WHAT IS IT?

Shea butter is an off-white fat extracted from nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), by cold mechanical nut pressing.


This extraction process allows a very high fraction of shea butter to be made of fatty acids (i.e. oleic acid, stearic acid , linoleic acid, palmitic acid, arachidic acid).


It then undergoes purification.


Shea butter fractions used by La Roche-Posay do not contain any allergenic residues (i.e. nut fraction, etc.). 

WHERE DOES IT 
COME FROM?


Native to the dry savanna belt of West Africa, shea butter represents the central component
of a solidarity sourcing program established in Burkina Faso.
Since 2014, 100% of La Roche-Posay shea butter originates from this initiative.
This program also protects the environment through the preservation of shea trees.

WHAT IS IT 
USED FOR?


Shea butter brings instant softness to the skin by:
  • Providing a better protection to the skin barrier
  • Soothing skin tightness
  • Limiting skin irritation

THE BENEFICE OF THE
SHEA BUTTER

In Burkina Faso, 23,000 female shea nut pickers directly received a fair income thanks to La Roche-Posay solidarity program.

Shea butter is known to be well tolerated and can be used on all skin types. 

Shea butter is a key active ingredient in LIPIKAR range

WHY DO DERMS 
RECOMMEND IT?

This natural product is widely recommended by dermatologists for its powerful moisturizing and soothing properties.
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Did you
know?

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LA ROCHE-POSAY HAS CHOSEN TO USE IT TO MAKE THE MOST OF ITS MOISTURIZING, EMOLLIENT AND SOOTHING PROPERTIES.

WHY AND HOW DO
WE USE IT AT LA ROCHE-POSAY?


A long time ago, La Roche-Posay started to include shea butter in products intended for:
  • Very-dry skin
  • Atopic-prone skin 
  • Skin presenting a barrier deficiency
Its fatty acid fraction (90% approx.) presents a high compatibility with skin naturally-occurring fatty acids.
Hence, it provides an immediate skin barrier protection as well as an emollient and moisturizing effect. 

Its non-fatty-acid fraction (10% approx.) is composed of bioactive substances that are responsible for its medicinal properties
  • Soothes the skin (phytosterols)
  • Limits water loss (karitene)
  • Contributes to skin strengthening (tocopherols)

PRODUCTS WITH 
SHEA BUTTER