Made from the nut of the shea tree, shea butter has been proven to have a lot of great properties. It helps produce collagen, moisturizes, fights inflammation and is hypoallergenic. Knowing this, shea butter has become cosmetic companies’ golden child.
You don’t have to go pay a high price to get the benefits of shea butter, though. You can make your own great beauty products right at home. Check out these 6 great ways you can put shea butter to work for you.
1. Stretch Mark Cream
- The anti-aging and collagen boosting properties of shea butter make it perfect for lightening stretch marks.
- Dr. Axecombines 3 ounces of coconut oil, 3/4 ounce cocoa butter, 3/4 ounce shea butter, 3 tablespoons almond oil and 6 tablespoons water in a double boiler on a stove.
- Melt the oils until they are liquid and stir in the water and oils are thoroughly mixed.
- Remove from the heat and continue to stir until the oils reach room temperature and are creamy.
- Add 2 teaspoons vitamin E oil, 20 drops lavender essential oil, 20 drops cypress essential oil, 10 drops grapefruit essential oil and 10 drops helichrysum essential oil.
- Stir until the cream is completely mixed and pour it into jars.
2. Body Butter
- Shea butter is a great moisturizer and has the added benefit of being hypoallergenic.
- To make your own body butter, Wellness Mama recommends combining 1/2 cup shea butter, 1/2 cup coconut oil and 1/2 cup olive oil in a double boiler on the stove.
- Heat over medium until all the oils melt.
- Remove and add 10 to 30 drops of your favorite essential oils.
- Mix thoroughly. Place in the refrigerator for one hour to let cool. Whip the mixture with a hand mixer to get it fluffy and then jar it.
3. Acne Treatment
- Part of treating acne is calming inflamed skin and giving it proper moisturizers.
- Shea butter is great for that.
- Beauty Munsta makes a facial moisturizer by combining 4 tablespoons shea butter, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel, 1/2 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon rose water, 4 drops tea tree oil, 4 drops geranium oil and 4 drops lavender oil.
- Blend this together in a blender and apply it to your face after washing.
4. Pain Relief Bar
- Proven to have anti-inflammatory properties, shea butter can be used to create a bar that will act like a lotion and can be rubbed onto the hands or other joints when needed.
- Wellness Mama combines 1/3 cup coconut oil, 1/3 cup shea butter and 1/3 cup beeswax in a double boiler and melts them together over medium heat.
- Stir together and add 1 tablespoon menthol crystals.
- Stir until the crystal is completely dissolved.
- Add 10 drops of peppermint oil and 1/2 teaspoon of arnica oil. Mix completely and pour into molds and let them harden.
5. Cracked Heel Treatment
- Because shea butter is a great moisturizer, it helps heal deep cracks in the skin.
- Mother Nature Network recommends putting shea butter on your feet at night and covering them with socks.
- This will allow the butter to soak in and do its magic.
6. Hair Mask
- Shea butter moisturizes skin, but some like to also use it to moisturize the hair.
- Beauty Munsta makes a hair mask from 1 to 3 tablespoons shea butter and 1/2 to 1 tablespoon coconut oil melted in a double boiler.
- Once melted, add 2 to 3 drops of bergamot essential oil and whip with a beater until fluffy.
- Work it through your hair from the roots to tips and cover your hair with a shower cap for 30 minutes.
- When the time is up, wash and style your hair as normal.