Shea butter beauty benefits

Shea butter is the fatty substance that will make you kiss many of your skin problems goodbye. It's harvested sustainably from the Vitellaria Paradoxa tree in Burkina Faso in West Africa.
Not only do we use this natural ingredient for our skin, but it has incredible, surprising hair benefits as well.

Benefits of shea butter for hair

1. Repairs hair damage
Chemical treatments like curlers and straighteners can strip off the natural moisture from the hair. Shea butter helps to restore this moisture while protecting your hair from harsh weather conditions. This is mostly due to the fact that once absorbed, shea butter will act as a coat for the hair shaft and will protect it from heat tools or any other damaging material the hair is exposed to.

2. Soothes dry and itchy scalp
The anti-inflammatory qualities and rich fat that get absorbed into the skin without leaving a greasy residue behind or clogging the pores are very useful in soothing a dry scalp.

3. Treats split ends and breakage
The cell generating benefits and the exerted moisture of shea butter helps strengthen the hair strands and reduce breakage. 

4. Natural conditioner 
Shea butter makes an excellent choice to moisturize your hair due to the presence of vitamins A and E. It's highly effective in locking in moisture without making your hair feel heavy and greasy.

5. Prevents hair loss
The anti-inflammatory properties of shea butter treat scalp conditions, thus, preventing hair loss. Also, shea butter provides the hair with many essential nutrients that make the follicles stronger and the hair grow thicker.

Benefits of shea butter for the skin

1. Moisturizes dry skin
Shea butter can nourish the skin with its fat content. It is easily absorbed by the skin, without clogging the pores. 

2. Treats acne and blemishes 
The healing properties of shea butter -attributed to the presence of several fatty acids and plant sterols such as oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linolenic acids- are highly effective in treating skin rashes, skin peeling after tanning, scars, stretch marks, frostbites, burns, athletes foot, insect bites and acne.

3. Reduces skin inflammation
Due to its cinnamic acid and other properties, shea butter has an anti-inflammatory effect.  It can be used to treat skin conditions like dermatitis, sunburns, and rashes.

4. Restores skin elasticity 
Shea butter Improves the production of collagen in the skin. Thus, its application restores the natural elasticity of the skin besides hydrating, softening, and beautifying it.

5. Reduces stretch marks 
Stretch marks happen when the skin is stretched beyond its elastic capacity. For example, during pregnancy or weight gain. The application of shea butter improves the production of collagen while restoring the natural elasticity of your skin.

6. Nourishes dry lips 
Shea butter is easily absorbed and helps lock in moisture. This makes it an excellent lip balm that will protect your lips from the harsh weather.

Shea trees need to grow for 20-30 years before they can bear fruit. Therefore, the Global Shea Alliance was established to ensure that shea is harvested and grown sustainably by identifying industry-wide challenges and implementing solutions through its members - brands like Palmers, women's groups, and stakeholders. The guidelines promote women's empowerment, fair working conditions, development of local communities, and the protection of ecosystems by outlining best business practices for all stakeholders.