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

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 if you haven’t used the brand before – that way you can get an idea of exactly what your favorites are.

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, which offers one bar of each and can save you about $8 off the price of purchasing them separately.

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!