Ingredient
Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter)
What is Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter)?
Shea Butter is a fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, native to West Africa. It is typically off-white or ivory-colored and has a creamy consistency. The process of making shea butter involves crushing and boiling the shea nuts to extract the fat.
Shea Butter is widely used in hair and skincare products for its moisturizing and emollient properties. The scientific evidence suggests that it helps with maintaining skin moisture and elasticity, though more research is needed to substantiate claims about its effect on skin conditions.
When you see shea butter on a label, it usually indicates a product that's aiming to provide hydration and nourishment, especially for dry skin or hair.
Commonly found in: Hair Care, Skin Moisturizers, Lotions, Lip Balms, Body Creams
Benefits
- Moisturizes and nourishes the skin due to its rich fatty acid content.
- May improve skin barrier function and elasticity.
Shea Butter is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in cosmetics and personal care products.
Research supports shea butter's effectiveness as a moisturizing agent, particularly for dry skin conditions.
Shea Butter is plant-derived and widely accepted by the vegan community.
Sources: Final Report of the Safety Assessment of Shea Butter
Scout's take
Shea butter is a beneficial natural emollient that softens the relaxer base. It cannot offset the documented endocrine disruptors or caustic relaxing chemistry but provides a measure of conditioning during the harsh process.
More from Scout's analyses
Shea butter is a beneficial natural emollient added to soften the relaxer's harshness. It cannot offset the documented endocrine disruptors, formaldehyde-releaser, or caustic relaxing chemistry.
from the analysis of Dark & Lovely Moisture Plus No-Lye RelaxerFound in 2 products
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