Shea butter: 7 reasons to put it in your toiletry bag

Directly from Africa and packed with incredible properties, shea butter is pure gold for skin and hair. “Karité” means “butter tree.” When you discover that a single bar of shea butter can replace several of your usual creams, that’s when you join the world of the shea addicts.

If you’re not familiar with its uses and benefits yet, take note because there are quite a few: shea butter is moisturizing, nourishing, soothing, healing, antioxidant, and protective. Not bad, right? Let’s look at these benefits with concrete examples so you can see how easy it is to use:

1. Hydrate your skin: regenerates and protects

It’s an excellent moisturizer for both face and body, especially if your skin is dry or damaged. Although it might not seem like it, it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy feel. Just break off a piece of shea butter and rub it into your skin to warm it up and help it penetrate deeply for its regenerative effect. With this simple gesture, you’re giving your skin an extra dose of hydration. And because it’s natural and eco-friendly, shea creates a protective layer against external factors like the cold.

2. Repair nails and cuticles

When applying shea butter to your skin, there’s nothing better than finishing with a hand massage to strengthen your nails and repair cuticles.

3. Enrich your body lotion

You can melt shea butter with heat until it turns into an oil—an oil full of extraordinary benefits, including vitamins A and E that help prevent skin deterioration. Add a few drops of this warm oil to your body lotion and mix it in. This will boost its moisturizing power.

4. For your face: anti-wrinkle

Thanks to its antioxidants that fight free radicals and reduce signs of aging, you can use shea butter as an extra facial moisturizer. This butter really is pure magic. Apply it to the eye contour area as part of your nighttime routine. It’s also perfect as an “after-sun” to help restore hydration and elasticity.

Recommended for surfers and athletes who spend time outdoors, especially since their lips are exposed to environmental damage. Shea protects, softens, and hydrates them.

5. Boost eyelash thickness

It’s a great strengthening treatment, and you’ll see the benefits when you incorporate it into your routine. Once a week, soak a cotton swab in a bit of melted shea and brush it through your lashes.

6. As a hair treatment for dehydrated hair

Very dry hair, meet your new best friend. Shea is ideal for nourishing, hydrating, and adding shine—especially if your hair is dry or damaged. Melt it in a double boiler until it becomes an oil. You can even add a cold-pressed oil if you’d like. Apply it warm to your hair, wrap your hair in a towel or turban, and let it sit for a few hours. Wash thoroughly twice.

If you have curly hair, it will help define your curls and add volume.

7. Soothe skin irritation and promote healing

Its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce itching and skin irritation, so you can use it for eczema, psoriasis, and sunburn.

It also helps improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks—making it perfect during pregnancy—thanks to its natural regenerative and softening properties.