Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii) – Cosmetic Uses in Skin Care

What Is Shea Butter?

Shea butter is a natural vegetable butter obtained from the nuts of the shea tree (Butyrospermum parkii). Its cosmetic properties are similar in some respects to cocoa butter, but it has a milder characteristic odour rather than the chocolate-like aroma associated with cocoa butter.

Cosmetic Uses

Shea butter is primarily used as a rich emollient in skin-care formulations. It helps leave the skin feeling soft, smooth, and supple and is particularly suitable for products intended for dry or rough skin.

It can be incorporated into:

• Face and body creams
• Body butters
• Hand creams
• Balms and ointments
• Dry-skin formulations
• Protective skin-care products

Shea butter has traditionally been used by communities that collect and process it for skin care and wound-related applications.

Sensory and Formulation Properties

One of the useful characteristics of shea butter is its melting behaviour. It melts at approximately body temperature and can therefore spread easily during application.

After application, it is absorbed relatively quickly and leaves the skin with a soft and supple feel. This makes shea butter particularly useful when developing richer formulations that require both emolliency and a pleasant application profile.

Ingredient Information

INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
CAS: 91080-23-8
Function: Emollient

Source

Dweck, Anthony. Handbook of Natural Ingredients (Dweck Books 4) . Dweck Data. Kindle Edition.