Shea Butter

Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. It is ivory in color when raw, with more processed versions being white, although it is commonly dyed yellow with borututu root or palm oil. It is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer, salve, or lotion.Â

People apply shea butter to the skin for acne, burns, dandruff, dry skin, eczema, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In foods, shea butter is used as a fat for cooking. In manufacturing, shea butter is used in cosmetic products.