Benefits of Shea Butter for Your skin

There are many shea butter skincare benefits and once you know what they are, you'll wonder why you waited this long to give it a try.

Fortunately, you probably already have many skincare products, like Sönd's Calming Hydration Day Cream, that contain shea butter. If your products don't contain this beneficial ingredient, consider switching because shea butter skincare products are effective and will help you get the healthy, glowing complexion you crave.

Is shea butter good for skin? You be it is! Here’s why…

Shea Butter Moisturises the Skin

Shea butter is a rich source of healthy fats which help keep the skin hydrated and plumped. When it comes to shea butter for skin, it's an ideal choice for your face and entire body. You can use it to combat dry skin, infuse your skin with important nutrients and protect the body's natural oils.

It Helps to Fight Inflammation

Research shows that shea butter contains natural properties, including cinnamic acid, that battle inflammation in the skin. It's a great choice for treating acne and other chronic skin conditions, making it a good option when you're considering shea butter for face products. To get the best results, include shea butter in your skincare routine on a regular basis.

Shea Butter Helps to Smooth the Skin

Everyone wants smooth, fresh skin because it keeps us looking youthful. Shea butter helps the skin produce collagen, which keeps the skin looking supple and young. Adequate collagen in the skin also fights dryness and creates an even complexion.

Long-term use of shea butter has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also creating smooth skin all over the body.

It Protects the Skin from UV Rays

Shea butter for skin contains cinnamic acid esters, a component that has strong UV-absorbing properties. It is estimated to have a sun protection factor of 6. While the UV-absorbing powers of shea butter may not be as great as actual SPFs, it can provide some protection against UV exposure.

Shea Butter Soothes the Skin

Sometimes, the skin can become irritated and red, especially after too much time in the sun. Because shea butter contains anti-inflammatory properties, it's a great option for treating sunburned skin. Simply rub it into the affected areas and you should experience almost immediate relief.

It Helps to Reduce Stretch Marks

Raw shea butter is normally used as a base in creams prepared commercially for the treatment of stretch marks. This is because shea butter for stretch marks reduces the appearance of stretch marks, scarring, and cellulite by keeping the skin supple and increasing its elasticity.

A cell-based study conducted by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information found that shea butter can reduce the growth and production of keloid tissue. This tissue is responsible for the formation of keloids – thick, overgrown scars that rise above the skin level.

It Cares for Cuticles

Your cuticles need to stay hydrated to keep them from cracking and splitting. By rubbing a small dab of shea butter into your cuticles on a regular basis, you can easily keep them soft and supple. In fact, shea butter is a great option for hand lotion, so you can kill two birds with one stone by rubbing it into your hands after washing them.

Shea Butter Helps to Treat Scars

You can't completely get rid of a scar, but you can lessen its appearance by boosting collagen production in the area. This is easy to do by rubbing shea butter for scars into the immediate and surrounding areas. Not only is it easy, it’s also less expensive than traditional scar remedies.

Adding shea butter to your skincare routine is easy to do and has plenty of benefits that you are going to love. You can find shea butter at most chemists and beauty stores, making it really easy to incorporate into your routine.

It Contains Anti-Ageing Properties

Shea butter is rich in antioxidant components such as stearic acid, oleic acid and vitamin E. These components prevent cellular oxidation, a major process of skin ageing. Raw shea butter also boosts collagen production and helps tissue cell regeneration which reduces wrinkles and facial lines.

Shea Butter Can Help to Treat Acne

Treating acne is one of the best uses of shea butter for acne sufferers. Acne is a skin condition that occurs when the skin pores become clogged with sebum and dead skin cells.

One of the main benefits of shea butter is that it can help to treat acne as it is non-comedogenic – meaning it’s readily absorbed by the skin and doesn’t clog pores. Additionally, it contains lupeol, a component that reduces the formation of acne.

It Can help Wound Healing

Shea butter can help cuts, scrapes, abrasions and other wounds heal faster. The triterpenes present in shea butter enhance tissue repair by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the wound and accelerating wound closure.

These are just some of the benefits of shea butter for skin. It is important to note that shea butter is available in different grades depending on the method of extraction. If you’re looking to incorporate shea butter into your skincare routine, unrefined shea butter, or grade A, is a great option. You can consider using Sönd’s Calming Hydration Day Cream for the best results.

If you’re allergic to tree nuts, consult your doctor or a dermatologist before using this product.

It’s Antibacterial and Antifungal

Studies suggest that taking shea butter internally can also help the skin. This doesn't mean eating your face cream however! Shea bark extract is available in health food stores and has an antimicrobial effect that may be beneficial for those who have acne prone skin.

Some forms of acne are caused by a buildup of acne causing bacteria on the skin. Eliminating these bacteria with an antimicrobial supplement could prove beneficial.

There is also evidence to suggest that oral and topical products containing shea bark extract could also have an antifungal effect. This could help to manage fungal infections such as ringworm and athlete's foot.

Shea butter also has an anti-inflammatory effect, which can soothe the itchiness and irritation of skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. The itching and swelling caused by bee stings and insect bites can also be made to feel better by applying shea butter to the affected area. It’s absorbed into the skin quickly too, providing fast relief.

Why is Shea Butter So Good for the Skin?

Shea butter is an amazing ingredient for the skin, and it’s all to do with its chemical makeup. It’s a rich source of fatty acids that nourish and balance the skin, as well as vitamins A and E that have an antioxidant effect on the skin.

This wonderful ingredient also contains natural fats and oils that benefit the skin. Triglycerides condition and treat the skin while cetyl esters help the skin to hold onto moisture preventing dehydration.

How to Use Shea Butter on the Skin

The simplest way to use shea butter on your skin, is to use the Sönd day time moisturiser!

Failing that, raw shea butter can be applied directly to the skin, straight from the jar. Although it can make the skin quite shiny when used in this way, so it might be best kept for your nighttime skincare routine.