The Beauty of Shea Butter and its Wonders

To start off, Shea butter does not come from animals or is in any way a dairy product. Though it may look and feel of dairy butter, and has been used like dairy butter in many parts of Africa, it is not the same. It is actually a great natural and organic skin care product for everyone. People from many parts of Africa have been using Shea butter for centuries, both as a moisturizer and as an emollient.

Where does it come from?

Shea butter comes from the Shea tree which is indigenous to West Africa, stretching from Uganda in the east all the way to Senegal in the west.  In order to produce Shea butter, one must first crush and boil the fruits of the tree to create the Shea fruits' fat. This is used as both a food source and in many skin care products. Those who suffer from various skin irritations or conditions would be able to benefit from the positive effects of Shea butter. This butter is known to be of help in the treatment many skin disorders such as eczema, rashes, acne, psoriasis, ultraviolet damage, insect bites, burns and scarring treatments.

The Magic Ingredient

One of the substances found in Shea butter and its products is Cinnamic acid. It is from the same family as Cinnamon in case you were wondering. It is a white crystalline acid, which is slightly water soluble. It has a honey like odor and is a major component in the essential oil of cinnamon. It is produced by fungal spores to inhibit germination.
Due to the ingredient being known to degrade with time, the best practice is to always choose products which were freshly made as those will always be better than products which have been on the shelves for quite some time.
Which is Best?
As with every product, there is a system which helps consumers get what they need according to quality. The best you can buy is Class A, which most manufactures of the best quality Shea butter products, from lotions to products for healing use in their mixes. Class F however is the worst quality. These are not used as main ingredients but only as additives to different skin care products like soaps or moisturizers. Class F does not offer the healing properties of the higher classes.
Try to always buy only the purest of Shea butter and its products, and always check its freshness. The fresher it is the better the benefits. Some Shea butter products which claim to be pure tend to cover up with different fragrances and substitutes which make these cheaper than the real pure butter. Quality has a price, and though good quality and pure Shea butter may be expensive, it is worth every penny. Try it out and enjoy the fruitful benefits of Shea butter.