top of page

Body Butters - Benefits for your skin and hair

Updated: Oct 11

WHAT ARE BUTTERS?


Butters are derived from natural sources such as nuts, seeds, kernels and beans. The two main components of a butter are the minerals from their natural ingredients and the natural oils that carry the minerals to the areas of application. The combination of minerals and oils creates a barrier against harsh elements that have drying effects on our skin and hair. Butters typically do not contain water, otherwise they would be emulsions, which are known as lotions. Because butters have no water content, they do not need synthetic preservatives.





TYPES OF BUTTERS


HARD BUTTERS

  • Cocoa – Pure Prime Pressed/Crude

  • Babassu – Refined

  • Murumuru – Refined

  • Sal Seed – Refined

  • Shea – Crude – Ghana

  • Cupuacu – Ultra Refined

SEMI-HARD BUTTERS

  • Kokum – Refined

  • Cocoa – Organic

  • Cocoa – Ultra Refined – Deodorized

  • Shea Organic – Crude – Ghana

  • Shea Organic – Refined – Ghana

SOFT BUTTERS

  • Shea

  • Shea – Ultra Refined

  • Soy

  • Mango – Ultra Refined

  • Cocoa

  • Tucuma – Refined

  • Ucuuba





BENEFITS


NUT BUTTERS: (SHEA)

  • Hydrate thirsty skin

  • Reduce the appearance of blemishes, scars, and cellulite

  • Soothe acne, eczema, insect bites, sunburn, frostbite

  • Soften and smooth the skin

  • Condition hair to leave it soft and lustrous

  • Ideal for any skin type

  • Boost skin’s collagen production and elasticity

  • Ideal for use in face masks

  • Ideal for use on any skin type

  • Have a wide range of uses, including skin care, dry rash care, massage creams, and sun protection


SEED / KERNEL BUTTERS: (MANGO, BABASSU REFINED, KOKUM, UCUUBA, CUPUACU, MURUMURU, SAL SEED, TUCUMA)

  • Moisturizing without being greasy

  • Promote the look of plump and firm skin

  • Facilitate the regeneration of skin

  • Rejuvenate the skin by reducing the signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines

  • Ideal for use on dry, itchy, flaky skin

  • Offer skin protection against the harsh effects of environmental elements such as UV radiation

  • Soothe skin afflicted with irritation caused by bites, stings, blisters, and rashes

  • Have antioxidant effects

  • Balance skin’s oil production

  • Stimulate hair growth

  • Ideal for use on all skin types, especially oily skin


BEAN BUTTERS: (COCOA, SOY)

  • Nourish, soften, and moisturize skin

  • Reduce discoloration and even out skin tone

  • Protect skin against the harsh effects of environmental elements





FAST ABSORPTION RATE / FINISH ON SKIN

These butters are light, soft and quickly absorbed by skin but leave a smooth, silky finish.

Skin will feel moisturized rather than greasy.

  • Kokum – Refined

  • Cocoa

  • Cocoa Organic

  • Cupuacu – Ultra Refined

  • Shea – Crude (Ghana)

  • Shea – Crude (Ghana) Organic

  • Shea Organic – Refined (Ghana

  • Shea – Refined – Deodorized (Ghana)

  • Shea – Ultra Refined

  • Tucuma – Refined


All butters can be applied directly to the skin to address issues of dryness, rashes, peeling, wrinkles, itching, cracking, roughness, among other conditions. Butters are reputed to promote skin and hair health contributing to rejuvenating and regenerative properties.


For application to the skin, the best time to use butters for ideal absorption is when skin is damp after a shower. Butters can also be applied to skin just before sleeping, to allow the butter to penetrate into the skin more effectively for better hydration. Most natural butters melt on skin contact and will be absorbed quickly. Because of their concentration, butters do not need to be applied in large amounts and best to begin by using a pea-size amount of body butter at a time.



COMPOSITION OF BUTTERS

These are the main constituents in most varieties: Essential Fatty Acids, Vitamins, Proteins, Minerals, Antioxidants, Polyphenols, Phytosterols, and Tocopherol.


ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS are known to:

  • Produce and maintain the skin's natural oil barrier

  • Hydrate skin

  • Protect skin by creating an antimicrobial barrier against harsh environmental elements

  • Moisturize skin to prevent the premature signs of aging

  • Reduce water loss through the skin’s surface

  • Enhance the texture and softness of skin and hair

VITAMINS are known to:

  • Exhibit anti-aging properties

  • Enhance texture and tone

  • Fade and minimize the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots, such as under-eye circles

  • Smooth roughness

  • Strengthen and tighten skin’s protective outer layer to lock in moisture and protect against irritants


PROTEINS are known to:

  • Repair and generate new tissues and cells

  • Slow the onset of the premature signs of aging, such as wrinkles and thinning hair


MINERALS are known to:

  • Protect against the stresses and harsh effects of environmental elements

  • Promote exfoliation

  • Balance and regulate oil production and moisture levels, especially for oily and sensitive skin and hair

  • Exhibit antioxidant properties

  • Tighten and smooth for a youthful appearance


ANTIOXIDANTS are known to:

  • Boost circulation

  • Tighten and tone the skin to prevent the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes, and scars

  • Plump out skin to smooth the look of fine lines and to blend in the newly developed skin

  • Improve the health of damaged skin by encouraging the growth of new cells for a rejuvenated look

  • Strengthen hair and maintain its health to prevent hair loss

POLYPHENOLS are known to:

  • Exhibit antioxidant activity

  • Increase hair growth

  • Show anti-aging properties, especially by reducing effects of UV-related damage

  • Exhibit photoprotective properties that help guard against UV radiation, harmful bacteria, oxidative stress, and harsh environmental conditions

  • Facilitate the renewal of skin cells

  • Prevent the breakdown of collagen, thereby restoring skin elasticity

  • Increase moisture levels for smoother skin and hair

PHYTOSTEROLS are known to:

  • Maintain cell structure, repair skin, and promote cell regeneration

  • Facilitate healing of dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, scars, sunburn, wind chapping, and wounds

  • Exhibit photoprotective properties / reduce photosensitivity

  • Facilitate skin cell metabolism and collagen production

  • Exhibit anti-inflammatory properties

  • Prevent itching and irritation

  • Reduce hair loss and increase hair growth

TOCOPHEROL is known to:

  • Protect skin and hair against pollutants and harmful UV radiation

  • Tighten skin for a firmer look that diminishes signs of aging

  • Show natural preservative properties in skin care cosmetics and formulations

  • Moisturize and condition

  • Exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, which slows the look of aging

  • Facilitate the faster healing of wounds





At Lakeshore Harbour Soap Company, we use many of these butters and especially SHEA from a small Canadian / Ghanaian family owned business. This supplier offers the best of Shea Butter from Ghana and in turn offers fair payment to producers and workers. They support women, families and community development in Ghana who create high quality products in a fair, equitable, and environmentally sustainable manner. The women use age-old traditional methods passed down many generations. By purchasing this product and creating our body butters for you to buy, is a win win all the way around.



20 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page