Shea Butter in Skincare: Rich Nourishment in Our Face Cream and Body Cream
By Glow Ritual
Shea butter is one of the world's most-loved skincare butters. At Glow Ritual, it's a supporting star: it adds rich, comforting nourishment to both our Whipped Tallow Cream and Whipped Tallow Body Cream.
What is shea butter?
Shea butter is pressed from the nuts of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), which grows across West and Central Africa. It's naturally rich in fatty acids, especially oleic and stearic acids, and in a portion called unsaponifiables, which give shea its creamy, cushioning feel.
Shea butter benefits for skin
- Rich nourishment: its fatty acids help dry skin feel soft and comfortable.
- Helps reduce moisture loss: as an emollient, it helps skin hold on to hydration.
- Velvety texture: shea adds body and cushion to a whipped formula.
Shea butter vs tallow: why we use both
You don't have to choose. Tallow brings lipids and fatty acids similar to the ones skin makes itself, plus vitamins A, D, E and K. Shea brings plant butter richness. Together they create a fuller lipid blend. For a closer comparison, read tallow balm vs shea butter and squalane vs shea butter for face.
Shea butter in our Face Cream
In the Face Cream, shea works with grass-fed tallow, 4% niacinamide, squalane, olive oil and vitamin E. The formula has no water or fillers and is whipped below 45°C, so it feels rich and deeply hydrating, yet velvety and never greasy.
Shop the ritual
NZ grass-fed tallow, 4% niacinamide, squalane, shea butter and olive oil, softly scented with vanilla extract. Rich, deeply hydrating and velvety, never greasy. One jar, morning and night.
Shop Whipped Tallow CreamShea butter in our Body Cream
In the Body Cream, shea partners with tallow, jojoba oil, niacinamide and urea to soften and condition dry, thirsty body skin from shoulders to heels.
Shop the ritual
Grass-fed tallow, niacinamide, urea, shea butter and jojoba oil for rich, whipped moisture from shoulders to heels. Soft, not sticky. Pre-order, ships from 29 November.
Pre-order the Body CreamFAQ
Is shea butter good for dry skin?
Shea butter is a rich emollient that helps soften dry skin and reduce moisture loss, which is why it's common in rich creams.
Which Glow Ritual products contain shea butter?
The Whipped Tallow Cream and the Whipped Tallow Body Cream.
Shea comes from a nut. Should I be careful?
If you have a known nut allergy or sensitivity to shea, check with your doctor before use and always read the full ingredient list.
As with any skincare, patch test before full use: apply a small amount to the inner arm twice daily for 7–10 days. Stop use if you notice persistent irritation, and seek medical advice if it continues.
