The Magic of CoCoa & Shae Butter: The OGs of Skin Healing

Ok so theres this very funny youtube video where a white woman is going off on black people for keeping all the good butters to ourselves. She nags about how for years black people have been using cocoa butter and shea butter to have the most beautiful skin and how she wants in on it!

I have to admit, my grandmother taught me a long time ago that cocoa butter and/or Shea butter are the answers to an even skin tone (reduction of scars, stretch marks, etc.) and as a kid id try it but found myself drifting away because like many other people i believed, "it can't be that simple."

Fast forward 20 years after using a countless number of products that mostly did more harm than good, I am here to say she was right. Check out these couple (out of millions) articles about cocoa butter:

Health Benefits

  • Stretch marks: Cocoa butter is widely used as a treatment for pregnancy stretch marks. With its A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, vitamins, it is excellent moisturizer for skin health. (Related article: 5 Natural Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Stretch Marks)
  • Heart health: A 2006 study in the American Heart Association journal “Circulation: Heart Failure,” reported that middle-aged and elderly women who regularly ate a small amount of chocolate had a 32 percent lower risk of heart failure. Although scientists are not sure why, it could be from its oleic acid or its cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP), which may protect against heart disease. (Related Article: 4 Reasons You Should Add Raw Cacao To Your Diet)
  • Immune system health: Preliminary research indicates that CMP (cocoa mass polyphenol) actually helps suppress excessive T-cell activity in the immune system, which could lead to possible treatment in immune system conditions such as psoriasis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. (Related Article: 5 Wonder Herbs To Boost Immunity)
  • Skin health:  Cocoa butter has often been recommended for treatment of skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Cocoa butter, when applied topically, creates a barrier between sensitive skin and the environment and helps retain needed moisture. In addition, cocoa butter contains cocoa mass polyphenol (CMP), a substance that inhibits the production of the immuno globulin IgE. IgE is known to aggravate symptoms of both dermatitis and eczema. (Related Article: Get Deliciously Flawless Skin With These Chocolate DIYs)
  • May help prevent cancer: Cocoa butter, like chocolate, contains a lot of CMP. It has been reported that CMP inhibits the growth of cancerous cells and tumors by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and the production of inflammatory cells.

( source: http://www.zliving.com/health/natural-remedies/natural-healing-tips-cocoa-butter-101-much-more-than-a-lubricant-2898/)

Benefits of Raw Shea Butter 

Shea Butter Benefits

  • Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in Shea butter makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils.
  • Reduces Inflammation: A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter was anti-inflammatory. (source) One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne.
  • Skin Smoothing: Shea butter aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.

 

Shea Butter Uses

Shea butter is one of the most versatile natural beauty ingredients and I use it daily in some form. I’ve used it for years in everything from my homemade lotion bars and original magnesium body butter to homemade lip balms and healing salves.

Some of my favorite uses for Shea Butter:

  1. By itself for face and body as a natural moisturizer
  2. In a shea butter lotion bar stick for easy use
  3. Alone or in a pregnancy stretch mark salve to ward off stretch marks
  4. As the best under-eye wrinkle remover and bag-reducer
  5. For massage butter
  6. In velvety soft whipped body butter
  7. or basic homemade lotion
  8. As a base for homemade deodorant
  9. As an SPF 6 skin lotion
  10. In magnesium body butter
  11. As a natural baby-care product (alone) or ingredient in baby care recipes
  12. By itself on the lips or in homemade lip balms
  13. Or homemade shimmer lip balm
  14. To improve skin elasticity (some even say it helps with cellulite)
  15. On the hair or scalp (in mixture with other natural ingredients)
  16. In homemade liquid creme foundation and makeup
  17. After sun or beach exposure to replenish skin
  18. On the eyelids before applying makeup to make it last longer
  19. As a natural cuticle cream
  20. On scars to naturally help collagen production
  21. On sore/raw noses during a cold or flu

(source: https://wellnessmama.com/27324/shea-butter-benefits/)

So far, 3 of Zubada Natural Beauty's  most popular products contain organic Shea butter. It is the base of our Healing Mousse, Z Coconut Mint Balm, and  Z Healing Scalp Stick. We also offer 100% Organic Raw Shea Butter for purchase from our site.