Ingredient Focus: Shea Butter

The Importance of Shea Butter

Where does it come from?

Shea butter is one of the most important local products in Northern Ghana in Africa. The shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea trees that grow in the savannah region from West Africa to East Africa. In almost every village in Northern Ghana, women are involved in the shea butter process.

How is unrefined raw Shea Butter made?

The nuts from the Shea Karite Tree are collected by local farmers and women in Africa and it is usually a community effort. Once collected, the nuts are boiled and laid out into the sun to dry. Next, the nuts are pounded in a mortar to remove the husk. Once the husk is removed the nuts are further broken down to a powder, and boiled water is slowly added to the fine powder, until shea butter forms on the top layer. The shea butter is collected and left to solidify and cool. You cannot get much more hands on and pure than that!

How can you tell if shea butter is real and unrefined?

You can identify raw unrefined shea butter by its cream or light-yellow color and natural, nutty scent. Raw shea butter is typically processed using the traditional handcrafted method.
Refined Shea Butter is white and odorless and has been treated with chemicals to ‘bleach’ it to a pure white color and remove the nutty odor and will typically have trace chemicals and additives added to it.

The many uses of our Shea Butter Healing Balm

• Scars
• Cuts / Scrapes
• Dry, cracked hands and feet
• Cuticles
• Rashes
• Dry spots
• Diaper rash
• Breast feeding mommas
• Hemorrhoids
• Wounds

Did you know that the high concentrations of vital essential fatty acids and vitamins make shea butter an ideal skin food ingredient for softening skin? Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin. You’ll find shea butter in our Shea Butter Healing Balm, our body creams & soaps, our Baby Lotion and Marigold Lotion, salves, and more!