Shea butter in cosmetics: what it does for your skin and which products contain it

Shea butter is a vegetable fat that acts as an emollient: it softens dry skin and helps it retain moisture, which makes it feel comfortable. At Yves Rocher, it is the base of our body care line for dry to extra-dry skin, and it is also featured in a hand balm, a lip balm, and our scented body lotions, almost always as organic or "bio" shea butter.

What is shea butter and why is it nourishing

It is obtained from the seeds of the fruit of the shea tree, which grows in the savannas of West Africa. In the INCI list, it appears as Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter. It is solid at room temperature and melts upon contact with the skin.

Its composition explains its fame. It is rich in fatty acids, which fill the spaces between the cells of the outermost layer of the skin and leave a film that slows down water evaporation. This is what is known in cosmetics as nourishing: providing lipids to skin that produces very little. That is why it is so effective on dry skin and less so on oily skin, which already has excess sebum.

We describe it in our own words. In the lip balm, our researchers selected it "for its exceptional nourishing properties"; in the hand balm, it is "known for its repairing and nourishing properties."

Where Yves Rocher's shea comes from

We use organic, or "bio," shea butter, and in our vanilla lotions and mists, it is also organic and fair trade. Shea is not one of the nine plants we grow in La Gacilly: it is an African tree.

Body: dry to extra-dry skin

The repairing cream line combines shea butter with calendula.

The Repairing Body Butter is the most concentrated format: organic shea butter and organic calendula, in a whipped, melting, and extremely rich texture for dry to extra-dry skin. In a satisfaction study with 59 people, 90% stated that their skin felt intensely nourished immediately. It contains 98% ingredients of natural origin and has a vegan formula.

For those who do not like the feeling of heavy skin, there is the Nourishing Body Lotion, featuring the same active ingredients in a light texture that absorbs quickly. It hydrates for up to 24 hours, based on a clinical study of 12 volunteers. In the humid heat of Barranquilla, it is often the most comfortable option.

In the Nourishing Body Scrub, shea appears twice: the butter nourishes, and the shea shells act as the exfoliating grains. It is suitable for all skin types.

The calendula that accompanies the shea in this line has its own piece: Calendula in cosmetics.

Hands and lips

Hands are washed many times a day, and each wash removes some of their lipids. The Repairing Hand Balm combines organic shea butter with organic arnica water for normal to dry skin, in an extremely rich texture that relieves the sensation of tightness. Its 48-hour hydration is based on an objective clinical test on 12 volunteers. It is part of the hands and feet collection. The Algae Hand Cream is also enriched with shea butter.

Lips have almost no sebaceous glands, which is why they dry out faster than the rest of the face. The Shea Lip Balm comes in a stick, with 98% ingredients of natural origin and no silicones; it is made in Brittany, France, and is part of the lips collection.

Scented body lotions

In the Vanilla Body Lotion, the organic and fair-trade shea is combined with aloe vera gel and Bourbon vanilla extract. It contains over 96% ingredients of natural origin.

How to use products with shea

1. In the shower, massage the scrub over your body and rinse well. Do not apply it to your face or irritated skin.
2. After getting out, apply the body lotion with light massages all over your body.
3. On the driest areas, use the body butter.
4. During the day, carry the hand balm and lip balm to reapply whenever you feel tightness.

An emollient works best on damp skin, because it seals in the water that has just been absorbed.

Frequently asked questions

What is shea butter used for on the skin?

It is a vegetable fat that nourishes dry skin and helps it feel comfortable. At Yves Rocher, it is found in body care products for dry to extra-dry skin and in balms for hands and lips.

Is Yves Rocher's shea organic?

We use organic, or "bio," shea butter. In the vanilla line, it is also fair trade.

Which shea product is best for very dry skin?

The Repairing Body Butter, formulated for dry to extra-dry skin, with a whipped and extremely rich texture. If you prefer something lighter, the Nourishing Body Lotion contains the same active ingredients, shea and calendula.

Can the shea scrub be used on the face?

No. We advise against applying it to the face. It is a body scrub, using shea shells as grains.