Scrumptious Shea: The Best Shea Butter Body Lotions

Shea butter. We've all heard if it, and we know it's supposed to do something good for us, but what is it, really? Extracted from the nut of the African shea tree, shea butter is a fat originally used in cosmetics, cooking and even as a topical painkiller because it is loaded with fatty acids, melts at body temperature and binds well to water, making it a great, fast-acting and long-lasting oil.

So it's no surprise that there are tons of beauty products loaded with this special butter. This series will cover three different categories of shea-rich beauty products. Today, the body lotions that benefit from our favorite fat!

Lotion Lab Body Moisturizing Wipes with Shea & Cocoa Butters
Moisturizing wipes! Have you ever heard of such a thing? These beauties come in packages of 30 wipes and are slightly textured. I'm not really sure why, but in my mind it's to gently exfoliate the skin while bringing in added hydration. Available in six formulations, the cocoa and shea butter variety benefits from the surface moisture that cocoa butter provides as well as the deep, therapeutic care of shea butter. I've been keeping these in my purse for dry skin emergencies, and also find them to be very refreshing after a long bout of toddler-chasing at the playground. I can't wait to see how they work in the winter, when I frequently look down at my ashen legs in horror and realize I have nothing on hand to remedy the situation. I highly recommend this innovative product to anyone who needs a clean, speedy way to brighten up rough looking skin.
$5.99 at globalbeautycare.com

Body Drench Argan Oil Collection Replenishing Body Butter
This little jar holds big things! Not only does it feature cocoa and shea butters, but it's loaded with argan oil, which is derived from a nut that contains several fatty acids and vitamins A and E. Body Drench even says that this formula acts as a sunblock, both diminishing UV ray absorption and blocking the damage caused by wind. Wow! All I can say is that the butter is lightweight, fast-absorbing and doesn't leave behind a trace of the greasiness we're all trying to avoid. And the zesty scent is great for a midday pick-me-up.
$8.99 at purespadirect.com

Clairvoyant Beauty Nourishing Shea Butter Cream
Featuring shea butter as well as avocado and mango butters, this cream has a lovely lavender scent and is fantastic for the evening. I don't like to use anything strong before slipping between the sheets, partially because I hate waking up in a cloud of fragrance, but also because my husband is sensitive to a lot of perfumes, and I might find myself sleeping alone! The lavender in this cream is very natural smelling -- I feel as if I am in my parents' backyard taking a big whiff of my mom's giant lavender plant. The cream itself is a nice, thick consistency. A little bit goes a long way.
$40 at clairvoyantbeauty.com

Davines Authentic Moisturising Balm
Is there anything cooler than a product that can be used several different ways? With this moisturizing balm, you could pretty much coat your whole body in it while showering and come out smelling and feeling downright amazing. Formulated for skin, face and hair, this balm is meant to be washed off after it has had sufficient time to sink in, though I will say I didn't read the instructions at first and it absorbed in to my hands just fine after very little time. Free of the things you don't want (silicone, parabens and artificial colors), it's loaded with things you DO want (shea, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil and carthame oil). The scent is woody and spa-like, perfect for some do-it-yourself pampering.
Around $30, davines.com for store locations

Archipelago Botanicals Milk Body Butter in Soy
Indulging in a little milk-based beauty treatment is not just for Cleopatra anymore! Dried milk solids, lactic acid and soy protein join cocoa and shea butters to create a luxurious body butter formulated specifically for really dry areas of the body. The scent is listed as soy milk, but to me it has a fresh, soapy smell that doesn't linger long. This is also recommended as a cuticle treatment, and I have to say, I agree. No matter how you use it, you're sure to feel like the queen!
$20 at dermstore.com

Bioelements Vitalization Rich Intensity Body Creme
Sometimes I find that my favorite products come wrapped up in the most simple packaging. This creme, which lives in a completely unassuming white jar printed with block letters, is one of those gems. When using this creme on my knees, I noticed that it immediately got rid of all of the flaky surface skin that really makes me look like a little kid who needs a bath. My legs glowed as they drank in this concoction. Was it the shea butter? The added beta carotene? Or maybe I was just high on that barely-there botanical scent? Who knows, but one thing I can tell you is that this generous vat of body creme has found a permanent home in my gym bag. No muss, no fuss!
$53.50 at bioelements.com