Unearth the Secrets of Shea Butter
Where Does Shea Butter Come From?
In the welcome shade of tall, wild trees in rural Ghana, groups of local women collect small, green, fallen fruits. These noble and ancient trees are so respected that they’re never climbed and the fruit is always gathered from the ground rather than picked directly from the tree.
Using traditional skills passed down through generations, the women work together to take these fruits through an elaborate process, beginning with laying the fruits in the hot Ghanaian sun to dry, before being roasted over an open fire and ground into a smooth paste. After several days of working by hand, our very special Organic Unrefined Shea Butter has been born.
Our Organic Unrefined Shea Butter has empowered over 20,000 women across Ghana to stay in their local villages, instead of leaving to find work in urban centres where their futures are uncertain and communities are lost forever. It’s given them the chance to keep their ancestral crafts and way of life alive and provides a stable and reliable income for themselves and their families. By turning the fruits into Shea Butter instead of just harvesting and selling them to be processed elsewhere, the women earn more money, plus an extra premium because it’s an organic product. It’s no wonder Shea Butter is known as ‘Women’s Gold’ in West Africa.
How Does Shea Butter Work?
Shea butter is packed full of natural fats. When used on the skin these oils are rapidly absorbed and restore the natural lips and moisture of the skin. This creates a barrier that protects the skin from the harsh environment, holding in moisture and preventing dryness.
Shea butter contains high levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid. These two acids balance each other out, which means it's easy for your skin to fully absorb and won’t leave your skin looking or feeling greasy.
It's also full of antioxidant vitamins which protect your skin from ageing and it is anti-inflammatory which is great for conditions such as eczema.
Benefits of Shea Butter For Skin
As well as hydrating and moisturising skin it can help reduce stretch marks and scarring, help balance the natural oils in the skin to ease acne and plump skin to reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Benefits of Shea Butter For Hair
Using shea butter on the hair can help lock in moisture, reduce breakage, soothe and irritated and flaky scalp and add shine and de-frizz.
Andy’s Top Tips For Using Raw Shea Butter:
For centuries, local healers in Ghana have used nourishing Shea Butter for a wide variety of skin problems. We're fortunate to be able to use some ourselves!
- Handwashing irritating your skin? Try making your own hand treatment
- Fancy making a body butter? Try this simple recipe
- Many people (but not all) can use shea butter in a face treatment. It can cause blocked pores in some people, so test small amounts first. Try mixing some 50/50 with rosehip oil or argan oil.
Try our Organic Unrefined Shea Butter for yourself, you’ll thank us later!
