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CAS Number : 194043-92-0
EC Number : 606-306-6
Molecular Formula : C16H20NO4
Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa).
Shea Butter is ivory in color when raw and commonly dyed yellow with borututu root or palm oil.
Shea Butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve or lotion. Shea butter is edible and is used in food preparation in some African countries.
Occasionally, shea butter is mixed with other oils as a substitute for cocoa butter, although the taste is noticeably different.
Shea butter is composed of five principal fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic .
About 85 to 90% of the fatty acid composition is stearic and oleic acids.
The relative proportion of these two fatty acids affects shea butter consistency.
The stearic acid gives it a solid consistency, while the oleic acid influences how soft or hard the shea butter is, depending on ambient temperature.
The proportions of stearic and oleic acids in the shea kernels and butter differ across the distribution range of the species.
Ugandan shea butter has consistently high oleic acid content, and is liquid at warm ambient temperatures.
Shea butter fractionizes into liquid and solid phases, and is the source of liquid shea oil.
The fatty acid proportion of West African shea butter is much more variable than Ugandan shea butter, with an oleic content of 37 to 55%.
Variability can be high even locally, and a tree that produces hard butter can grow with one that produces soft butter.
Nuts are gathered from a wide area for local production, so shea butter consistency is determined by the average fatty acid profile of the population.
Within West Africa, shea butter from the Mossi Plateau region of Burkina Faso has a higher average stearic acid content, and so is usually harder than shea butter from other West African regions.
Uses of Shea Butter
Shea butter is mainly used in the cosmetics industry for skin- and hair-related products (lip gloss, lip stick, skin moisturizer creams and emulsions, and hair conditioners for dry and brittle hair).
Shea Butter is also used by soap makers and massage oil manufacturers, typically in small amounts, because it has plenty of unsaponifiables, and higher amounts result in a softer soap that has less cleaning ability.
Some artisan soap makers use shea butter in amounts to 25% – with the European Union regulating the maximum use around 28%, but it is rarely the case in commercially produced soap due to its high cost compared to oils like palm oil or pomace (olive oil).
Shea Butter is an excellent emollient for dry skin.
No evidence shows Shea Butter is a cure, but it alleviates the pain associated with tightness and itching.
In some African countries such as Benin, shea butter is used for cooking oil, as a waterproofing wax, for hairdressing, for candle-making, and as an ingredient in medicinal ointments.
Shea Butter is used by makers of traditional African percussion instruments to increase the durability of wood (such as carved djembe shells), dried calabash gourds, and leather tuning straps.
Medicinal
Shea butter is sometimes used as a base for medicinal ointments.
Some of the isolated chemical constituents are reported to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory,emollient, and humectant properties.
Shea butter has been used as a sunblocking lotion with an estimated SPF of 3–4 and some of its components "have limited capacity to absorb ultraviolet radiation".
In Ghana, shea butter, is either used as a food product or applied as lotion to protect the skin during the dry Harmattan season.
The shea nut tree itself is called tááŋà (pl. táánsì) and the fruit is called táánì (pl. támá).
The current northern regional capital Tamale derives its name from a combination of the words "tama" and "yili", meaning "the town of shea fruits".
In Nigeria, shea butter is used for the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion.
Shea Butter is massaged into joints and other parts of the body where pain occurs.
Property of Shea Butter
-Molecular Formula: C16H20NO4
-Molecular Weight : 0
-Purity : ≥95%
-Storage : -20°C
Shea Butter is a 100% natural skin care oil obtained from the fruit of the Karite plant.
Shea Butter remains its solid form at room temperature which is odorless and white in color.
Shea Butter, a rich source of essential fatty acids, is a very pure and valuable oil suitable for use even by pregnant women and babies.
Shea Butter is rich in Oleic Acid and vitamins A, E, F and contains a satisfactory amount of Stearic Acid.
With its intense and rich structure, it not only softens your skin, but also plays a role in repairing skin problems.
Shea Butter helps to soothe the skin when it’s extra dehydrated and cracks that may occur due to weather conditions.
Shea Butter is one of the most natural, pure, nourishing and moisturizing oils offered by nature.
This oil, which is frequently preferred in soaps, creams and lotions used in cosmetics, provides intense moisture to the skin and supports the skin to glowy.
Massage with shea butter during pregnancy provides an auxiliary care to prevent pregnancy-related stretch marks at an advanced level.
At the same time, it also moisturizes the hands, feet, lips and elbows that are dry and cracked due to lack of moisture.
Shea butter, also known as karate oil, helps in the care of the dryness problem on the scalp and hair roots.
