What is it? First piquing the interest of Westerners in the eighteenth century - when travelers to Africa observed its benefits first-hand - shea butter was purportedly used in Egypt as an emollient for hair and skin, an anti-inflammatory salve to treat arthritis and sprains and even as a decongestant. Indigenous to African countries such as Mali, Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria, the shea butter fruit, commonly known as Karité, consists of a thin pulp that’s surrounded by an oil-rich seed from which shea butter is extracted.

It wasn’t until the 1930's that the first large-scale studies of its use in skincare were performed; the results were overwhelmingly positive, with chemists observing the fruit’s high fat content and naturally long shelf-life (even without the use of preservatives). Due to a high content of vitamins A and E, this plant has regained significance as a powerful moisturizer in recent years.

You'll find it in: Shea butter can be found in body creams, lip gloss, hair care products and even foundation. Generally, there are two types of shea butter: refined and unrefined. Refined shea butter is usually white to cream in color, has no discernable scent and a very smooth consistency. While refined shea butter has beneficial qualities, the problem with commercially refined shea butter is that hexane solvents, sometimes used in the refining process, also strip away vitamins and minerals. Unrefined or ”virgin“ shea butter, although refined at least once using a natural cold process method, still retains all of the beneficial vitamins and nutrients, and is typically beige, dark green or even gray in color. When shopping for shea butter products, be sure to look for those without solvents and additives or those noted to contain 100 percent natural shea butter.

Our product picks: To treat your entire body, look to products crafted with high amounts of shea butter. For dry hands, L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream uses a combination of shea butter, honey and sweet almond extract to protect and heal dehydrated skin. For a multi-tasking shea butter product, reach for L'Occitane100% Pure Shea Butter, great for use on lips, hands, elbows, knees and feet, as well as sunburns, scraps, cuts and bruises. And to help maintain chemically treated or dry hair, try Philip B African Shea Butter Shampoo. With a hydrating blend of African shea butter, hops, nettle, comfrey and vitamin B5, this shampoo will restore softness and shine to parched tresses.

What to expect: Many skincare products are touted as "natural," yet few offer the many benefits of shea butter with its ability to treat skin concerns such as dry, itchy skin, stretch marks and wrinkles and conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Also, because it's filled with antioxidants, shea butter not only moisturizes your skin but also keeps it healthy and radiant. Again, make sure you choose products with 100 percent natural shea butter to enjoy these benefits.

Who should avoid it: Shea butter is actually useful for all skin types. The moisturizing properties of shea butter mimic the skin's own natural moisturizer: sebum, making it equally as useful for oily skin as dry skin.

See also:

How to Banish Blackheads

A Step-by-Step Guide to Stunning Nails

Skin Care in Your 30s

Yoga for a Healthy Complexion

Brighten Your Complexion with Blush