What it does
A rich, deeply emollient butter from the West African shea tree. Locks in moisture, supports the skin barrier, and gives creams their signature melt-in feel.
Best for
Dry, mature, or barrier-compromised skin; richer night creams; and the neck and decollete areas where extra emollience helps.
The full picture
Shea butter is the rich fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). It is high in stearic and oleic acids plus a small but meaningful concentration of natural triterpenes that have anti-inflammatory activity. The fatty acid profile makes it both occlusive (locks water in) and emollient (smooths and softens). Found in ALASTIN, Medik8, and numbuzin as a comfort layer that lets the actives work in a forgiving texture.
Evidence
Topical shea butter has been shown to improve skin hydration, barrier function, and elasticity in clinical research.
Read the source: PubMed: shea butter in skin care ->