Why we love shea butter for healthy hair and skin

What is Shea butter?

Shea butter is the fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, which is indigenous to West Africa. Most shea butter still comes from that region today - the one we use at Guava & Gold is wild harvested by a local women co-operative in Ghana.

And with all its healthy qualities, there’s a reason why shea butter is seen in so many moisturisers and has been a trusted cosmetic ingredient for centuries.

Why is shea butter good for your skin?

Rich with a high concentration of vitamins A, E and F and five principal fatty acids – linoleic, oleic, stearic and palmitic and arachidic acids – shea butter is a great ingredient for feeding and conditioning your skin.

That wholesome blend of fatty acids and vitamins makes it an ideal ingredient not only for body lotions but also for ultra-rich lip balms to heal dry, cracked lips. Triglycerides from the fatty part of the shea nut absorb quickly penetrating the skin layers and nourishing along the way.

Its emollient effect soothes your skin, boosting its moisture content, but the high levels of linoleic and oleic acid complement each other and don’t make your skin oily.

It’s packed with anti-inflammatory compounds which can soothe and calm dry or irritated skin. And it contains antioxidants which have been shown to prevent free radical damage and promote circulation when applied to skin so shea butter may also have anti-aging properties.

It’s also thought that shea butter may stop scar tissue from reproducing and encourage healthy cell growth to take place, so reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scarring.

Used daily for best results, one way to condition, tone and soothe your skin is with our luxurious Paradise Found Body Lotion, the winner of a Global Green Beauty Award for Best Shea Butter Product.

Is dry, damaged hair getting you down?

Using the best hair products combining the natural benefits of shea butter as part of your haircare routine can help restore dry, damaged hair leaving it soft, strong and supple.

The water-binding properties of shea butter coupled with its emollient effect will work to lock in moisture in the best hair product, instantly detangling for less breakage and taming dry, damaged hair, split ends and frizz.

A high moisture level and no greasy aftermath will also help to reduce scalp itching and irritation and relieve many of the hair issues which bother so many of us like dandruff and split ends.

With all those hydrating and sealing benefits leaving visibly glossier, shinier and smoother hair and it making it easier to style, we love all the positives of shea butter and including it as a healthy ingredient was a natural choice for Guava & Gold for all of our hair conditioners.