All About Shea Butter

The most obvious benefit, of course, is its moisturizing and nourishing properties. Shea butter is suitable for all skin types thanks to its moisturizing and repairing properties. Acting in depth, it brings the necessary nutritive elements to the dry skin with the help of fatty acids. Moreover, it reinforces the action of the lipidic barrier of the skin, allowing it to protect the user from external aggressions and dehydration. Hydrated and nourished, the skin becomes supple and soft.

It has been shown that this vegetable butter seals in moisture to the skin and protects the skin barrier. One study even suggests that it has topical effects similar to those of ceramides, the polar lipids naturally present in the epidermis and responsible for sealing the skin barrier. Shea butter and its components are also known as phytoceramides.

In hair application, shea butter is also appreciated for its moisturizing and protective virtues. The hydration of the scalp and hair fibers is necessary to give them softness and shine. The hair is thus easy to style, and defining in the case of curly hair.

Moreover, shea butter is also an excellent choice for colored hair. By protecting the hair from the sun's rays, it maintains the color and prevents breakage. This protective action is also useful to prevent hair aging, which causes dull and grayish color.

For topical use, shea butter has no particular negative side effects. It is suitable for all skin and hair types, and is even suitable for infants and pregnant women.

Knowing that it contains latex, it is not recommended for people allergic to this substance. In this case, it can cause irritation, inflammation and even respiratory distress.

To find out if you are tolerant to shea butter, apply a small amount of the product to the inner elbow for 48 hours beforehand. If you notice irritation, tingling or itching, it means that you do not tolerate the treatment well. Otherwise, it is always necessary to follow the instructions mentioned by the producer to avoid adverse reactions.

Shea butter is mainly found in skin care products with moisturizing and nourishing properties (balm, cream, etc.). It can also be incorporated into formulas designed to fight stretch marks and signs of aging. For hair use, it is often used as a mask. Its concentration in a care product can vary between 1 and 60% depending on the benefits and the desired texture.

Typology has developed several care products with this vegetable butter.

• The 9-ingredient nourishing lip balm was designed using only the ingredients essential to its function. Shea butter helps protect the lips from dryness.

• Our nourishing face cream with hyaluronic acid also contains shea butter. Thanks to its hydrating effects, this care brings flexibility to the skin. Moreover, it decreases the feelings of tightness. It is adapted to the normal, mixed and dry skins.

• You can also find this plant butter in the firming night mask made with prickly pear oil, an enveloping balm to nourish and regenerate weakened skin and firm tissues.

• The nourishing body cream also contains shea butter alongside squalane and plum oil to restore the skin's lipid barrier, reduce feelings of tightness and protect the skin from external aggressions.

• Shea butter is also present in the stretch mark oil-gel with baobab oil to prevent and visibly reduce the appearance of stretch marks, while providing suppleness and elasticity to the skin.

Finally, our two 100% natural cold saponified solid cleansing products are enriched with shea butter.