Shea butter is fat that’s extracted from the nuts of the shea tree. It’s solid at warm temperatures and has an off-white or ivory color. Shea trees are native to West Africa, and most shea butter still comes from that region.

Shea butter has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for centuries. Its high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids — combined with its easy-to-spread consistency — make it a great product for smoothing, soothing, and conditioning your skin.

It’s safe for all skin types: Shea butter is technically a tree nut product. But unlike most tree nut products, it’s very low in the proteins that can trigger allergies

It’s moisturizing: Shea butter is typically used for its moisturizing effects .These benefits are tied to shea’s fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids.