Shea Butter Is The Beauty Product You Can Use For Just About Anything

Time to save some money!

I love double-duty beauty products, not only because they save me tons of money, but also because they help to cut clutter in my bathroom. And one do-it-all cream that I can't seem to get enough of is shea butter.

A close-up photo of shea butter at an international market.
Getty Images
A close-up photo of shea butter at an international market.

The buttery cream is made from nuts of the African shea tree and is generally sourced from Ghana and other West African countries. A New York City train ride to West 125th Street in Harlem connects me with street vendors who are selling ivory and yellow chunks of raw shea butter stuffed into plastic containers. The labels list its many uses, including dry skin relief, dark spot corrector, shaving cream and hair conditioner. But as my Instagram followers reveal, the beauty benefits of shea butter are endless.

And I've gathered more evidence that everyone -- from celebrities to women we've met on the street -- are slathering on the multipurpose product from head to toe.

Overnight body moisturizer

Actress Taraji P. Henson uses shea butter as a nightly foot cream.
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Actress Taraji P. Henson uses shea butter as a nightly foot cream.

"I love this shea butter, because I put it on and I feel like, when I go home and I go to bed I take my clothes off, I feel like I’ve just put lotion on. And I only put it on once a day. I use the cream for my feet and I put socks on at night." - Taraji P. Henson, actress

Windburn treatment

Windburned skin is no match for shea butter.
Raydene Salinas/HPMG
Windburned skin is no match for shea butter.

"I started using African shea butter oil for the winter time because it's good for windburn and super dry skin. My cheeks have started to get red and discolored in the cold, and I've been trying to use that -- it seems to be working so far." - Lindsay Walsh, Fine Arts grad student

Instant dry skin remedy

Target dry, flaky skin with just a bit of shea butter.
Raydene Salinas/HPMG
Target dry, flaky skin with just a bit of shea butter.

"I use shea butter on my hands when they get really dry because I have a little left over from Ghana. The ones here are refined and have lots of other products in them. The ones in Ghana are pure shea butter. It's really hard, so I mix it up with oil, like olive oil, and then use that." - Asantewaa Prempeh, filmmaker

DIY skincare ingredient

Alicia Silverstone's skincare line Juice Beauty incorporates natural ingredients such as shea butter.
Jerod Harris via Getty Images
Alicia Silverstone's skincare line Juice Beauty incorporates natural ingredients such as shea butter.

"When you're a person who cares about the ingredients like I do, it's really exciting. [Juice Beauty] products are all natural, organic and cruelty free. They use avocado, shea butter, sesame seed, sunflower seeds, aloe and fresh juices." - Alicia Silverstone, actress and Juice Beauty skincare creator

Curly hair definer

Shea butter is not only a great hydrator, but it's an awesome curl enhancer.
Raydene Salinas/HPMG
Shea butter is not only a great hydrator, but it's an awesome curl enhancer.

"I think for your hair, you don't have to go to the store and buy all the expensive products. You can just get some shea butter or any natural oils, even olive oil, and they make your curl pattern come out much more defined." - Andrea Thomas, model

This feature was originally published on November 26, 2013.

Do you want to be more mindful about eating healthy foods that'll keep your mind and body at their best? Sign up for our newsletter and join our Eat Well, Feel Great challenge to learn how to fuel your body in the healthiest way possible. We'll deliver tips, challenges and advice to your inbox every day.

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE