Barrier & repair· in 8 products

Shea butter

Also listed as Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, Vitellaria paradoxa butter and Shea butter (INCI)

Moderate evidence From a few percent in lotions to near 100% in raw butters

Shea butter is a fat pressed from the nuts of the African shea tree. It is a rich emollient and occlusive used in body butters, balms, lip care and hair products.

Shop 8 with shea butter All ingredients

8SbShea butterBarrier & repair

What it does

The short version.

Shea butter is high in stearic and oleic acids and contains a notable unsaponifiable fraction (triterpene alcohols and other compounds) with anti-inflammatory activity in lab studies. On skin it softens, smooths rough patches and slows water loss. On hair it coats the cuticle to reduce dryness and frizz, which is why it features in many products for curly and coily hair.

Moderate evidence

Its emollient performance is well established in practice; controlled clinical trials of shea butter alone are limited.

In our directory: It’s a key ingredient in 8 products we review, most often eye & lip and body. Those products are mostly built for hydrating, dryness relief and long-lasting moisture. In formulas, it most often shares the label with glycerin, vitamin e and panthenol.

Reach for it for

Dryness relief Long-lasting moisture Barrier repair Frizz control Shine

Usually a good fit for

Dry skin Normal skin Mature skin Curly hair Coily hair Thick hair Damaged hair

How to use it

Getting it right.

Warm a small amount between palms and apply to damp skin or hair. Heavier shea balms work best on body, hands, lips and ends of hair.

Layering

Friends & frenemies.

Pairs well with

Ceramides Colloidal oatmeal Glycerin Argan oil Urea

Before you start

Rich textures can feel heavy or contribute to clogged pores on oily or acne-prone facial skin. Refined shea is a nut-derived fat; reactions are rare, but people with tree-nut allergy may prefer to check with an allergist.

References

Educational, not medical advice. Ingredient guides summarise published research and expert guidance; formulas and concentrations differ between products.