SHEA BUTTER, unrefined

Botanical Name:Vitellaria paradoxa
Ingredients:100% unrefined, natural shea butter
Non-GMO, cultivated without the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.
Country of Origin:Burkina Faso / Nigeria
Production:Unrefined shea butter is solely handcrafted - extracted and prepared without the use of any chemicals or preservatives - the same way African people have done it for centuries. The differences between unrefined and refined shea butter are the scent, color and benefits. Unrefined shea butter maintains its nutty scent, beige color and its many healing properties. Refined shea butter has been chemically altered to remove the natural scent, is bleached to a white color and retains only a very small portion of its natural healing properties.
Qualities:Unrefined shea butter is an ivory colored, natural fat from the seed of the African shea tree. It has a distinct, nutty, smoky odor which differentiates it from therefinedshea butter products often found on the market, which have little or no scent. It is also referred to by its French name as Karite tree, which originally (ghariti) means the tree of life due to its exceptional healing properties.
Loaded with antioxidants and vitamins A, E and F along with healthy fatty acids and valuable phytonutrients
Helps protect from premature aging; softens fine lines and wrinkles by increasing microcirculation
Non-comedogenic and great for all skin types
Penetrates deeply to protect, moisturize and nourish skin without greasy residue
Common Uses:in its pure, unrefined state, shea butter is most commonly applied as a moisturizer for its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties, but in Africa it is also used as cooking oil and for candle-making. Shea butter is by itself ready for direct application to the skin but mixing it with other natural ingredients such as essential oils and other kinds of butter, you can make it even more appealing and convenient for particular applications.
Recommended Usage:
Lotions & Creams: 5 - 20 %
Balms: 5 100 %
Bar Soaps: 5 - 20 %
Hair Conditioners: 2 5 %
When adding shea butter to creams and lotions it might be necessary to gently warm it until melted or very soft in texture before incorporating it into the final product. Using a hand blender, create a vortex with your cream or lotion and drizzle in your melted butter until fully incorporated and consistently smooth. For addition in soaps, the general rule of thumb is one tablespoon per pound (15 ml/500 g).
Storage:Store in cool temperatures (below 25 C) away from light and moisture in an air-tight container. The product will become liquid above ambient temperatures (e.g. 36 C) but will re-solidify upon cooling without affecting functionality. This butter has a shelf-life of at least one year when stored properly.
Disclaimer:this information is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA or CFIA. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This product has been packaged in the same facility as peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, and other potential allergens.