- Derived from: shea nuts
- Pronunciation: (Byew-ty-ROS-permum/ PAR-kee-eye)
- Type: Natural
- Other names: shea butter
What Is Butyrospermum Parkii?
Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter is a natural moisturizer that's widely used in cosmetics, bath products, makeup, lotion, and hair care products.[1] Other names for shea butter may include: karite, carité, butirospermo, and vitellaria paradoxa.What Does Butyrospermum Parkii Do?
Butyrospermum parkii helps bind moisture.[5] Shea contains vitamin E and catechins, which are also found in green tea. As an emollient, it helps soften skin, condition hair, and even moisturize cuticles.[6,7,1]How Butyrospermum Parkii Is Made
Shea butter fruit is harvested and pulp is removed. After being dried in the sun, smoked over a fire, or parboiled, the fruit is cracked to expose the shea nuts. Once these are removed and dried again, they are ground into a powder that is mixed with water and pressed to yield the shea butter oil. [2]Why Puracy Uses Shea Butter
Since butyrospermum parkii for skin is prized as an emollient (which fills gaps in skin) and moisturizer, we use organic shea butter in our Face & Body Lotion and Organic Baby Lotion. In addition to its smoothing capabilities, Butyrospermum parkii in hair products is ideal for dry, irritated scalps, and that's precisely why our Natural Conditioner takes advantage of its hydrating and smoothing capabilities.Is Butyrospermum Parkii Safe?
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review considers shea butter and shea oil as safe in topical administration. [3] Though Butyrospermum parkii is a tree nut, there is no correlative or published data regarding shea butter allergies.Interestingly, shea nut butter actually lacks detectable protein residues that other tree nuts (e.g. pecan, walnut) possess.[4] While there is no guarantee that an allergy will not be experienced, allergy specialists believe there is little-to-no risk.[5]
Sources
[1] Cosmeticsinfo.org[2] The Shea Project
[3] Cosmetic Ingredient Review
[4] FARRP
[5] American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology
