Provides comprehensive barrier restoration, combining Shea Butter's fatty acid occlusion with Ceramides' structural lipid mortar.
Source1
시어버터 · 전성분
Shea Butter
A deeply nourishing botanical lipid extracted from the nuts of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), rich in essential fatty acids and unsaponifiable triterpene esters that support the skin barrier, lock in moisture, and soothe inflammation.
GentlenessGentle — four of fiveEvidenceIndicativeTopical
- INCI
- BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER
Also called Karite Butter · Vitellaria Paradoxa Butter · Butyrospermum Parkii Butter · African Shea Butter
Early-stage page
This ingredient page is still early. We're actively researching before it's ready to stand fully on its own — check back as more sections are verified.
The short answer
Four lines, each compressed from the section it links to. Every line carries the sources of the claim it compresses.
- What it does
Pruritus Relief and Quality-of-Life Improvement in a Shea-Butter-Containing Cream, Observed in Atopic Dermatitis
See the evidence - Where it goes
moisturizer or occlusive cream step · day and night
See how to use it - What shows, and when
7 days: Noticeable reduction in flaky patches, softened rough skin texture, and decreased skin reactivity.
See the timeline
How to use it
Where it sits in the seven-step ladder, and the record's own fields for the habit.
아침DayDay: used
저녁NightNight: used
day and night
Cleanser클렌저
Toner토너
Essence에센스
Serum세럼
Eye cream아이크림
Moisturizer크림 sits here
Sunscreen자외선차단제
Filled steps are where Shea Butter commonly appears. No product is recommended.
Everything here comes from the sources below. None of it is a product recommendation.
- Time of day
- day and night
- Where it sits
- moisturizer or occlusive cream step
- Starting frequency
- daily
- Amount
- pea-sized amount for face, generous amount for body
- Application
- Warm a small amount between fingertips until melted, then press gently onto dry face, lips, or body areas. Ideal as the final step in a nighttime routine to seal in serum hydration.
- Storage
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat, as excess heat can cause melting or graininess due to re-crystallization of stearic triglycerides.
Plays well with / keep apart
One card per pair. Where the partner has its own passport, the name links to it.
Do layer it with
Glycerin draws water into the stratum corneum as a humectant while Shea Butter seals it in as an occlusive, forming a classic moisture-locking complex.
What to expect, and when
The record's own timeline. Each step keeps the source of the study it came from.
- Immediate
Instant relief from skin dryness, tightness, and chapping, creating a soft, protected moisture barrier.
- 7 days
Noticeable reduction in flaky patches, softened rough skin texture, and decreased skin reactivity.
- 28 days
Reduced itching and improved quality-of-life scores, observed in the formulated lipid-complex cream studied, among patients who found it acceptable 1.
Source1
Is this safe for me
Everything the record says about suitability, consolidated. Pause-first comes first.
Before you start
Exceedingly gentle and well-tolerated on body and dry skin areas. Highly comedogenic-sensitive individuals with active facial acne should patch-test before rich facial application.
Good match for
Hypoallergenic and exceptionally safe across pediatric, adult, and sensitive skin types, providing non-irritating emollient and barrier protection.
Best match
dry skin
damaged skin barrier · sensitive skin · atopic-prone skin · flaky skin · chapped lips
Routine
moisturizer or occlusive cream step
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not medical advice · ask your own clinician
Pregnancy. A 2011 dermatology review of skin-care product safety in pregnancy names hydroquinone (high systemic absorption) and tretinoin (evidence controversial) as the actives of concern, and states that most other topical skin-care products act locally and produce minimal systemic absorption; shea butter is not named among the flagged concerns 6. This is general topical-product reasoning rather than an ingredient-specific safety trial. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor before use.
Breastfeeding. Topical application is applied locally with minimal expected systemic absorption; no ingredient-specific breastfeeding safety trial was located. As a general precaution common to topical actives, avoid applying directly to the breast or nipple area, since incidental transfer to a nursing infant has not been studied for this ingredient. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor before use.
| Common, and it usually settles | Stop using it |
|---|---|
| Rich, protective, cushiony feeling on the skin with zero stinging or burning. | persistent redness |
| localized itching | |
| comedonic breakouts |
Allergen history
A dedicated search of the peer-reviewed literature (PubMed) for shea butter / Butyrospermum parkii allergic contact dermatitis and latex cross-reactivity found no indexed results. This is a genuine absence of PubMed-indexed confirmation -- it neither confirms nor rules out the nut/latex cross-reactivity caution carried in this record from the research packet, which is transcribed here rather than independently source-verified.
Who should not use it
Not yet researched
Research in progress — check back soon. How we verify
What it will not do
- The pruritus reduction and quality-of-life improvements demonstrated with a shea-butter-containing leave-on cream cannot be assumed for rinse-off foaming cleansers due to minimal skin contact time.
- The natural UV-absorbing properties of cinnamate esters in raw shea butter do not replace broad-spectrum sunscreens, as shea butter alone does not provide adequate SPF protection.
- The deep emollient and barrier-repair effects achieved on dry body or limb skin cannot be directly extrapolated to prevent acne breakouts on highly oil-prone facial skin.
The evidence
One card per claim. Concentration, form, population and limitation sit with it, always visible.
Grade legend
- Indicative
- Limited
- Moderate
- Strong
Pruritus Relief and Quality-of-Life Improvement in a Shea-Butter-Containing Cream, Observed in Atopic Dermatitis
IndicativeIn a formulated lipid-complex cream containing shea butter extract (not shea butter alone), reduces itching (pruritus) and improves quality-of-life scores, observed in pediatric atopic dermatitis patients who found the cream acceptable.1
- Tested concentration
- topical cream containing lipid complex with shea butter extract
- Which form
- Unrefined / Raw Shea Butter, Refined Shea Butter
- Population and duration
- 34 patients (pediatric cohort) with atopic dermatitis applying the cream over 4 weeks
- Limitation
- Tested a specific commercial lipid-complex cream (containing shea butter extract among other ingredients), not pure shea butter monotherapy -- the result cannot be attributed to shea butter alone. The reported pruritus and quality-of-life improvements are specific to the roughly three-quarters of the pediatric cohort who found the cream acceptable, not the full study population. The comparison to a ceramide-precursor product's efficacy is against a separately published study's own data, not a head-to-head trial within this study.
Antioxidant Gene Expression and Keratinocyte Protection Against Oxidative Stress
IndicativeIn cultured human keratinocytes, a shea-butter-containing barrier cream counteracts oxidative stress, enhances antioxidant enzyme activity, and upregulates skin-moisture-related gene expression.4,5
- Tested concentration
- cream formulation with shea butter
- Which form
- Unrefined / Raw Shea Butter, Refined Shea Butter
- Population and duration
- Human HaCaT keratinocytes subjected to H2O2 oxidative stress and treated with shea butter-containing barrier cream
- Limitation
- Conducted entirely in cultured human keratinocyte cells, not a human clinical trial -- this claim does not establish a transepidermal water loss (TEWL) reduction, which neither of its cited sources measures directly.
Open
How we verify Large-scale, double-blind, randomized controlled human clinical trials evaluating pure 100% unrefined shea butter monotherapy vs 100% refined shea butter monotherapy for facial barrier recovery and long-term elasticity.
Questions & related
Common questions · 자주 묻는 질문
Can Shea Butter be used on facial skin?
Yes, for dry, normal, and sensitive skin types. Shea butter is a rich emollient that supports the barrier and seals in moisture. However, because it is rich in stearic and oleic fatty acids, individuals with very oily or acne-prone skin should patch-test before applying it thickly to the face.
Can Shea Butter help with eczema and dry skin?
A clinical study in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis found that a formulated lipid-complex cream containing shea butter extract reduced itching (pruritus) and improved quality of life for patients who found the cream acceptable, with results comparable to a separately published ceramide-precursor product's own data. This describes a specific formulated cream, not shea butter used alone 1.
