What is all the hype about “Shea Butter”?
By Catherine James
Are you asking yourself What is all the Hype about “Shea Butter”. I was too, then I started using Shea Butter, and was shocked to see that it seemed to work on my problem areas. Then friends started telling me that it was helping their skin problems, even though those problems were different from mine. This raised a lot of questions, so it was time to research this product to find out more about Shea Butter and to my surprise there was a lot of information out there. I found that there is even an American Shea Butter Institute which came into being to establish some standards since there are wide variations in the quality of Shea Butter Products.
Butyrospernum Parkii Fruit, otherwise known as Shea Butter, is a moisture-rich butter obtained from the nut of the Karite tree in Central Africa, also known as Karite Butter and African Butter. A superb emollient ideal for use in skin moisturizers. It helps to enhance cell regeneration and capillary circulation, which assists in the healing of small wounds, cracks and crevices in the skin. (this would explain why it was such a big help on my cracking heels).
OK big statement so I dug further, and according to the American Shea Butter Institute the Vitamin A in Shea Butter is important for improving a number of skin conditions, including blemishes, wrinkles, eczema, and dermatitis. Additionally, quality Shea Butter Cream has properties to treat skin allergies, insect bites, sunburns, frostbites, and a number of other conditions of the skin. The Institute has compiled a list of 21 reasons to use Shea Butter, but make it a point to point out that there truly are many more reasons to use Shea Butter, and that each person will find their own list of reasons as you use Shea Butter.
Dry Skin; Skin Rash; Skin Peeling, after tanning; Blemishes and wrinkles; Itching Skin; Sunburn; Shaving cream for a smooth silky share; small skin wounds; skin cracks; tough or rough skin (on feet and elbows); cold weather; frostbite; stretch mark prevention during pregnancy; insect bites; healthy skin; Muscle fatigue, aches and tension; before and after strenuous exercise; skin allergies such as poison ivy or poison oak; Eczema; Dermatitis; skin damage from heat (hot grease while cooking, radiation treatment for certain medical problems, etc).
It seems to me that Shea Butter is a skins best friend and should be found in every household as a mainstay of the beauty regime and as part of the family medicine cabinet.
The author Catherine James can be contacted at CathyJELady@gmail.com or by visiting www.myjestore.com/CatherineJames . You can become a FAN on Facebook CathyJELady for daily tips, specials and more.
