What is Shea Butter? 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. How to use Shea butter On skin You can apply Shea butter directly to your skin. Raw, unrefined Shea butter is easy to spread. You can use your fingers to scoop a teaspoon or so of Shea butter from your jar, and then rub it onto your skin until it’s completely absorbed. Shea butter is slippery and can keep makeup from adhering to your face, so you may prefer to apply it at night before bed. On hair Shea butter can also be applied directly to your hair. If your hair is naturally curly or porous, consider using Shea butter as a conditioner. Make sure your hair has absorbed most of the Shea butter before rinsing and styling as usual. You can also use a small amount of Shea butter as a leave-in conditioner. Shea Butter Benefits Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in Shea makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils. Reduces Inflammation: A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, Shea butter was anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne. Skin Smoothing: Shea aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long-term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.