SHEA BUTTER

Description: SHEA BUTTER — EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING.

All Functions: EMOLLIENT, SKIN CONDITIONING

Quick Facts:

• Category: emollient
• Also Known As: BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER
• Comedogenic Rating: 1/5

Proven Benefits At A Glance:

• Shea butter comes from the kernels of the shea tree and has been used traditionally for skin care in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Research shows shea butter has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
• In studies, shea butter-based products helped protect baby skin from diaper rash as effectively as petrolatum-based alternatives
• A shea butter product improved itching and quality of life in some children with atopic dermatitis (eczema)

Safety tier is a starting heuristic from regulatory status and comedogenic rating, not a dermatological verdict — see our Terms for the full disclaimer. Research confidence reflects how many real cited studies back this ingredient, not the strength of their findings.

🧪 SHEA BUTTER

SHEA BUTTER

CAS Number: 91080-23-8

Also Known As: BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER

Category: emollient

Rich butter from shea tree nuts

SHEA BUTTER is an emollient ingredient used in skincare formulations.

🌍 Regulatory Status

📊 Comedogenicity

1/5

📚 Research & Evidence

🔬 The Science

Shea butter is a fat extracted from shea tree kernels through traditional methods involving roasting, pressing, and processing (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2014). The ingredient itself shows #1: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in its biochemical profile (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2014). For diaper protection, #2: a shea butter-based emollient in diapers was as effective as petrolatum-based emollients at preventing skin redness in the diaper area; babies wearing shea butter diapers were 2.6 times more likely to have zero redness at the perianal site compared to diapers with no emollient (Pediatr Dermatol, 2025). For eczema, #3: in a 4-week study of children with atopic dermatitis using a cream containing shea butter extract, 74% of patients reported good or very good acceptance of the cream, and among those who accepted it, itching scores decreased and quality-of-life measures improved (Hong Kong Med J, 2015).

However, the same study noted this shea butter product performed similarly to a ceramide-based moisturizer, suggesting the benefit may not be unique to shea butter (Hong Kong Med J, 2015). Historically, shea butter has been used across Sub-Saharan Africa for various skin conditions including scabies, wound healing, and umbilical cord care, though most research documenting these uses relies on interviews and surveys rather than controlled clinical trials (Dermatol Ther, 2022). The sources note that more rigorous clinical research is needed to fully establish shea butter’s efficacy for specific skin conditions.

💧 Skin Type Compatibility

Derived from this ingredient’s irritancy potential and comedogenicity rating against the needs of each skin type — e.g. oily and acne-prone skin are marked down for pore-clogging ingredients, sensitive skin for irritants. A starting heuristic, not a dermatological verdict.

⚠️ Don’t Combine With

🧴 Products Containing SHEA BUTTER

• Nivea
• Nivea 24hr moisture
• Lavera Crème hydratante
• lavera Straffende Nachtpflege
• Karseell Maca Essential Oil
• Tiger Moon Retinol Night Cream
• L’Oréal, L’Oreal Luxe, The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash
• Highland Soap Co. Mandarin Organic Lip Balm
• LoveBar Shampoo Bar Detox & Sebum control
• Dr Reddy’s Dr Reddy’s Venusia Derm
• garnier
• The fruit company Crema de manos
• Arrurrú Crema avena
• Conad Essentiae Crema Viso con estratti di aloe vera e tè matcha
• Shea moisture jamais annoncé black castor oil
• I Provenzali, saponificio giannasso Puro sapone liquido al karité
• Belifor Coloration Douss Color 134 Marron Chocolat – 131ML – Beliflor
• Stirling Soap Co. Bergamot Lavender
• Stirling Soap Co. Bergamot Lavender Post Shave Balm
• Les Cosmetiques Mascarilla facial hidratación sos booster plan

📄 Related Research

Matched by search — not necessarily verified support for every statement above.

• Honfo FG et al. (2014). Nutritional composition of shea products and chemical properties of shea butter: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr.
• O’Connor RJ et al. (2025). Clinical Evaluation of a Diaper Containing a Shea Butter-Based Emollient and Impact on Diapered Skin Erythema. Pediatr Dermatol.
• Ugwu-Dike P et al. (2022). A review of ethnomedicinal uses of shea butter for dermatoses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dermatol Ther.
• Hon KL et al. (2015). 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.
• Ayanlowo O et al. (2021). Shea butter as skin, scalp, and hair moisturizer in Nigerians. Dermatol Ther.