Shea butter has become a sensation in the beauty industry as it contains several vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, E and F not to mention, it has the ability to provide protection against the harsh UV rays coming from the sun. What’s more, shea butter as essential fatty acids that promote better collagen production so that our skin remains smooth and supple. And because of the nutrients found in shea butter, it has been used in creams, shampoos, and even make up to help nourish our skin.
What exactly are the benefits that we can reap from using shea butter? Here are some to take note of.
- It reduces inflammation. One study that was conducted back in 2010 showed that the cinnamic acid present in shea butter made it possible to reduce inflammation in the body. The lupeol cinnamate compound to be exact was the one that has the ability to reduce inflammation and even keep skin mutations at bay. This makes shea butter useful to those who are prone to acne breakouts.
- It has antioxidants. Like it was mentioned before, shea butter contains plenty of plant antioxidants like vitamins A, E and catechins just to name a few. Both the vitamins A and E are actually protecting the cells against damage from free radicals and environmental factors.
- It moisturizes the skin. Another benefit that you can gain from shea butter is that it helps moisturize the skin. This is due to the fact that there are plenty of nutrients contained in shea butter that it can actually sink deep into the skin to nourish it from the inside. This makes your skin look younger and glowing when used regularly.
- It has healing properties. Shea butter actually boasts of its healing properties that are actually linked to plant sterols like palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids. The components are all oil-soluble which means that they do not convert into soap when they are mixed with alkali. This means that shea butter has the ability to promote healing through these components which is why raw shea butter is often used in treating peeling skin after overexposure to the sun, frost bites, skin rashes, and even insect bites.
- It prevents aging. Premature aging affects all of us especially when we often expose ourselves to the sun, we don’t get enough sleep, or we don’t care for our skin too much. Those fine lines that start to appear around the eyes and mouth are just a few signs that tend to appear earlier than usual. Fortunately, shea butter has the ability to increase collagen production which helps keep our skin plump, hydrated, and well nourished. This keeps signs of aging away for quite a long time.
These health benefits that are linked to shea butter only shows that this ingredient is actually good for our skin. No wonder it is being used in many beauty products. Regardless of whether you will use raw shea butter or products with this ingredient on it, you’ll see some positive changes to your skin for sure.
