Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) oil
AKA “Shea Butter Oil
Essential Oil
Ingredient Facts
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter) oil
AKA: Shea Butter Oil
Essential Oil · Emollient · EWG: 1
Plant-Derived
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Plant Oil
Essential Oil
Clean
Shea butter from West Africa deeply moisturizes and softens skin and hair. This luxurious natural oil absorbs beautifully without leaving a greasy feel.
Family
Sapotaceae (Sapodilla family)
Plant Part
Nut
Lifeform
Hemiparasitic epiphyte
Climate
Seasonally dry tropical
CAS #
91080-23-8
Form
Oil
See origin →
Functions
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Used for centuries by West African communities as a traditional moisturizer, healing balm, and anti-inflammatory remedy for skin conditions, wounds, and hair care. Known in European cosmetics since the 19th century when colonial trade expanded access to the ingredient.
Skin Types
all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Dryness
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Allergen Warning
⚠️ Tree Nut (Shea)
EWG
1
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-1
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrogenated Shea Butter
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PEG-60 Shea Butter Glycerides
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Polyglyceryl-3 Soyate/Shea Butterate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Polyglyceryl-4 Almondate/Shea Butterate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butter Glyceride
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butter Glycerides
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butter Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butter Polyglyceryl-4 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butter Polyglyceryl-6 Esters
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butteramide/Castoramide DEA
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydrogenated Shea Butter
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Isopropyl Shea Butterate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Shea Butter Ethyl Esters
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Shea Butter Glycerides
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Shea Butter Polyglyceryl-4 Esters
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Shea Butteramidopropyl Betaine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Nutritional composition of shea products and chemical properties of shea butter: a review.
Honfo FG, Akissoe N, Linnemann AR, Soumanou M, Van Boekel MA
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2014
Efficacy and safety of combination cream of stimu-tex AS™ (spent grain wax, Argania Spinosa Kernel oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (shea butter) extract), a
Sitohang IBS, Arimuko A, Norawati L, Maria R, Yulyana C et al.
Lasers in medical science, 2025
[Inflammatory ointment from shea butter and hydro-alcoholic extract of Khaya senegalensis barks (Cailcederat)].
Thioune O, Ahodikpe D, Dieng M, Diop AB, Ngom S et al.
Dakar medical, 2000
A review of ethnomedicinal uses of shea butter for dermat...
Pearl Ugwu-Dike, Vinod E Nambudiri
Dermatologic therapy, 2022
A review of ethnomedicinal uses of shea butter for dermat...
Pearl Ugwu-Dike, Vinod E Nambudiri
Dermatologic therapy, 2022
A review of ethnomedicinal uses of shea butter for dermatoses in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ugwu-Dike P, Nambudiri VE
Dermatologic therapy, 2022
Verified Feb 2026
Data: Kew POWO · CosIng · EWG · CIR