Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter
AKA “Shea Butter
Butter
Ingredient Facts
Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter
AKA: Shea Butter
Butter · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 1
Plant-Derived
Skin Conditioner
Clean
Restricted:EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation.
Family
Sapotaceae (Sapodilla family)
Plant Part
Nut
Lifeform
Hemiparasitic epiphyte
Climate
Seasonally dry tropical
CAS #
194043-92-0 - 91080-23-8
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Viscosity Controlling
Locks in moisture
Prevents moisture loss
Quells irritation
Traditional Use
The shea tree has been used for centuries by West African communities for skin and hair conditioning; shea butter became popular in European cosmetics in the early 1900s after colonial trade routes expanded.
Skin Types
all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Allergen Warning
⚠️ Tree Nut (Shea)
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
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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
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
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 Jun 2026
Data: Kew POWO · CosIng · EWG · CIR