50%), linoleic acid (3-11%), palmitic acid (2-9%), and arachidic acid (less than 1%). In this complex structure, allantoin, along with vitamins E, A, and D, contributes to its skincare benefits. Shea butter shares similar anti-aging properties with green tea, acting as a plant-based antioxidant. This incredible ingredient aids in protecting and maintaining the skin’s natural barrier, providing antioxidant properties, and promoting effective skin moisturisation.
EWG Scoring 1