Ingredient SpotLight ~ Shea Butter

March 2, 2011

Written by Traci

Ingredient SpotLight ~ Shea Butter

Shea Butter comes from the African nut tree Karite.  In it’s unrefined, raw state it looks like the picture shown here and has a light nutty aroma.   It has been used for centuries by African people to heal and protect skin from the sun and wind.  The creamy, beige color is a true sign that it is unrefined retaining all it’s natural health benefits.  The shea butter we use in Kokokahn products comes from Togo, Africa and is made using traditional methods under fair trade and organic guidelines.  This beautiful butter is handcrafted from the nut to it’s raw state by women in small villages.

Shea butter is rich in vitamins and minerals including vitamins A and E.   These vitamins help slow signs of aging by stimulating the production of collagen in the skin.  They also soothe, heal and hydrate skin.  Shea butter is also rich in Vitamin F which protects and renews skin.

Shea Butter Benefits:

• Dry Skin
• Eczema, dermatitis and skin rashes
• Soothes itchy skin
• Wrinkles
• Stretch marks
• Chapped, bleeding winter skin
• Dry feet
• Skin allergies
• Diaper rash
• Frost bite

As with any carrier oil or butter it is important to use an unrefined and preferably organic product.  Once shea butter is refined, either through a chemical process or high heat, it loses all of it’s inherent health benefits.

We use this beautiful butter in our Shea Butter Body Balm.