Shea butter is a must have for your beauty routine. It is an excellent moisturizer for skin and hair, leaving a silky feel. Besides using it as an all-natural moisturizer, it is fabulous for making luxurious DIY Shea Butter Recipes.
You can make body butters, lip balms, hand creams, and homemade lotions. Shea butter is known for its superior moisturizing, anti-aging and healing properties.
What Is Shea Butter?
Shea butter is actually the fat of the nuts from the African shea (karite) tree. It is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, plus essential fatty acids.
It is solid at room temperature but when rubbed between hands or onto the skin it melts and can be easily absorbed. Shea butter has a nutty aroma and it only takes a little bit of butter to cover a large area.
Who can use: All skin types. It is gentle enough for use on sensitive skin and effective enough for rough, red, and dry skin. It is also non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog pores.
Qualities: Emollient (moisturizing), soothing, softening, protective, anti-inflammatory.
What Shea Butter Should I Buy?
It is best to buy raw, organic, unrefined ivory shea butter. Here is the brand we like to use, click here to learn more.
Top 10 Shea Butter Uses
Do you want to discover the incredible health benefits of shea butter? Shea Butter is a hugely popular ingredient in many beauty products today, so it is no wonder why this natural product is gaining increasing attention around the world. Here is how you too can benefit from using shea butter!
1. Shea Butter For Hair
Shea butter can restore moisture, and it can also be used as a natural remedy for a dry, itchy scalp. Want to get rid of frizzy hair or dry locks? Use whipped shea butter for a DIY hair mask. You could even add in a drop of lavender or rosemary essential oil.
DIY Hair Mask: Simply apply a small amount of whipped shea butter to hair from roots to tips, use fingertips to massage into scalp as well. Let it sit on the hair for 30 minutes. Use a shower cap so you can still get things done as you beautify your hair. Then rinse out with warm water and wash hair normally.
2. Shea Butter For Skin
Shea butter is ultra healing and nourishing to the skin because it has high contents of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, vitamins A, D, and E. Not only does it moisturize and lubricate, it also protects, holds in moisture and keeps the skin balanced.
If you have had a cold or allergies, you know how chapped your nose can get from blowing it with tissues, even soft tissues can cause irritation. Soothe a chapped nose by applying a small amount of shea butter around the nostrils.
DIY Soothing Sun Cream: Replenish your skin after a day in the sun by applying shea butter to sun-exposed skin for soothing relief. Better yet, add a few drops of lavender to your shea butter for DIY soothing sun cream.
3. Shea Butter For Lips
Shea butter heals and prevents dry cracking lips as well as protects your lips from the harsh elements. Place shea butter in a lip balm container and use it as needed to keep lips moisturized.
Add in a drop of peppermint essential oils for added cooling, tingling, and refreshing.
Peppermint Shea Butter Lip Balm |
Enjoy the tingling and cooling relief of peppermint oil in this DIY recipe blend that can soothe chapped lips.
Directions: Fill the lip balm jar with shea butter, leaving a little room at the top. Add the drop of peppermint to the jar and mix in with a toothpick. |
4. Shea Butter For Face
Shea butter is very helpful in bringing balance to the skin, especially irritated skin. High-quality raw shea butter can instantly reduce redness.
It is high in skin lubricating essential fatty acids, which are important for ensuring healthy skin’s cellular function. Shea butter is also safe for acne-prone skin because it is non-comedogenic, so it doesn’t clog pores.
5. Shea Butter For Nails
Repair dry, brittle nails and cuticle. Just rub shea butter around your nails. For a special treatment, rub a good amount of shea butter on your hands and nails, then wrap up with a moist, hot towel. Leave the towel on until heat dissipates. You may want to do one hand at a time for easier manipulation.
This moist heat will allow the shea butter to penetrate even deeper for an ultra-moisturizing treatment. This can be done to feet too, now that is a great at-home pampering treatment!
6. Shea Butter For Beard Hair
Beards are coarse and the hair can get dried out, making for an unruly beard. At times, beards can lead to beardruff, eczema, and dermatitis.
Simply using a little bit of shea butter on a beard each day can assist with these problems. Only a little bit needs to be applied each day to maintain a healthy beard. Softer facial hair and healthier skin under the beard will be noticed.
Talking about beards… we have a post on How to Make Beard Oil you might like.
7. Shea Butter For Stretch Marks
Stretch marks occur for a variety of reasons, including pregnancy, growth spurt, weight gain, etc. While these are naturally occurring, the skin doesn’t possess the elasticity necessary to rapidly stretch without causing noticeable damage.
No matter the reason, shea butter can help if you deal with these annoying marks. Massage shea butter onto stretch marks to help fade them. You can also use raw shea butter as a preventative to stretch marks. Keeping the skin supple and lubricated can help your skin better stretch without damage.
8. Shea Butter For Dark Circles
Under-eye circles may not be from lack of sleep. It could be from dehydrated skin. Shea butter is the perfect hydrating balm for getting rid of unsightly darkness and bringing back brightness to your under-eye area.