The clinical recordHow it works · Forms · Manufacturing · Regulations · Study ledger · Gaps · Sources
How it works
Shea butter restores the skin barrier through a dual mechanism: its rich triglyceride fraction (oleic and stearic acids) integrates into the stratum corneum intercellular lipid bilayers to form a protective occlusive barrier that prevents TEWL, while its unsaponifiable triterpene esters (lupeol, alpha/beta-amyrin) suppress NF-kB signaling and downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines while upregulating Aquaporin-3 and Hyaluronan Synthase-1 2,4.
- Intercellular Lipid Bilayer Integration and Occlusion
- Anti-Inflammatory Triterpene Signaling
- Upregulation of Aquaporin-3 and Hyaluronan Synthase-1
Upregulates AQP3 protein and HAS-1 gene expression in human keratinocytes, enhancing endogenous hyaluronic acid production and cellular water transport.
What that rests on: in-vitro HaCaT cell assays
Source4
Reading the label
- Find this name
- 시어버터 (Shea Butter) — Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii Butter), a rich botanical emollient.
- Judge production transparency
- Manufacturers disclose fatty acid composition, unsaponifiable matter percentages, peroxide value, and heavy metal/microbiological purity COAs.
| Attribute | Unrefined / Raw Shea Butter | Refined Shea Butter |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Retains the full spectrum of natural unsaponifiable triterpene esters, tocopherols, and phytosterols, but carries a characteristic nutty scent and natural color variation. | Odorless, smooth, white texture ideal for elegant cosmetic creams and lotions, though refining leaves a lower unsaponifiable triterpene concentration than the raw form. |
| Official INCI | BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER | BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER |
| Where it comes from | Nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa (shea) tree | Nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa (shea) tree |
| How it is made | Cold-pressed or traditional water-extracted from harvested shea nuts without chemical refining or bleaching, preserving the natural ivory-to-yellow color and rich nutty aroma. | Physical filtering, deodorization, and decolorization of crude shea fat to produce a pure white, odorless, highly stable cosmetic butter. |
| Gentleness | Hypoallergenic and highly gentle; rare contact sensitivity reported in individuals with severe nut or latex allergies. | Exceptionally well-tolerated with zero scent or color irritants. |
How it is actually made
- Origin regions: Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast
- Shea nuts from Vitellaria paradoxa are harvested, boiled, sun-dried, shelled, roasted, and ground into a paste. Traditional water extraction or mechanical cold-pressing yields raw shea butter. Refined shea butter undergoes further bleaching, filtering, and deodorization to yield a white, odorless cosmetic butter.
- Standardized by fatty acid composition (oleic 40-55%, stearic 35-45%), unsaponifiable matter percentage (4.0-11.0%), peroxide value (<= 5.0 meq/kg for raw, <= 2.0 meq/kg for refined), and iodine value (50-70 g I2/100g).
- Sourced primarily through sustainable women's cooperatives in West Africa (the 'Shea Belt'), providing vital economic empowerment across rural communities.
- Manufacturers disclose fatty acid composition, unsaponifiable matter percentages, peroxide value, and heavy metal/microbiological purity COAs.
Where the ceiling is set
European Union
- The rule
- EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009
- What it allows
- Not named in Annex II (prohibited) or Annex III (restricted) substances. Listed in the CosIng database under BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER with the functions Skin Conditioning Agent, Emollient, and Viscosity Controlling Agent -- a function/inventory listing, not a regulatory approval.
Source3
South Korea
- The rule
- Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) Cosmetics Safety Standards
- What it allows
- Not found on any MFDS restricted-ingredient list. It is not on the MFDS functional whitening or anti-wrinkle lists, so Korean formulators pair it with Niacinamide (2%-5%) or Adenosine (0.04%) for simplified functional cosmetic notifications.
