You may have come across shea butter if you are into your lip balms and body butters, but have you heard of shea nut oil?
Shea nut oil is a by-product of shea butter extraction and is a thick carrier oil that offers many benefits including antioxidant properties, the ability to fend off cell damage, plus it can help to reduce the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.
In this article, we’ll talk you through everything you need to know about shea nut oil – you’ll be an expert on the subject at the end of this guide!
What is shea nut oil made from?
Shea nut oil is made from the nuts of the shea tree. The manufacturing process involves cold pressing shea tree nuts to produce shea butter and then extracting the shea nut oil as a by-product.
It contains high levels of stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid, which help to add moisture to the skin while slowing down the loss of water too.
Uses for shea nut oil
There are lots of uses for shea nut oil, and you may regularly see shea nut oil listed as an ingredient in your favorite cosmetic products.
Shea nut oil can be used on the skin either alone or within a body lotion/facial moisturizer. It can also be used on the hair as a nourishing mask, and also as a finishing oil to help curls and waves appear more defined.
It is a popular product as a nail conditioning treatment for cuticles and nail beds, plus it can be blended with essential oils to create a beautiful massage oil. Here are some essential oils that we’d recommend checking out if you’re looking at combining shea nut oil with a great essential oil.
Benefits of shea nut oil
Here are some key benefits of shea nut oil that make it stand out amongst other carrier oils:
- Lightweight consistency
- Absorbs well into the skin
- Neutral scent
- Low comedogenic rating of 0-2, meaning it shouldn’t clog pores or cause acne
- Suitable for dry, normal, and oily skin types
- Highly moisturizing for hair and skin
- Easier to use than shea butter which goes solid at cool temperatures
- High in fatty acids
Appearance and scent of shea nut oil
Naturally, shea nut oil has a golden-yellow appearance. Once refined, it can be more pale or even transparent depending on the level of bleaching involved in the refinement process.
It has a neutral scent which some say is slightly nutty. The scent of shea nut oil is significantly less over-powering that the scent of shea butter which can be very strong and earthy to some.
Substitutes for shea nut oil
We’ve put together a few substitutes for shea nut oil below if you’re looking for a similar alternative:
- Coconut oil
- Sunflower oil
- Tomato seed oil
Take a look at this list of carrier oils to see if there are any others that appeal to you!
Shelf life and storage for shea nut oil
It is unknown of the exact shelf life of shea nut oil, but we do know that shea butter will last you around 2 years from the date of manufacture so it’s safe to assume that shea nut oil would be similar.
This is dependent on temperature and storage – you should keep your shea nut oil in a dark, cool area to keep it lasting as long as possible.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding shea nut oil to give you a better understanding of this popular carrier oil
Shea nut oil is great for use topically on the face and skin to add extra hydration and moisturization to the skin.
It’s particularly good if you have dry skin, and can be great for dry skin on the elbows, feet, and knees. It can also help to reinvigorate dry hair and give it a healthier feel/appearance.
While shea nuts are technically tree nuts, shea nut oil is generally considered to be safe for those with tree nut allergies providing that the oil is refined.
We wouldn’t recommend using raw shea nut oil if you have a tree nut allergy – it’s best to discuss any new products you’re trying with your medical physician before adding them into your routine if you have any allergies.
Shea nut oil and shea butter are similar, but not exactly the same. Shea nut oil is a by-product of shea butter extraction, and while they are both very moisturizing and are derived from shea trees, shea nut oil is better at retaining moisture in the skin due to the presence of linoleic acid.
Shea butter can be trickier to apply than shea nut oil as it will set in cooler climates, however, shea butter has a beautiful nutty scent while shea nut oil has a more neutral aroma.
Check out this comparison between shea butter and shea nut oil for some more info!
You can put shea nut oil on your face, including your lips. It should have a hydrating, moisturizing effect on the skin, and give you a healthy glow.
It is quite a thick carrier oil, so you’ll only need a few drops to achieve these benefits.
Shea nut oil can be great for wrinkles as it boosts collagen and plumps up the skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It can also help to promote new cell generation in the skin, which is perfect for evening out the complexion and renewing the skin.
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