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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.
Melasma is a specific example of hyperpigmentation. Melasma looks like whole patches of brown or darker skin across the parts of the face and neck. Melasma is common among women who are pregnant - it’s even referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.” But melasma can occur in both men and women who are not pregnant, too. Melasma can be caused by UV damage, but there are also genetic, hormonal, and medication-induced causes for melasma, too.
There are a variety of topical ingredients that can be used to lighten the skin from melasma or reduce its appearance. Each ingredient works in different ways, and each has their own benefits and drawbacks. hydroquinone, arbutin, vitamin C (ascorbic acid, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, etc) are some of the most commonly used ingredients for melasma treatment.
Hydroquinone is a skin lightening cream that works by suppressing the production of melanin. There are drawbacks to using hydroquinone, however, including cancer risks demonstrated by recent scientific studies, as well as hydroquinone-induced ochronosis.
Arbutin is a synthesized derivative of hydroquinone. It acts as a powerful skin lightening ointment that works a bit differently than hydroquinone. It blocks the production of melanin instead of “bleaching” the skin.
Vitamin C can be used as a brightening agent to lighten the hyperpigmentation of your sunspots or melasma. It works by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, preventing the formation of melatonin.
Ascorbic Acid is actually the formal scientific name for one form of Vitamin C. It can refer to either a naturally occurring Vitamin C found in foods such as citrus, or a synthetic form of ascorbic acid created to be more shelf-stable for skincare products like discoloration repair lotions and creams.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is another form of Vitamin C. By synthesizing this compound from Vitamin C, dermatologists are able to give us all the benefits of Vitamin C in a more shelf-stable form that can also be soluble in oil to make more effective, deeper penetrating skin products. (Herndon 2016)
Ingredients in the vitamin A family (ie. Retinol, tretinoin, etc) and acids (glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid) help damaged pigmented skin cells shred faster, so they also help with melasma.
Shea butter may be effective for melasma, 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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