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Active ingredient

Shea Butter

INCIButyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter

Last reviewed by BIOSAR Scientific Team, PharmD, Cosmetic Chemistry, Pharmacy practice on .

What it is

Shea butter is a plant-derived lipid pressed from Vitellaria paradoxa nuts, used in skincare as a rich emollient and occlusive. Its triglyceride and unsaponifiable fractions, including triterpenes and phytosterols, soften dry skin and reduce transepidermal water loss. Pairs broadly with most actives. No major conflicts.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Safe

Considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Topical shea butter is considered safe during pregnancy and lactation per Mother to Baby. Refined shea butter has a low allergenicity profile and is widely used in maternity and infant body care.

Mechanism in detail

What Shea Butter does

Rich plant butter with emollient fatty acids. Delivers lasting comfort on body, hands, feet, lips, and baby skin.

Evidence

What the research says

  • n = 34Shea-lipid cream in children with eczema: small itch changeAn open-label study in 34 children with atopic dermatitis using a shea-butter lipid cream and cleanser for 4 weeks: itch eased from 6.7 to 6.0 among those who rated the cream good or very good. The ceramide comparison used older data.A clinical study in patients, in a medical setting. It is shown for the science of the ingredient, not as an example of cosmetic use.Read the study →Hon KL, Tsang YC, Pong NH, et al. 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;21(5):417-25.

Where it helps

Concerns Shea Butter addresses

From the BIOSAR catalog

Products formulated with Shea Butter