Using Shea Butter Soap is a luxurious experience when compared to your average run of the mill glycerin soaps that you may be used to using. Shea Butter, a product produced from the fruit of the Shea tree, is loaded with essential fats and vitamins that give your skin a soft feel.
Vitamins A and E are present in this naturally occurring product which helps moisturize the skin. Most Shea Butter soaps do not have chemicals added to them and may have additional natural ingredients added to them. It is not uncommon for it to be mixed with fruits or for it to be suspended in other pure and natural ingredients.
What are the benefits of Soaps With Shea Butter?
There are many benefits of using these types of soap products. If you have dry skin that is prone to flaking or cracking, you’ll find that it can help make these problems less of an issue. Unlike other moisturizing skin products, which may use petroleum based products, it will not cause your skin to become oily or leave a residue on your skin.
When using the soap, you may notice some of these common benefits:
Reduced Itchiness: If you suffer from itchy skin due to drying, you will notice that you are not nearly as itchy any longer. For those who live in cold climates and especially are prone to this problem in the winter months, using a natural based soap can give you relief from dry skin that causes itching and discomfort.
Restores Elasticity: Our skin has the ability to “stretch”, which means it can change from being loose to tight and it is supposed to naturally stretch as our body needs it to. For example, if you were to gain or lose weight, your skin would adjust to accommodate for this. However, for some their skin does not stretch where it should go, especially in the cases of pregnancy such as in stretch marks, rapid or excessive weight loss/gain. Age is also believed to play a factor in the occurrence of stretch marks or wrinkles. By using a soap that can help with this, you can help prevent, reduce, or eliminate stretch marks and wrinkles.
Soften Tough Skin: Those who work with their hands in extreme conditions or are constantly walking around barefoot can develop very rough and tough skin in these areas. It is a natural reaction to being exposed to excessive and extreme conditions for your skin to toughen in order to help it protect you. However, having rough hands and feet can make you not as sensitive to touch and also feel rough to others who touch your hands, especially small children. By using a soap with natural shea butter, you can help soften this tough skin.
Relief for Skin Conditions: Many with skin conditions such as exzema, psoraisis, and others may find relief from the soothing and healing benefits of using soaps made with shea extract. While it is no substitute for professional medical treatment, it can provide some relief.
What Kinds of Soaps Should I Buy?
When looking at the many different options available it can be somewhat overwhelming as to what type you should buy or try. Something you will notice is that most of these soaps are expensive in comparison to other soaps – but they also last longer, which can over time result in little to no cost difference.
When buying different products, we recommend choosing a reputable vendor, since many might claim their soap is made with the butter but in reality has very little concentration of it. Researching the different brands can help you recognize rather quickly what each has to offer in terms of benefits and if they are actually legitimate.
Below are some of the top brands recognized worldwide.
L’OCCITANE Shea Butter: This soap made in France is typically 80% vegetable oils mixed with 20% shea butter for a wonderful product that leaves most others behind. They offer it in both bar and liquid form and in several different varieties and scents such as lavender, orange, and others. We reccommend the L`Occitane – Try Me Shea Gift Set
Mistral Soap Mistral is another popular name in the French line of shea butter soaps. They offer a wide selection of variety of scents, the most popular including Verbena, Lavender, and Melon Pear. We recommend the Mistral Soap Pack
Many other brands exist, these were just our two top picks. We’re sure that there are ones that we haven’t tried yet – and if you’re a soap maker and would like to send us your product for review on our site we would love to hear about it and try it! You can contact us with your details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Have any shea butter soaps you like? Share your thoughts on your top picks, buying suggestions and other information in the comments below!