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Shea Butter, also known as karite butter, is a natural cosm ... Read more

Shea Butter, also known as karite butter, is a natural cosmetic product used as a moisturizer, emollient and to fight against the aging of the skin (wrinkles and scars). It could also be effective for: burns, dry skins and to protect the skin from the ultraviolet rays. Shea Butter is a natural fat extracted from the fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling, it absorbs easily into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling. Shea Butter has been used by African healers for thousands of years to alleviate maladies of the skin and scalp. Shea Butter comes from the African shea tree found along the West African Savannah region. It is a wild growing tree that produces tiny, almond-like fruit from which Shea Butter is extracted. The tree itself is not cultivated and takes 40 to 50 years to mature. In most parts of West Africa, destruction of the shea tree is forbidden due to its economic, health and social benefits. (Shea Butter is a valuable source of food in Africa.) Indeed, many herbalists in Africa regard Shea Butter as an invaluable agent for internal and external body purification. Traditional uses of Shea Butter include: treatments for dry skin, blemishes, skin discoloration, scars and wrinkles, a relaxer for stiff muscles, as an aid for pain from swelling and arthritis, even as a sun screen. What makes Shea Butter so great for the skin is its high content of nonspecifically fatty acids (comprised mostly of stearic and oleic acids.) These fatty acids are indispensable for moisturizing and retaining the elasticity of the skin. By making up for lipid (fat) deficiency in the epidermal cells, Shea Butter provides the skin with all the essential elements it needs for its good balance. Minimize