The particular compounds that make up shea butter are the reason why it is so beneficial to the skin. Shea butter contains a mixture of many fatty acids; these include higher levels of oleic acid, stearic acid with smaller amounts of palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acid. These fatty acids help the skin to retain moisture, can treat hyperpigmentation, help with wound healing, and can soothe the skin. The cetyl esters, which are the waxy part of the butter, condition the skin and lock in moisture and the triterpenes are thought to deactivate collagen fibre destruction making your skin look younger.

Shea butter is anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial and full of antioxidants such as quercetin, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin which are also found in green tea, these compounds can help protect the skin. It is rich in vitamin A which helps maintain collagen and prevent cellular damage, it improves hydration of the skin and helps with cellular turnover which improves the skin's texture and quality. It's also rich in Vitamin E, this protects the cells from damage, is anti-inflammatory and strengthens your skin barrier. Shea butter is also rich in vitamin F which actually isn't a vitamin, it's a combination of two essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha linoleic acid (omega 6 and omega 3). Vitamin F can help promote a healthy skin barrier and increase ceramides (these maintain the water and fat in our skin cells), soothe irritated skin, help hyperpigmentation and help regulate healthy cell function.