Shea Butter: A Healing Lip Balm Recipe

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

Shea butter is on the list of the most valuable cosmetics, which has emollient, protective, moisturizing and regenerating properties. It is also called karite or "tree of life". It is widely used in modern cosmetology for the care of the face skin, lips and hair.

The beneficial liquid is obtained from the pulp of the shea tree. The tree lives for several centuries and remains equally very prolific throughout its life. It grows in African countries.

Locals use the fruit as a skin care product, in food, as a medicine for many diseases, and in trade. Africans consider the shea tree a sacred plant, from which they make a posthumous bed for the king, according to their customs, only a woman can touch the wood.

The fruit has a fragrant and pleasant nutty smell, hints of coconut are slightly audible. Its consistency is variable, because if the ambient temperature is below 27 degrees Celsius, then the product remains solid, and at higher temperatures it turns into liquid.

Thanks to this ability, the use of karite is convenient for skin care. If you drive a hard piece over the skin, then it slowly begins to melt, it is better absorbed and saturates with vitamins, endowing you with such desirable qualities as elasticity and hydration. Shea butter has a very good effect on the surface of the lips, preventing and healing cracks, removing peeling. Eighty percent of shea is composed of triglycerides.

Composition of Shea Fruit Juice:

• about 45% fat;
• about 30% carbohydrates;
• 10% vegetable protein;
• acids: arachidic, linoleic, linolenic, myristic, oleic, palmitic, stearic;
• vitamins A, E;
• and various types of triterpene alcohols.

Properties and action of shea on the skin

An excellent product that quickly and effectively nourishes the rough skin of different parts of the body, is often used for dry areas on the elbows, feet, knees, hands, has a positive effect on moisturizing flaky skin spots on the face and lips.

Shea has a positive effect on the synthesis of collagen in the body and elastin, restores and rejuvenates the skin, fights the first signs of aging, folds, stretch marks and wrinkles on the body, improves internal cell pressure and external complexion. Shea butter helps fight stretch marks only if you start treating the problem as soon as it appears.

If during pregnancy you smear the belly with a cream from the fruits of the shea tree, then after childbirth the skin will be smooth, elastic and free of defects. Shea also has protective abilities, protects the surface of the body from the influence of harmful ultraviolet rays and the scorching rays of the sun, negatively affecting environmental irritants, such as strong wind, rain or dry climate.

Shea is versatile, suitable for all skin types and is used in some recipes

as a component of hair masks. Because of its soothing properties, it is confidently used for sensitive skin or for lubricating diaper rash in babies.

It will heal wounds from insect bites and soothe itching. It often turns out to be a component of many medicinal ointments and gels; it is used in practice by dermatologists in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis.

Has anti-inflammatory effect in cases of damage to ligaments or muscles, helps in the treatment of joint diseases. It stimulates capillary blood supply and helps relieve swelling from different parts of the body. In these cases, a piece of solid oil is applied to the damaged areas in a circular motion.

In winter, use shea butter to avoid chapping and frostbite when going outside where the temperature is very cold and the air is dry.

To preserve useful properties, you need to properly store the product from the "tree of life"; you should hide it from direct sunlight in a tightly closed cool place. In such conditions, its shelf life is about two years.

Shea is mined in two ways:

1. Traditional. With this method of obtaining, the juice from the fruits of the shea tree retains all, without exception, useful properties. It is unfiltered, that is, the manufacturing technology does not use chemicals and solvents, but is completely environmentally friendly, has a delicate nutty coconut smell and has a light brown tint. Retains bactericidal substances, which allow to extend shelf life, is better absorbed into the skin and is retained in the subcutaneous layers due to non-soap substances (17%);
2. Additional processing. After the traditional production of karite, it is refined. They are heat treated, filtered, bleached and mixed with additional chemicals, flavorings are added. After all the procedures, the oil becomes less useful than pure oil. Some of the useful components lose their properties, and the color becomes close to white, the smell depends on the type of deodorizers.

In Africa, there is the Shea Butter Institute, which classifies the quality of the product from the fruit of the tree according to the method of pressing (A, B, C and F). Class A is the best premium oil, 100% natural, used in the most expensive anti-aging anti-wrinkle cosmetics or in the treatment of skin diseases. Class F has only light moisturizing properties due to multiple filtration.

Properties and uses of shea butter for lips

Many women and men are faced with the problem of dry lips, on which cracks subsequently form - this is very painful, and it looks completely unattractive. The peculiarity of the “tree of life” is that even in the most neglected form of weathering, treatment with shea can be started. After all, it has healing properties, and the result will be noticeable from the first applications. Your lips will become velvety and smooth. You can prepare several lip balms using oil for your lips with your own hands from natural ingredients, which can be purchased at almost every pharmacy or cosmetics store.

Ingredients:

• shea;
• cacao butter;
• wax;
• cinnamon oil;
• two drops of essential oil to choose from, it can be mint, chamomile or lemon balm;
• and if you wish, you can add honey, which will additionally moisturize the skin and make the taste of the balm sweet.

Melt the wax in a water bath, pour in the melted shea, add the rest of the oils and mix well. While the mixture is warm, it is better to pour it into a small container, from which it will be convenient to get the balm. The resulting product must be cooled, after which, thanks to the wax, it thickens, and in the future it will not drain from the lips upon contact with warm skin.

Cinnamon oil is very hot (you shouldn't add more than one drop), but it improves blood flow to the surface of the lips, which will give a natural redness. Mint will pleasantly cool the skin, while chamomile and lemon balm will help speed up wound healing. You can use this tool both at night, applying in a thick layer, and during the day, using it as lipstick, but spread with a thinner ball.

You can also prepare a more gentle balm for daily use if your sponges have not yet had time to be severely injured. To do this, you will need: 15 g of shea butter, 10 g of jojoba, two drops of lemon oil and 7-10 ml of rose water. In the same way as in the previous recipe, you need to melt the solid components in a water bath and add the remaining components. Stir everything thoroughly until the mixture cools completely. The liquid can be poured into an old tube from under the gloss and carried with you, only it should not let in the sun's rays.

The constant use of such balms will keep your lips healthy and youthful.