Apply around eyes to reduce eye bags and discoloration. Essential fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acids hydrate your cells and banish dryness and discoloration.
Get our Moisturizing Eye Cream recipe!
9. Shea Butter For Eczema
Combat eczema with this shea butter which can help calm your skin. It helps heal the red, dry skin associated with eczema. It is full of all-natural vitamin A which works as an anti-inflammatory agent and aids in numerous skin conditions. Vitamin E is also in shea butter which helps with skin healing.
10. Shea Butter For Wrinkles
Transform skin from dry and wrinkled into smooth and glowing. Raw shea butter is an effective anti-aging skincare product. It forms a protective barrier on the skin that shields it from the harsh environment.
Things like pollution, sunlight, and strong winds can wreak havoc on delicate skin tissues. Shea butter can not only help prevent the formation of wrinkles, but it can also soften and smooth existing ones.
So as you can see, shea butter has some awesome beauty benefits!
Shea Butter Essential Oil Recipes
Shea butter is high in vitamin A, E, and F, which makes it incredibly beneficial for your skin. It can be used to soothe sunburns, moisturize dry skin, treat wrinkles and stretch marks, and much more. Here we give you some recipes for using shea butter with essential oils to get the most out of its healing properties.
DIY Frankincense Under Eye Cream |
This shea butter recipe includes frankincense, a powerful resin essential oil with a long history of medicinal use. Enjoy the glowing skin benefits of frankincense oil in this DIY recipe blend that can heal and brighten delicate tissue.
Directions: Fill the mini jar with shea butter leaving a little room at the top. Add the drop of frankincense to jar and mix in with a toothpick. To use, take a small dab on a clean fingertip and gently apply to the area under the eye, use caution, and avoid getting homemade cream in the eye. |
Overnight Cracked Heel Balm |
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Have your comfy summer sandals left you with dry cracked heels that look hideous? I love summertime… not wearing socks, being barefoot, wearing sandals when going out. All of these things can worsen cracked heels. Dry, cracked heels can seem like a losing battle, but with persistent care, you can beat it. Essential oils can help heal the cracks while soothing and softening your feet. Whip up a batch of this overnight cream to moisturize heels.
Directions: At bedtime, massage this blend on heels and feet. Put on a pair of cotton socks and wear them overnight. Repeat nightly until they reach desired softness. This homemade cream is at 2% dilution. |
Shea Body Butter Recipe with Ylang Ylang |
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Save money and whip up an easy batch of chemical-free Body Butter with this lovely recipe. This body butter is a treat for all skin types, and it does wonders for dry hands and it’s a wonderful body moisturizer. Ylang ylang essential oil has a beautiful exotic floral aroma that is very pleasing and soothing to both the mind and body.
Directions: Combine shea butter and almond oil in a mixing bowl and use a hand mixer to whip for a few minutes until well blended. Add in drops of essential oils and blend in. Place it into a mason jar for storage. To use, take a small dab with clean hands and rub on the skin as desired. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Shea Butter
Here are some frequently asked questions about she butter:
What to do if Shea Butter Becomes Grainy?
Shea butter that is grainy does NOT necessarily mean it has gone bad. Graininess is more due to the composition of shea butter and the cooling process. It can still be used and will melt when it comes in contact with the skin.
When shea butter becomes grainy or sandy feeling, melt it over low heat and cool as quickly as possible. Some people like to put it in the freezer or cool it in a bowl placed in another bowl filled with ice. You will have to whip your shea butter again in order to give it that whipped consistency.
What smells go good with shea butter?
Shea butter is a wonderful, luxurious addition to many skin care rituals. It’s a rich, creamy moisturizer that is full of essential vitamins and fatty acids. For an extra boost of aromatherapy benefits, shea butter can be combined with various essential oils.
Try mixing these essential oils with shea butter:
- Floral scents like lavender, geranium, and jasmine oil are known for calming the mind and body.
- The medicinal smell of eucalyptus has cooling and refreshing properties.
- Tea tree oil and peppermint offer healing abilities due to their antiseptic qualities.
- For those who enjoy woody or earthy scents, try blending shea butter with cedarwood, patchouli, or sandalwood.
- When combined with citrus oils like grapefruit and lemon, it can create a truly luxurious experience.
- The pleasant scent of shea butter can be enhanced by adding spice essential oils like cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- The sweet aroma of vanilla adds a delightful depth of flavor to any recipe, making it the perfect addition to any DIY body butter or lotion to give it an extra special touch.
Shea butter is a wonderful base for essential oils. Experimenting with different essential oils will help you find the perfect combination that suits your needs the best.
What other carrier oils can I use with shea butter?
There are numerous other carrier oils that you can use with shea butter to make the most of its natural benefits. So if you want to take your beauty regimen up a notch while moisturizing, nourishing, and protecting every inch of skin on your body, here are some options:
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Mango butter
- Avocado oil
- Cocoa butter
Where to buy Shea Butter: Better Shea Butter
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DIY Shea Butter Recipes Guide
Shea Butter Guide with DIY Essential Oil Recipes by Loving Essential Oils, Owner and Certified Aromatherapist:
