Shea butter is fat that’s extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory color. Shea trees are native to West Africa, and most shea butter still comes from that region.
Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries. Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids — combined with its easy-to-spread consistency — make it a great product for smoothing, soothing, and conditioning your skin.
Shea butter is a complex and unique natural substance. Scientists have worked on breaking the ingredient down to reveal the nutritional qualities and have found it to be high in Potassium and Magnesium and a good source of protein.
Chemically, shea butter is made up of essential fatty acid triglycerides, including stearic, linoleic, palmatic and oleic acids. It also contains unsaponifiables such as sterols and phenols, which are non-reactive in the soap making process. This is what gives shea butter soap products the characteristic moisturising and conditioning properties.
How to use
Shea butter can be used on its own, but it’s just as commonly used as an ingredient in cosmetics, so it’s up to you how you use it. Although, Wong makes sure to note that “Shea butter is best incorporated into a moisturiser with other ingredients so it’s easier to spread, since it’s usually a thick solid at room temperature.”
If you’re looking to use it on its own or make your own products, your best option will probably be buying it in bulk online from a wholesaler.