Sal Butter: holistic nourishing properties
The fruit of the Sal tree (Shorea Robusta) is used to make Shorea (Sal) Butter. Fruit seeds are used to extract the butter.
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Sal Butter
Winter has arrived here, bringing with it chapped lips, dry skin, and breakouts. Winter winds, along with indoor heat and friction from woollens, can dehydrate and irritate your skin, making it dry and itchy.
While moisturisers are beneficial to your skin, there are times when it demands more.
When the winters are very harsh or you have dry skin, a thin body lotion may not be sufficient. For this, you’ll need an ultra-hydrating body butter that melts into your skin, combats dryness, and maintains your skin smooth and supple even throughout the coldest months.
However, do you know what sal butter is and why it’s so important for winter skincare?
What is sal butter?
In India, shorea (Sal) butter is made from the fruit of the sal tree (Shorea Robusta). The fruit seeds are separated, processed, and refined into butter. It has a solid, velvety texture and a moderate odour.
Shorea butter is solid at room temperature, but it melts when it comes into contact with the skin. It has a similar physical appearance as cocoa butter, but because of its homogenous triglyceride content and superior oxidative stability, it may be used in larger quantities for stable emulsions.
| What is it? | The fruit of the Sal tree (Shorea Robusta) is used to make Shorea (Sal) Butter. Fruit seeds are used to extract the butter. |
|---|---|
| INCI | Shorea Robusta |
| Appearance | Sal Butter is light yellow in colour |
| Texture | Smooth and dense texture |
| Recommended Usage | 1 to 100% |
| Solubility | Oil soluble |
| Melting point | 31°C |
| Boiling point | NA |
| pH | NA |
| Aroma | Low odor |
| Why do we include it in formulations? | Shorea (Sal) Butter is high in stearic and oleic fatty acids, making it an excellent skin conditioner for restoring suppleness and elasticity. |
| How to work with it? | Include it in the oil phase of your formulations; you'll have to melt it to work with it unless you live in a really warm climate. |
| Applications | Raw Sal Butter/Shorea Butter is a fantastic natural moisturiser that keeps the skin hydrated and wrinkle-free. It lowers skin inflammation and aids in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. |
| Absorption rate | Fast |
| Strength | This sal butter is rich in minerals that are beneficial to the skin. |
| Weaknesses | Expensive than other ingredients |
| Substitution | Mango butter |
| How to store it? | Stored in acool, dark and dry place. |
| Shelf life | The shelf life of sal butter should be two years. |
Fun Fact
| Type of ingredient | Hydrator |
|---|---|
| Main benefits | Hydrating, antioxidant, soothes irritation |
| Who should use it | In general, anyone with dry skin |
| How often can you use it? | If you don't have an allergy, as much as you want, use it daily. |
| Works well with | Other oils, cocoa butter |
| Doesn't work with | - |
| How to use | Added during the formulation's oil phase |
Mechanisms of action
It hydrates the skin. It softens and moisturises skin by acting as an emollient. Sal butter also protects skin from environmental damage, such as pollution, because it includes multiple types of fatty acids, such as lineoleic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids, which enhance the skin’s natural barrier.
Sal butter is a suitable base for skin softening creams and lotions since it has a consistent triglyceride content and is extremely oxide. It improves the product’s spreadability and capabilities.
Benefits of Sal butter
Sal butter isn’t your average hair and body butter, but it does have certain benefits. It has a texture comparable to cocoa butter and can be used in many of the same applications. It’s high in antioxidants and acts as an emollient for skin and hair. It spreads smoothly on the skin, making it perfect for lotions and body butters.
Side effects of sal butter
There are no adverse effects on the skin.
How to use it in formulation?
When adding butter to creams and lotions, gently reheat it until it melts or has a very soft texture so that it can be absorbed.
Work well with other ingredients
Sal butter is commonly used on the skin and hair. It can help maintain hair silky and moisturised at all times, just like other essential oils like rosemary. It can be used to cure sunburn and various sorts of burns, just like tea tree oil.
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