Shea Butter

Product Description

Shea butter extract is a complex fat that in addition to many nonsaponifiable components (substances that cannot be fully converted into soap by treatment with alkali) contains the following fatty acids: oleic acid (***0%), stearic acid (***0%), linoleic acid (**1%), palmitic acid (*9%), linolenic acid (<1%) and arachidic acid (<1%).[*1]

Shea butter melts at body temperature. Proponents of its use for skin care maintain that it absorbs rapidly into the skin, acts as a "refatting" agent, and has good water-binding properties

Shea butter is sometimes used as a base for medicinal ointments. Some of the isolated chemical constituents are reported to have anti-inflammatory,[*5] emollient, and humectant properties.[citation needed] Shea butter has been used as a sunblocking lotion[citation needed] and some of its components "have limited capacity to absorb ultraviolet radiation".[3]

In Ghana, shea butter, locally known as nkuto (Akan) or nku (Ga), is applied as a lotion to protect the skin during the dry Harmattan season