Source3
What the evidence rests on
Study records
Prospective clinical trial in 34 pediatric atopic dermatitis patients over 4 weeks2015
Patient acceptability, efficacy, and skin biophysiology of a cream and cleanser containing lipid complex with shea butter extract versus a ceramide product for eczema
Among the pediatric patients who found the cream acceptable (roughly three-quarters of the cohort), four-week use of the shea-butter-containing cream significantly reduced mean pruritus score and improved Dermatology Life Quality Index, at a level the authors describe as comparable to a separately published ceramide-precursor product's own data.
Where it falls shortEvaluated as part of a formulated lipid complex cream rather than pure shea butter; results specific to the acceptable-cream subgroup; comparison to the ceramide product is cross-study, not a head-to-head arm within this trial.
Source1
In-vitro and ex-vivo bioassay in mice for anti-inflammatory activity2010
Anti-Inflammatory and Chemopreventive Effects of Triterpene Cinnamates and Acetates from Shea Fat
Triterpene esters isolated from shea fat exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity in TPA-induced ear inflammation and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice.
Where it falls shortAnimal and in-vitro bioassay of isolated triterpene compounds, not shea butter itself, and not a human study.
Source2
Systematic toxicological and safety review by the CIR Expert Panel2024
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
The CIR Expert Panel concluded that these shea-derived ingredients are safe in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-sensitizing.
Where it falls shortEvaluated based on standard cosmetic usage patterns and concentrations across a family of 13 related ingredients, not shea butter alone.
Source3
In-vitro cellular and human keratinocyte gene expression assay2024
Moisturizing and antioxidant factors of skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo and vitamin E in human keratinocyte cells
Shea-butter-containing cream counteracted H2O2-induced oxidative stress, enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, upregulated Aquaporin-3 and Hyaluronan Synthase-1 gene expression, and promoted type I procollagen synthesis in human HaCaT cells.
Where it falls shortEvaluated in-vitro on cultured keratinocytes; does not measure transepidermal water loss directly.
Source4
Systematic scientific literature review of plant oils on epidermal permeability barrier and skin inflammation2018
Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils
In lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage cells, shea butter exhibited anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the NF-kB pathway.
Where it falls shortA narrative review covering many plant oils; the shea-specific section synthesizes prior primary research rather than presenting new data.
Source5
Study
Source6
What is still missing
Large-scale, double-blind, randomized controlled human clinical trials evaluating pure 100% unrefined shea butter monotherapy vs 100% refined shea butter monotherapy for facial barrier recovery and long-term elasticity.
Current clinical trials evaluate shea butter primarily as an ingredient within multi-component lipid creams, making the isolated comparative efficacy of pure raw vs refined shea butter a clinical estimation.
NeedsA randomized double-blind clinical trial comparing 100% raw shea butter vs 100% refined shea butter vs vehicle cream on 100 subjects with compromised skin barriers over 4 weeks.
Sources on file
- Hon KL, Tsang YC, Pong NH, Lee VWY, Luk NM, Chow CM, Leung TF. Patient acceptability, efficacy, and skin biophysiology of a cream and cleanser containing lipid complex with shea butter extract versus a ceramide product for eczema. Hong Kong Med J (2015)(opens in a new tab)
- Akihisa T, Kojima N, Kikuchi T, Yasukawa K, Tokuda H, Masters ET, Manosroi A, Manosroi J. Anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects of triterpene cinnamates and acetates from shea fat. J Oleo Sci (2010)(opens in a new tab)
- Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Fiume M, Heldreth B. Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol (2024)(opens in a new tab)
- Mohanan R, Jose SP, Sreevallabhan S, Jalam JK, Tilwani J, Jagmag T, Abhyankar M, George SM. Moisturizing and antioxidant factors of skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo and vitamin E in human keratinocyte cells. Int J Cosmet Sci (2024)(opens in a new tab)
- Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int J Mol Sci (2018)(opens in a new tab)
- Bozzo, Chua-Gocheco & Einarson. Can Fam Physician (2011)(opens in a new tab)