Shea butter is a fatty substance extracted from the seeds of shea trees, or what is known as karite trees, which are abundant in Africa, especially in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Shea butter is one of the most common natural products in the field of skin and hair care, and the Pharaohs used it since ancient times for many cosmetic purposes. And since shea butter comes in two forms, refined and unrefined, today we will provide all the information related to refined shea butter, its properties, and its most important benefits in this article.
What is refined shea butter and how is it made?
The seeds are first harvested from karite or chia trees native to West Africa, then roasted and ground to extract the butter. It has been called refined shea butter, or what is known as white shea butter, because it is treated by adding some chemicals such as formaldehyde and hexane, with the aim of extracting butter from the seeds, and some aromatic substances are added, which makes it more attractive to consumers.
What are the most important properties of refined shea butter?
Origin: Refined Shea Butter is extracted from the Shea fruit, which is rich in vitamins and antioxidants
Colour: Refined Shea Butter is white in color due to the refining process that removes color and odor
Smell: Refined Shea Butter has no smell due to the modifications made to it, but since it has no smell, some healthy aromatic substances are added, which makes it smell refreshing.
Consistency: Refined Shea Butter may come in a solid or liquid consistency, depending on the consumer's desire.
Shelf Life: Refined Shea Butter has a longer shelf life compared to raw (unrefined) Shea Butter due to the addition of some preservatives to it
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What are the uses of refined shea butter?
Shea butter is famous for its many cosmetic properties, as it can be used in the fields of skin or hair care because it is rich in vitamins A, E, F, and antioxidants in addition to Omega 6 and 9. These ingredients are characterized by their ability to soothe and maintain the skin, and help relieve many skin diseases, including This includes eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes, sunburn, and skin irritation. Below we will mention in detail their role in taking care of your beauty:
Helps maintain hair:
Refined Shea Butter is one of the most important products that can be used to obtain smooth hair because it is rich in fatty acids, vitamins and minerals necessary for hair health, which helps in healthy hair growth and protection from breakage and dryness. Not only this, but Refined Shea Butter helps protect hair from heat damage, and regular use of Refined Shea Butter helps prevent hair loss and improves the appearance of hair by retaining moisture and adding a beautiful, healthy shine.
It has a role in moisturizing the skin:
Daily moisturizing is vital to healthy skin, yet some people think of it as secondary. Our skin is the largest organ in our body and requires regular care to keep it looking young, healthy and blemish-free.
Therefore, the use of refined Shea Butter can be part of the regular daily routine because it is rich in vitamins and nutrients for the skin, as it helps moisturize the skin and give it a soft touch and a healthy appearance, free from cracking and dryness, and the permanent commitment to using it has no negative effects, unlike other commercial moisturizers in the world. Markets that cause skin more dryness.
Shea butter also helps nourish areas with high sensitivity such as the face, ears and neck, as daily exposure to the sun and dryness make these areas lose their moisture and thus the appearance of signs of aging on the skin, such as dark spots and large lines.
Can be used as a makeup remover:
For girls, it is very important to remove makeup before going to bed, as some cosmetics and sunscreens can clog pores, contribute to acne and make the skin look dull, and leaving makeup residue on the eyes can lead to many infections. So Refined Shea Butter plays an important aspect in this field as it helps to remove makeup or other unwanted substances without harming the skin.
Helps reduce scars and calluses:
Most people suffer from the appearance of white cracks in certain areas of the body, such as the abdomen or thighs. These cracks occur as a result of the skin losing its elasticity or as a result of sudden weight gain or loss, which leads to skin rupture and the appearance of these marks. Because shea butter is rich in fats and vitamins, it is considered one of the most important products that help reduce stretch marks.
It has a role in combating the signs of aging:
Shea butter helps to regenerate skin tissue cells, and this is reflected in the softness and freshness of the skin. Therefore, the regular use of shea butter helps to stimulate collagen production and stimulate blood circulation of the skin, thus reducing the appearance of signs of aging such as the appearance of wrinkles and the loss of moisture in the skin. It is worth noting that shea butter is also a main ingredient in many facial care products, because it is rich in vitamin E. Therefore, specialists advise using it at an early stage of life to preserve as much as possible the freshness and radiance of the skin.
Moisturizing when shaving:
Refined Shea Butter can be used by men to moisturize the skin before and after shaving, as it can be used easily and effortlessly because it is quickly absorbed and rich in essential nutrients that keep the skin from irritation and redness, giving a wonderful sense of freshness and a distinctive scent.
Use in home mixes:
Many women seek to have clear skin or smooth and healthy hair, so refined Shea butter can play an important role in natural home recipes, as many natural mixtures can be made that help get rid of pigmentation and dark spots and give hair a healthy look.
For example, refined shea butter can be used with:
Natural oils such as olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil.
natural honey.
starch.
rose water and many more.
in conclusion:
Taking care of the beauty of the skin and hair has become one of the most important topics that are popular with men and women, and there is no doubt that natural ways to maintain the luster of the skin and hair are the best. Therefore, it can be said that refined Shea butter is one of the most important natural products, which excels in its features over most commercial products for skin or hair care.
