Skincare is one of the most important routines currently in our lives But do we know enough about it? Is Shea butter Holy Grail or is it harmful to your skin? Let us find out… If you are into skincare or curiously look at the ingredients on your moisturiser bottles, you will more often than not observe an ingredient called Shea butter. If you do not know what Shea butter is, let us tell you a bit about it. It is basically the fat derived from the nut of the African Shea tree. Traditionally, the tree was known for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. However, as research was done, Shea butter came to be known most for its moisturising property. Nowadays, it is one of the most commonly used butters in most skincare products. So let's list out a few benefits of Shea butter… Boosts your skin moisture level As we mentioned above, Shea butter is the absolute Holy Grail when it comes to boosting your skin's moisture level. It is so good at softening and hydrating the skin because of the several types of fatty acids, including linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids it has in its properties. This prevents the skin from getting damaged and also makes it supple. Shea has anti-inflammatory properties. Again, as we mentioned above, the Shea tree was known for having anti-inflammatory benefits. Similarly, Shea butter is known for the same. When the butter comes in contact with the skin, it triggers cytokines and other inflammatory cells, making their growth slow. Shea butter is also effective against skin conditions like eczema. Thus, it may help reduce irritation in the skin. Reduces scarring One thing many of us may have suffered from is skin scarring. Shea butter can help in reducing scarring effectively. Several studies have found that Shea butter helps prevent keloid scar tissue from growing. It is also known to heal sunburned, cracked, and peeling skin. You can even use it even on some skin allergies. However, it is always recommended to consult your dermatologist first. Boosts collagen Did you know that Shea butter contains triterpenes? If you don't know what that means, let us tell you. Triterpenes are naturally occurring chemicals. It stops the collagen fibres from getting destroyed, so if you are looking for something to boost your collagen production and help in anti-ageing, go for Shea butter! The side effect of this can be if you're allergic to nuts. So do research well before you a product with Shea butter in it.
