What Is Shea Butter? Benefits, Uses and Why It’s Great for Your Skin

Shea butter is one of the most popular natural ingredients used in skincare today. Known for its rich texture and deeply nourishing properties, it has been used for centuries to moisturise, protect and repair the skin.

But many people still ask the same question: what is shea butter?

In simple terms, shea butter is a natural fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, which grows across the savannah regions of West Africa. For generations, communities in these regions have used shea butter as a natural moisturiser, healing balm and protective skin treatment.

Today, shea butter is widely used in skincare products, cosmetics, body creams, lip balms and hair treatments because of its ability to deeply hydrate the skin and support overall skin health.

In this guide, we explore what shea butter is, where it comes from, how it’s made, its benefits for skin and why raw organic shea butter is one of the most valuable natural skincare ingredients available.

Shea butter comes from the Karité tree, which grows naturally across the savannah belt of West Africa.

These trees can be found in regions stretching from:

• Senegal in the west

• Mali and Burkina Faso

• Ghana and Nigeria

• Sudan in the east

• The foothills of the Ethiopian highlands

The shea tree is often referred to as the “Tree of Life” because of its importance to local communities. Shea trees typically take 15–20 years to begin producing fruit, but once mature they can continue producing shea nuts for up to 200 years.

The harvesting and processing of shea nuts is traditionally carried out by women in rural African communities, making shea butter production an important source of employment and economic independence.

Many ethical beauty brands prioritise fair-trade shea butter sourcing to support these communities and maintain sustainable supply chains.

Deep Moisturisation

One of the most well-known benefits of shea butter is its ability to deeply moisturise the skin.

Shea butter contains natural fatty acids that help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. This prevents water loss and keeps the skin hydrated for longer.

Unlike many moisturisers that sit on the surface, shea butter absorbs into the skin to provide long-lasting hydration.

Shea butter contains vitamin A, which supports skin regeneration and helps improve a range of skin concerns.

These include:

• Dry skin

• Blemishes

• Fine lines

• Wrinkles

• Eczema

• Dermatitis

Because it supports skin renewal, shea butter is often included in restorative skincare products, such as nourishing balms and rich moisturisers from natural skincare brands.

Vitamin E found in shea butter acts as a natural antioxidant that helps protect the skin from environmental stressors such as pollution and free radicals.

This protection can help reduce premature signs of ageing and damage to the skin barrier.

Shea butter also contains vitamin F and essential fatty acids, which help support skin elasticity.

This helps keep skin feeling soft, smooth and supple, particularly when used regularly as part of a moisturising skincare routine.

Shea butter is incredibly versatile and is used in a wide variety of skincare products.

Common uses include:

• Body moisturisers

• Face creams

• Lip balms

• Hand creams

• Body butters

• Hair treatments

• Healing balms

Shea butter is naturally gentle and suitable for sensitive skin types.

Its anti-inflammatory properties can help calm redness and irritation, making it a popular ingredient for people with:

• Sensitive skin

• Eczema

• Dry patches

• Irritated skin

Many clean beauty brands choose shea butter because it allows them to create simple, nourishing formulas with minimal ingredients.

Not all shea butter is the same. The way it is processed can significantly affect its quality and benefits.

Raw (Unrefined) Shea Butter

Raw shea butter is minimally processed and retains all of its natural nutrients.

It contains the full spectrum of:

• Vitamins A, E and F

• Essential fatty acids

• Natural antioxidants

Because of this, raw shea butter is generally considered the most beneficial form for skincare.

Refined shea butter undergoes additional processing to remove its scent and colour.

While this can improve appearance and texture, the refining process can reduce the concentration of beneficial nutrients.

For skincare purposes, unrefined shea butter is usually preferred.

Shea butter is an extremely versatile ingredient used in a wide variety of skincare and beauty products.

Common uses include:

• Body moisturisers

• Face creams

• Lip balms

• Hand creams

• Body butters

• Hair treatments

• Healing balms

Because of its rich texture and nourishing properties, shea butter works particularly well in products designed to treat dry or dehydrated skin.

A variety of skincare brands incorporate shea butter into their formulations. A selection of these products can be explored through the shea butter collection available on Myza, which features natural skincare brands that prioritise high-quality ingredients.

Sustainability and ethical sourcing are important considerations when producing natural skincare ingredients.

Many skincare brands choose to source fair-trade shea butter from cooperatives in West Africa, helping support the communities that harvest and process the shea nuts.

These partnerships help provide:

• Employment opportunities for women

• Sustainable income for rural communities

• Preservation of traditional production methods

Supporting responsibly sourced ingredients helps ensure that shea butter continues to benefit both local communities and global skincare industries.

Now that you know what shea butter is, it’s easy to understand why it has remained such an important skincare ingredient for centuries.

Its unique combination of:

• Deep hydration

• Skin barrier support

• Natural antioxidants

• Skin-repairing vitamins

makes it one of the most effective natural moisturisers available.

If you're interested in trying shea butter-based skincare, you can explore a curated selection of products from natural beauty brands in the Myza Shea Butter Collection, featuring moisturisers, balms and body care products formulated with this powerful natural ingredient.