"Germany's Search for the Multitalented One" – that could be the title of this blog post. If you want to find the ultimate all-rounder, you don't need auditions, callbacks, or even Dieter Bohlen. A quick glance at the best of the skincare world reveals the winner: shea butter. This chocolate-scented substance from the fruit of the African shea tree is the best natural cosmetic for wrinkles, it's the vitamin C treatment for sensitive skin, and it's the face cream for neurodermatitis. We could go on praising it for ages. But then we risk losing interest in this article. So, let's start with some real information about nature's all-rounder.
Against skin aging and wrinkles
We, the members of the blog editorial team, are huge fans of the brownish (unrefined) or whitish (refined) shea butter. We'll explain the information in parentheses shortly, as there's a crucial difference to note. But basically, shea butter helps prevent skin aging. At any age. If the tissue is already a bit more mature, if life has left its mark with wrinkles, then shea butter provides ample moisture, creating a plumping effect. In other words, the cracked indentations become smaller or disappear altogether. We hardly need to mention at this point that we've been applying the butter not only to our faces but also to our entire bodies since we were young: there's simply no downside to using this all-rounder.
The list of key ingredients
The vitamin E it contains supports the skin's protective acid mantle and helps remove harmful substances. The effect: the aging process of cells is slowed down. Omega-3 fatty acids and allantoin also have anti-inflammatory properties – the latter is essentially a byproduct of uric acid and supports wound healing. But that's not all. Shea butter is like a treasure trove of beneficial natural substances. It also contains provitamin A (better known as beta-carotene), a precursor to retinol. This substance has high antioxidant properties and thus prevents premature skin aging. This brings us back to the information in parentheses in the previous paragraph. Anyone wanting to benefit from all the mentioned effects should ensure their product is unrefined. This means that the kernel-like fruit of the shea tree has been painstakingly crushed and cooked until the fat rises to the surface of the mixture. If it's a refined product, the process is carried out mechanically and with the addition of solvents. This results in the loss of some of the valuable fatty acids and vitamins. In other words, anyone wanting to buy pure shea butter should look for the "unrefined" label on the packaging.
The list of the most important modes of action
Yes, there's a lot to learn in this blog post. And there's more. Because now that we know the ingredients, let's take a look – almost in fast forward – at the incredible effects of this all-around cosmetic product:
• Has a high anti-aging effect
• Fine lines caused by dryness are smoothed
• Feelings of tightness in the skin disappear
• Acne scars heal faster, skin keratinization is prevented
• Provides mild sun protection (but does not replace UV blocker)
• Relieves the itching of atopic dermatitis
The best shea butter and the DIY effect
Our aim here is to provide information – and not primarily to advertise 48grams products.Of course, shea butter is also in our Cream products contained – the Day 'N Night, the skin repair and the Eye cream. Even the best you can buy on the market. But for those who also want to pamper themselves with pure shea butter, we highly recommend this DIY recipe: Melt unrefined shea butter (available at health food stores) in a double boiler, then mix it with a 1:1 ratio of vegetable oil (coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, etc.). Depending on your desired fragrance, you can also add an essential oil. Then let the creamy mixture cool and transfer it to a clean container (cleanliness is VERY important, otherwise the cream will quickly go rancid). Your body butter is ready!
From Shea Tree to Cleopatra
So, dear readers, that concludes our lesson today. Finally, we just want to share a few fun facts – facts you can use to impress your friends at your next girls' night out.
1) The (English) word "shea" is a translation from the African Bambara language. There, the tree on which the 4-centimeter-long fruits grow is called "s'i". Internationally, however, it is referred to as the karité tree. This is a word of French origin, which itself derives from the Senegalese Wolof language.
2) To be honest, we find these figures more interesting: In 2020 alone, 746,166 tons of shea nuts were harvested; 46.3 percent of that (345,708 tons) came from Nigeria alone. That's an astonishing amount, especially when you consider that a seedling only flowers for the first time after 20 years and it takes another decade before the tree bears fruit.
3) The legendary Egyptian ruler Cleopatra not only swore by baths in donkey milk. Illustrations also show that she was a great fan of shea butter. On her travels, she was always accompanied by a caravan that carried large containers full of chocolate-scented butter. This posed no problem even in the desert, as the substance can be stored for up to four years, even in extreme heat.
