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Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) nut shell powder
AKA “Shea Nut Shell Powder”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) nut shell powder
AKA: Shea Nut Shell Powder
Synthetic · Exfoliant · EWG: 4
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Emollient
Exfoliant
Skin Conditioner
Synthetic
Clean
Science: Process: Drying + Milling Safety Ratings: CIR: Safe as used
CAS #
91080-23-8
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Exfoliant
Removes dead skin cells so fresh ones can come through. Chemical exfoliants (acids) are generally gentler than physical scrubs.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Locks in moisture
Prevents moisture loss
Quells irritation
Traditional Use
Ground shea nut shells used in modern cosmetics for exfoliation and texture. While shea butter is ancient, the powdered shell form is a modern cosmetic adaptation.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Uneven Texture
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Allergen Warning
⚠️ Tree Nut (Shea)
EWG
4
CIR
Safe
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics.
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2024
→
Safety Assessment of <I>Butyrospermum parkii</P> (Shea)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Unsaponifiables
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Nut Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Nut Shell Powder
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum parkii (shea) oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Seedcake Extract
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrogenated Shea Butter
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrogenated Shea Oil
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Hydrolyzed Shea Seedcake Extract
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
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Unsaponifiables
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
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Effects of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 and calcipotriol on organotypic cultures of outer root sheath cells: a potential model to evaluate antipsor
Limat A, Hunziker T, Braathen LR
Archives of dermatological research, 1993
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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
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[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
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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