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Shea butter is a fat obtained from the nuts of the African shea tree, which is indigenous to Africa. It is edible, and is used for cooking in some African countries. However, it has a range of skincare uses, due to which it’s used commonly in cosmetics and skincare products. To find out if shea butter would complement your skincare routine, take our specially designed skin quiz!
Shea butter can be used for a variety of skin-related issues. It can be used to add moisture to the skin, to balance oil levels, to reduce inflammation, provide antioxidants, to repair and rejuvenate skin, and to clear acne. However, that’s not all – not by far! Shea butter can also help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, diminish scars, help with cell regeneration, provide sun protection, reduce chapping, treat skin conditions such as eczema, and treat burns, insect bites and other wounds.
Shea butter is a wonderful, gentle ingredient that doesn’t have many side effects and has been used by millions of people for many generations. However, in some people usage on the face can lead to acne breakouts due to the fat content. In fact, if you’re sensitive to it, even using a product with a small percentage of shea butter in it may lead to a breakout.
Pores are itsy-bitsy openings in the skin—and there are millions covering every millimeter of skin. There are two types of pores with different functions: sweat pores and oil pores. The sweat pore allows moisture, produced by sweat glands, to exude out to the surface of the skin, where it helps to cool the body in response to heat, exertion or fever. Sweat pores are so tiny, they are mostly invisible to the human eye.
The oil pore, on the other hand, is a bit larger. Oil pores are also known as hair follicles because these pores produce oil from the sebaceous glands, but they are also the openings from which hair emerges. The oils help to keep our skin and hair healthy. It is the oil pores that can get clogged with sweat, debris and other gunk, causing acne, blackheads and whiteheads. Sweat pores rarely get clogged, as they are so tiny.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and unclogging pores. It is one of the longest-used medications to keep pores clean and healthy. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for keeping pores unclogged as well.
Shea butter may be effective for clogged pores, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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