The Shea Tree—a Magical All-Rounder

In its native Africa, the shea tree is an important source of food—partly because of the sweet flesh of its fruit, and partly because its nuts can be used to produce a popular cooking fat. In addition, shea butter traditionally plays an important role in skin care and is used for massage to relieve rheumatism, muscle pain, and joint pain.

Here, the benefits of the shea nut are primarily valued in cosmetics. Creams containing shea butter can be applied to the skin particularly quickly and evenly. Shea butter also contains valuable allantoin and vitamin E, which are skin-nourishing ingredients.

Due to their high content of unsaponifiable plant components, both the oil and the butter have excellent moisture-retaining properties. As a result, they leave the skin feeling pleasantly soft and supple—which is especially beneficial for people with dry skin or skin prone to dryness. They can help promote the healing of superficial skin injuries and soothe irritation. Thanks to its nourishing properties and good tolerability, shea butter is recommended even for skin prone to allergies.

In Africa, the shea tree is believed to possess magical powers. Only women—as the guardians of the tree—are allowed to harvest its fruits as part of a ritual ceremony.