It provides intense moisture to dry scalp and makes it more comfortable.
After applying Shea Butter to the scalp or hair roots, it is recommended to wait for a while and then wash it off.
Standing out with its highly moisturizing properties, Shea Butter helps to reduce the tension and dryness around the eyes.
If very dry skin needs it, it can be recommended to apply Shea butter to the driest area around the eyes after applying Moisturizing Illuminating Eye Serum.
However, since the eye area is the thinnest and most sensitive area on our face, the use of Shea butter around this area may be heavy, so it should only be applied in case of extreme dryness, it is not recommended for the eye area as regular care.
Shea butter is a fat that is obtained as a result of crushing the hazelnuts obtained from the shea trees grown in the African region.
Known as shea butter in English, this oil has the consistency of butter but has an ivory color.
In the countries of Burkina Faso and Ghana, where these trees grow, shea fruit is usually collected by women and children.
After these fruits are harvested, the shea is ground and then made into a fine paste.
Thus, shea butter comes out.
Although shea butter is often used as an alternative to cocoa butter in many food and chocolate industries in Africa, it is actually more preferred in the cosmetic field.
Today, the most common usage areas have been as a moisturizer, ointment or lotion.
Shea butter is fat that’s extracted from the nuts of the shea tree.
It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory color.
Shea trees are native to West Africa, and most shea butter still comes from that region.
Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries.
Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids — combined with its easy-to-spread consistency — make it a great product for smoothing, soothing, and conditioning your skin.
Shea butter is technically a tree nut product.
But unlike most tree nut products, it’s very low in the proteins that can trigger allergies.
In fact, there’s no medical literature documenting an allergy to topical shea butter.
Shea butter doesn’t contain chemical irritants known to dry out skin, and it doesn’t clog pores.
It’s appropriate for nearly any skin type.
Shea butter is typically used for its moisturizing effects.
These benefits are tied to shea’s fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids.
When you apply shea topically, these oils are rapidly absorbed into your skin.
They act as a “refatting” agent, restoring lipids and rapidly creating moisture.
This restores the barrier between your skin and the outside environment, holding moisture in and reducing your risk of dryness.
Shea butter contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid.
These two acids balance each other out.
That means shea butter is easy for your skin to fully absorb and won’t make your skin look oily after application.
Shea butter has significant levels of vitamins A and E, which means it promotes strong antioxidant activity.
Antioxidants are important anti-aging agents.
They protect your skin cells from free radicals that can lead to premature aging and dull-looking skin.
Shea butter is rich in different kinds of fatty acids.
This unique composition helps clear your skin of excess oil (sebum).
At the same time, shea butter restores moisture to your skin and locks it in to your epidermis, so your skin doesn’t dry out or feel “stripped” of oil.
The result is a restoration of the natural balance of oils in your skin — which may help stop acne before it starts.
Shea butter contains triterpenes.
These naturally occurring chemical compounds are thought to deactivate collagen fiber destruction.
This may minimize the appearance of fine lines and result in plumper skin.
Our organic unrefined shea butter is crafted from shea nuts grown in Ghana.
Shea butter is a popular in the natural body care and cosmetic industry and has been used for centuries in Africa for its moisturizing properties.
Shea butter contains vitamins A and E as well as essential fatty acids and other vitamins and minerals.
Shea butter is an intense moisturizer for rough skin.
Due to its emollient properties, it is a perfect ingredient to include in your body care recipes and skin care regime.
Shea butter is also wonderful to use in the summer as a moisturizer before and after sun exposure.
Because of its unrefined state, the scent of this butter is quite odoriferous and may alter your product’s aroma.
The aroma of our Shea butter is often described as thick and nutty.
There are often slight differences in the color from batch to batch likely due to natural variance.
To prolong its shelf life, store in a cool, dark location.
Features of Shea Butter
-Body butter
-soothing
-Anti-inflammatory
-after sun protection
-COSMOS approved
Substance identity
EC / List no.: 606-306-6
CAS no.: 194043-92-0
Hazard classification & labelling of Shea Butter
According to the majority of notifications provided by companies to ECHA in CLP notifications no hazards have been classified.
Shea Butter indicated, in 2009, as being intended to be registered by at least one company in the EEA.
Shea Butter for which classification and labeling data have been submitted to ECHA in a registration under REACH or notified by manufacturers or importers under CLP.
Such notifications are required for hazardous substances, as such or in mixtures, as well as for all substances subject to registration, regardless of their hazard
Synoynms:
Fats and Glyceridic oils, shea butter
Fats and glyceridic oils, shea butter
Shea butter
194043-92-0
