Ingredient decoder

Shea butter: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter

Acne verdict Low clog risk

Not a known pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Rich butter that softens skin and helps lock in moisture.

  • Moisturizer
  • Skin conditioning
  • Viscosity controlling

Shea butter in plain English

Shea butter is a rich plant butter that softens skin and helps hold in moisture. It rates low on most comedogenic lists. Large amounts can still feel heavy and occlusive on oily skin, and comedogenic ratings like this come from old rabbit-ear tests of raw ingredients, so treat them as a rough guide.

Is shea butter bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Shea butter is not a known pore-clogger. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

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Also called

  • Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
  • Butyrospermum parkii butter
  • Butyrospermum parkii shea nut butter
  • Vitellaria paradoxa butter
  • Shea nut butter

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Frequently asked questions

Is shea butter comedogenic?

There is no published comedogenic rating for shea butter in Fulton's 1989 table, and it is not known as a pore-clogger.

What does shea butter do in skincare?

In short: rich butter that softens skin and helps lock in moisture. In formulas it is used for skin conditioning and viscosity controlling.

What else is shea butter called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, shea butter can also appear as Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Butyrospermum parkii shea nut butter, Vitellaria paradoxa butter or Shea nut butter.

Sources