Description

Shea butter is a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of the shea tree. Shea butter is solid, has a pleasant delicate nutty smell. Color can be white or cream. The consistency of shea butter at room temperature is similar to ghee. The oil is used to make ointments and cosmetics.

Shea butter is mainly composed of triglycerides. Fatty acids are represented: oleic (from 40 to 55%), stearic (from 35 to 45%), palmitic (from 3 to 7%), linoleic (from 3 to 8%) and linolenic (1%). Shea butter contains much more unsaponifiables (up to 17%) than cocoa butter; On average, shea butter contains 8% unsaponifiables.

Shea butter is used for cosmetic purposes. It has a mild pleasant smell and blends well with essential oils, which allows you to give the desired aroma to the oil. It is used as a moisturizer and emollient, which is suggested to be used to rejuvenate the skin and treat dry, damaged hair. Also, shea butter is used in ointments for the treatment of skin diseases. It is believed that it helps the healing of small wounds and cracks in the skin.