Home / Encyclopedia / Shea Butter
Emollient

Shea Butter

Classic African butter — shea butter is the benchmark for nourishment and restoration for dry and sensitive skin. Rich in unsaturated fatty acids and triterpenes, it not only softens but truly restores the damaged lipid barrier.

NourishmentBarrier restorationEmollientDry skin
✓ Safe
Comedogenic Rating
0/5
Irritation Potential
0/5

What is it?

Shea butter (масло ши) — obtained from the seeds of the Butyrospermum parkii (karité) tree, which grows in tropical Africa. In INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter. Composition: ~40–50% oleic acid (C18:1), ~35–45% stearic acid (C18:0), ~5–7% linoleic acid, plus a unique unsaponifiable fraction (4–8%) — triterpenes, tocopherols, phenolics.

The main nourishing and restoring component in body creams, night creams, lip balms, and products for sensitive skin. Raw shea butter — a standalone remedy. Refined shea butter — a basic component in most rich-texture formulas.

Key Benefits

✦
Intense nourishment and barrier restoration
High concentration of oleic and stearic acids restores the lipid matrix of the stratum corneum — analogous to natural skin lipids. Effective for atopic skin, winter dryness, and damage from retinol.
◈
Anti-inflammatory action of triterpenes
The unsaponifiable fraction contains triterpene alcohols (lupeol, butyrospermol) with documented anti-inflammatory activity — reduces redness and reactivity. This distinguishes shea butter from ordinary fatty oils.
✧
Gentle UV protection
Shea butter has a slight natural SPF (~3–6) due to cinnamic acid esters in the unsaponifiable fraction. It does not replace sunscreen but enhances overall protection when used together with SPF.

Suitable for

Dry skinVery dry skinSensitive skinAtopic skin

Main Actions

✓ Nourishment✓ Barrier restoration✓ Anti-inflammatory action✓ Softening
Refined vs unrefined

Raw (unrefined) shea butter — yellowish with a characteristic nutty smell, retains maximum triterpenes and phenolics. Refined (рафінований) — white, odorless, with a lower concentration of active compounds. For therapeutic effect — raw or lightly refined. For odorless formulas — refined.

CategoryEmollients
From our blog
Best Skincare Ingredients for Dry Skin (And What to Avoid)

Check if this ingredient works for your skin — analyze your full product formula for free.

Analyze your product