Ingredient glossary
Shea Butter
On your shelf ✓What Shea Butter does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
In short: Shea Butter delivers softening and barrier support, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Softening, barrier support
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Strong
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is repairing a stressed moisture barrier, Shea Butter delivers, and the research properly backs it up. Gentle enough that most skin types can reach for it.
— Maya
What it does
- softening
- barrier support
strong evidenceSupported by cosmetic chemistry literature for its assigned function, with fewer direct clinical outcome studies than hero actives.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- normal
Approach with care
- acne prone
- very oily
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilyTake care
- SensitiveSuits
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: acne prone.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- humectants
- occlusives
Shea Butter, answered
Is Shea Butter safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Shea Butter is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Shea Butter?
Approach Shea Butter with care if any of these apply to you: acne prone and very oily. It carries a high risk of clogging pores, so acne-prone skin should go carefully.
What concentration of Shea Butter actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
Does it clog pores?
Rich but widely rated non-comedogenic in lab tests.
- This rating comes from old lab tests on the isolated ingredient, not the finished product.
- The full formula, how much is used, and your own skin all matter more than one number.
- If you are acne-prone it is worth noticing, not a reason to avoid it on sight.
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