What is shea butter in skincare?
Shea butter is the fat extracted from the nuts of the African shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa. It is solid at room temperature and melts at body heat, which is why it feels rich going on and sinks in once warmed.
Its value lies in the unsaponifiable fraction – an unusually high 5 to 10% of triterpenes, tocopherols and phytosterols, far more than most plant fats. Those compounds give it anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair activity beyond simple occlusion.
What skin concerns does shea butter treat?
It is a first-line choice for very dry, rough or cracked skin, and for eczema, psoriasis and winter-damaged hands and lips. It reduces water loss substantially while calming inflammation at the same time.
It also soothes after sun exposure, softens scars and stretch marks, and protects skin exposed to cold and wind. Unrefined shea retains more actives but has a nutty smell; refined shea is neutral but less potent.
What ingredients are best paired with shea butter?
Use it as the final occlusive layer over humectants such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, and alongside ceramides for a complete barrier routine.
It is ideal for buffering the dryness of retinoids and acids on body skin. It sits mid-range on the comedogenic scale, so keep it to the body and dry patches if your face is oily or breakout-prone. Those with tree nut allergies should patch test. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is oily skin?
Oily skin is a skin type in which the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than the skin needs. It shows up as shine through the T-zone within hours of cleansing, visibly enlarged pores, makeup that slides or separates, and a tendency towards blackheads and congestion.
Sebum itself is not the enemy – it carries vitamin E to the surface, keeps the barrier supple and helps oily skin hold its structure, which is why it often shows fine lines later than dry skin does.
What causes oily skin?
Genetics and androgen activity are the primary drivers of how much sebum your glands produce. Heat and humidity increase output measurably, and hormonal fluctuations across the monthly cycle, pregnancy or puberty shift it again.
Stress, a diet heavy in refined carbohydrates, and – counter-intuitively – over-cleansing with stripping foams or alcohol-based toners all push oil production up, because skin compensates for a damaged barrier by making more.
What ingredients are best for oily skin?
Look for salicylic acid (a BHA that is oil-soluble, so it clears inside the pore), niacinamide and zinc to regulate sebum, clay such as bentonite or kaolin for weekly absorption, and retinoids or azelaic acid to normalise how pores shed.
Do not skip hydration: lightweight humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, plus non-comedogenic squalane or jojoba oil, keep the barrier intact so the skin stops over-compensating. Skip heavy occlusive balms and high-alcohol toners. Take our Skin Quiz to get the balance right for your skin.
