There are many companies out there which manufacturer and market shea butter lotion products. Tapping into the natural benefits of the extract of the seeds from the Karite tree, the buttery paste offers many skin benefits.
Rich in vitamins A and E, as well as other important fats and nutrients, this centuries old extract has been used for a long time to help with common skin conditions. It is an excellent moisturizer and can also help prevent wrinkles or stretch marks as it helps promote healthy elasticity in the skin. Some also have had success in using it as an acne treatment, though there are relatively little studies done to prove this.
There are many different types of Shea butter body lotion products available. Some are available as pure shea extract while others have other ingredients and additives combined with them. When shopping for these products, its important that you are very careful as to what you are actually buying.
Many companies which market these products may make the claims of having shea butter in their lotions, unfortunately the amount may be very small, or they may not use a high grade of it that would actually give any benefits from use.
The best thing we recommend doing is to forget buying the lotions with it in it and get shea butter itself. This is because you don’t really know what you are getting in a lotion – and some of these body lotions contain fragrances which are not good for you, ingredients that clog your pores, agents that actually make your skin more dry, or harsh chemicals that can cause problems when absorbed through your skin. Sure, a lotion might look good on the packaging or the company’s website, but you want to make sure that the product you are getting is good for you – not make your existing skin conditions worse!
For the best results, first you will need a high quality grade shea butter. Some prefer raw unrefined varieties others prefer the purified versions. There is a bit of controversy as to which ones are actually “better” so the best thing to do is to choose whatever works best for you and what you like. Everybody has different unique individuals tastes and preferences, so it is important that you think about what you want and what you need more so than any reviews. If you have not used this product before, you may wish to instead try several of them to get an idea of what you like the best.
The extract that you buy is very thick, which is why it gets its name of butter. This can make it seem like it would be difficult to spread on your skin. Some have reported that East Africa Shea Butter is better for this, but either will work just fine.
A little known fact is that this thick substance liquifies rather easily at low temperatures. While it may seem solid at room temperature, when you rub it through your fingers and apply it to your skin you will notice it is much softer and easier to spread. If you want to be able to spread it very easily, placing it in a plastic bag and then running it under very hot water for a minute or so will bring it to a near lotion like consistency that is smooth and very easy to work into your skin.
Before using a shea butter lotion product, you may want to be careful if you have a history to nuts or latex, testing only a small patch of your skin at first or avoiding it all together. While the chance of an allergic reaction is quite rare and no formal studies have been performed to conclude allergies, it is always best to be on the safe side.
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photo credit: bradleygee