Is Shea Oil Good for Skin? How to Use It on Face and Body
Baraka's shea oil is the liquid part of shea, made by hand in Ghana. Yes, it is a good skin oil for many people: it is light, absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturised. Below: how many drops to use, plus how it compares with shea butter and coconut oil.
Is shea oil good for your skin?
Yes, for most people it makes a good, light moisturiser. Shea oil is made from unrefined shea butter and stays pourable at room temperature. It is pale yellow to golden with a mild, characteristic smell. It is lighter on the skin than the whole butter and absorbs more readily. That is why it suits facial oils, serums and everyday use. Colour and smell vary a little between batches, which is normal for a handmade oil.
Shea naturally contains vitamins A and E. In Ghana, shea has long been used traditionally on dry skin, lips, hands, feet and hair. The shea oil is made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana, who also make Baraka's shea butter. The Baraka shea oil product page lists the sizes and full specifications, so you can check them before you choose.
What does shea oil do for skin?
It moisturises and softens. On damp skin, shea oil leaves a light layer that helps keep the moisture already on your skin from escaping. It absorbs more readily than the whole butter, rather than sitting on the skin. Many customers report that it feels comforting on dry skin, and that matches how shea has been used traditionally in Ghana.
People most often reach for it in these places:
- As a face oil, morning or evening.
- Under a moisturiser, for a lightweight layer beneath a richer cream.
- On the body after a shower, while skin is still damp.
- On dry patches, elbows and heels.
- On cuticles, for softer-looking nails and surrounding skin.
Shea oil for face: how to use it
Use 2 to 3 drops on damp skin. Here is a simple routine:
- Cleanse your face and leave it slightly damp.
- Warm 2 to 3 drops between your palms.
- Press the oil gently over your face and neck. Give it a minute or so to absorb.
- Follow with your usual moisturiser or makeup base if you wear one. For extra richness, put the oil on first and the cream over it.
If you like making your own, three recipes use shea oil on the face: the Shea Oil and Rosehip Oil Serum, the Shea Oil Facial Moisturizer and the Simple Shea Oil Moisturizer.
Is shea oil comedogenic?
Shea oil has a low comedogenic rating of 0 to 1, as the main Baraka shea oil guide states. A lower number means an ingredient is less likely to block pores.
A rating is a rough guide, not a promise, and skin varies from person to person. Because shea oil is light and absorbs quickly, many people with combination or oily skin use a few drops. Start with 1 to 2 drops and use less if your skin feels heavy. Shea oil is not a treatment for acne. Ask a dermatologist about breakouts that keep coming back.
How do you use shea butter oil on your body?
Smooth it over skin straight after a shower. "Shea butter oil" usually means shea oil, the liquid part of shea. Pat yourself partly dry so skin is still damp, warm the oil in your palms and spread it over your arms, legs and shoulders. About 1 teaspoon (5 ml) covers a large area.
- Dry patches, elbows and heels: add a few extra drops and press them in.
- Cuticles: rub one drop into each cuticle, several times a day if you like.
- With your usual lotion: blend a few drops into the lotion in your palm for a little extra richness.
For a homemade body option, try the Lightweight Shea Oil Body Serum. For a rinse-off one, try the Shea Oil Body Scrub.
Shea oil by skin type
Start with the amounts below and adjust to how your skin feels. They are Baraka's suggested starting points, not fixed rules.
- Dry skin: 3 drops on damp skin, then seal with your usual cream. On very dry areas, a little shea butter over the top adds richness.
- Normal skin: 2 to 3 drops, morning or evening.
- Combination skin: 2 drops, with a little more on drier areas such as the cheeks and less on the forehead, nose and chin.
- Oily skin: 1 to 2 drops on damp skin, or one drop mixed into your moisturiser. If skin feels heavy, use less or use it every other day.
Which is better for my skin, shea butter or shea oil?
It depends on the feel you want. Shea oil is lighter and absorbs faster. Shea butter is solid at room temperature, melts on contact with skin and is richer. That makes it the better pick for very dry areas such as hands, feet and lips.
Both are made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Ghana, so the choice is about texture, not quality. Many people reach for the oil on the face and in warm weather. They keep the butter for the body, for heels and for cold weather. You do not have to pick one, because they blend easily.
Which is better, shea oil or coconut oil?
Neither is better for everyone, and they behave differently. Shea oil stays liquid at room temperature and has a mild, characteristic smell. Baraka's virgin coconut oil is solid below about 75°F (24°C) and a clear liquid above it, so it changes with the temperature of your room. It keeps the fresh coconut aroma that refined coconut oil loses, and it absorbs quickly rather than sitting on the skin.
Coconut oil is highly saturated, which is why it keeps far longer than most oils. Choose shea oil if you want something always pourable, light and mild-smelling. Choose coconut oil if you like its aroma and are happy for it to firm up when the room is cool.
Mix shea oil and shea butter to change the texture
Each ingredient does a different job. Shea oil is light and soft, and shea butter is rich and thick. The rule of thumb is that butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, and wax makes it hold its shape.
You can mix shea oil and shea butter at any ratio. Use more oil for a lighter, faster-absorbing feel, and more butter for a richer one. Melt the butter gently, let it cool slightly, then whip the oil in a little at a time. Start with a small amount of oil and add more until you like the texture.
Storing and handling shea oil
Shake the bottle gently before use, because natural oils can settle. If the oil looks cloudy or has thickened in a cool room, stand the bottle in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes, then shake again. Do not microwave it. Keep it away from heat and direct sun.
Make it your own
These ideas are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use your judgement, be inspired, and don't be afraid to experiment. Everything here is a pure, natural ingredient that blends happily with the others. Start with a few drops, write down what you did, and see how your skin responds. When you find an amount that works for you, use it again.
This is DIY advice, not medical advice. See a doctor or pharmacist for a skin condition. For more, visit the shea oil hub.
Not sure whether shea oil or shea butter suits you? Take the Shea Oil or Shea Butter quiz: three questions match you to the right one.
Quick answers
Is shea oil good for your skin?
Yes, for most people it is a good, light moisturiser. Baraka's shea oil is the liquid part of shea, made by hand in Ghana. It absorbs quickly and leaves skin feeling soft.
What does shea oil do for skin?
It moisturises and softens. A few drops on damp skin leave a light layer that helps keep moisture in, and it absorbs more readily than the whole butter. Shea has also long been used traditionally on dry skin in Ghana.
Shea oil for face
Use 2 to 3 drops on damp skin, morning or evening. Warm the drops between your palms, press them over your face and neck, then follow with your usual moisturiser.
Is shea oil comedogenic?
Shea oil has a low comedogenic rating of 0 to 1. A rating is only a rough guide, and skin varies, so start with 1 to 2 drops. Shea oil is not a treatment for acne; ask a dermatologist about persistent breakouts.
How do you use shea butter oil on your body?
Smooth it over damp skin after a shower. About 1 teaspoon (5 ml) covers a large area, and a few extra drops suit dry patches, elbows, heels and cuticles. You can also blend a few drops into your usual body lotion.
Which is better for my skin, shea butter or shea oil?
It depends on the feel you want. Shea oil is lighter and absorbs faster, so it suits the face and warm weather. Shea butter is richer, so it suits very dry areas such as hands, feet and lips. They also blend at any ratio.
Which is better, shea oil or coconut oil?
Neither is better for everyone. Shea oil stays liquid at room temperature and has a mild smell. Virgin coconut oil is solid below about 75°F (24°C), keeps its fresh coconut aroma and absorbs quickly. Choose by the texture and scent you prefer.
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