INCI Name
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Botanical Name
Vitellaria paradoxa
Shea butter is a nutrient-rich, cold-pressed fat extracted from the nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa tree. High in stearic and oleic acids, along with natural tocopherols and triterpenes, it offers a rich, emollient texture that softens and conditions skin. Widely used in balms, creams, and hair care, it provides protective moisture and supports the appearance of smooth, supple skin.
Emollient, occlusive, skin-conditioning agent, thickener, viscosity enhancer
Product Type(s):
Typical Usage Range:
3–20% in emulsions; up to 100% in balms and butters
Softens and smooths skin feel, helps maintain barrier function, provides protective layer, traditionally used in balms and butters for dry skin and hair care
Primary Components:
Oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid, tocopherols (vitamin E), triterpenes
Tree nut derivative—low allergy risk but possible; patch test recommended
Preferred Extraction Method:
Cold-pressed or expeller-pressed (unrefined preferred)
Prefer unrefined, organic, fair-trade; ivory or yellow in color; verify country of origin (commonly Ghana or Burkina Faso)
Explore additional safety and regulatory data from trusted external sources:
*The ingredient details on this page are intended for general educational use and should not be considered exhaustive. Additional properties, uses, or safety considerations may be available from other sources. Root & Ritual Apothecary is not affiliated with Cosmetics Info, Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), INCIDecoder, SkinSafe, EWG Skin Deep, or SpecialChem. External links are provided solely for informational purposes; Root & Ritual does not control or guarantee the accuracy, methodology, or conclusions of third-party sources, including consumer rating systems such as EWG.
Shea Butter
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