Balance SkinCare - Sheffield UK promotes using affordable unrefined skin care products, healthy eating and living as natural lifestyle as possible

Shea Butter skin care

Where does Shea Butter come from?

Shea Butter is found in 21 countries across Africa from east to west in the area known as the Savannah belt or Shea belt. These areas are dry and have more rain than other dry regions in Africa. The small amount of rain is enough to help the trees grow.

The countries that are known for supplying other countries world wide with Shea Butter in bulk are Ghana (West Africa) Vitellaria Paradoxa Shea Butter, Nigeria (West Africa) and Uganda (East Africa) Vitellaria Paradoxa Nilotica Shea Butter.

Savannah area of Africa where the Shea tree grows

Where does Balance SkinCare Shea Butters come from?

Shea Butter

The Unrefined Shea Butter we sell in Sheffield is a produce of Ghana (West Africa). Shea Butter is the fruit from the Shea Nut tree Vitellaria Paradoxa used world wide everyday in beauty and natural skin care products.

Nilotica Shea Butter

The Unrefined Nilotica Shea Butter we sell in Sheffield is a produce of Uganda (East Africa). Nilotica Shea Butter is from the fruit of the Shea tree Vitellaria Paradoxa Nilotica. Nilotica translated means comes from the Nile side of Africa. Known for it's luxurious feel on the skin.

How long does it take for the Shea tree to produce fruits?

After 15 - 20 years the Shea nut tree will start to bear fruit. The tree lives for many years and grows tall. It has to go through a long process to make skin care products.

What is the future of the Shea Nut Tree and production of Shea Butter skin care products?

Shea nut tree (Ghana) Vitellaria Paradoxa

Shea nut trees are being cut down and used for charcoal. Communities and African Shea companies are trying to save the trees before they become extinct. It is being protected because the skin care industry is important in Africa.

The trees are organically grown, which makes the product organic if left in its natural state.

Organisations are replanting Shea nut trees to ensure the future of the Shea Butter industry.

Competition within the Shea Butter skin care industry

Shea Butter is used worldwide, being a big industry as it is found in high priced and lower priced skin care products. Due to the usage of Shea Butter being used world wide, companies with machinery have invested in the industry which means Shea Butter skin care products can be produced quicker than the traditional handcrafted method.

Shea butter made by women using the traditional handcrafted method is still in demand by businesses selling Shea Butter because it supports families, women, children and charities in Africa.

Many African women depend on the buyers as this method of skin care production for some women is the only source of income to support their families. These women also use Shea Butter for their own skin care routine.

Unrefined Shea Butter and shea nuts are exported to USA, Canada and other countries where they extract the Shea oil from Shea nuts. It is added to a variety of skin care products found on supermarket shelves. The processed skin care Shea products which are produced are distributed worldwide and also sent back to Africa, filling the retailers shelves with a wide selection of skin care products containing shea butter for their customers to chose from.

Colours of Shea Butter used on skin

Creamy ivory Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii) is unrefined and is the original Shea Butter, it is also used in cooking and ideal as cooking oil.

White Shea Butter has been bleached. During this refining process white Shea Butter looses its original nutty smell of, making it different to the Unrefined Shea Butter nutty smell.

Yellow Shea Butter may contain herbs and essential oils, not suitable for cooking.

Borututu root which comes from the Cochlospermum Angolense tree found in Angola, is added to give a yellow colour during the boiling process it has many nutrients. Red palm oil can been added to ivory creamy Shea Butter which gives it a yellow colour also.

Shea Butter's preservation can also change the colour. Melting can also change the colour of Unrefined Shea Butter from ivory to white.

Benefits of using Shea Butter on skin

Packed with vitamins A, E, F and K
Helps to protects skin against UV rays
Rich in anti-oxidants
Anti-inflammatory used to reduce inflammation and pain
Anti-ageing improving texture and elasticity of skin
Anti-bacterial
Anti-fungal
Promotes wound healing helping speed up the healing process
Improves nasal congestion when placed around the nose

Can be used in hair to help moisture scalp and help with dandruff
Can be used to prevent nappy rash
Natural moisturiser for babies skin
Helps to strengthen skin
Helps boost collagen production
Keeps skin moisturised
100% natural product
Free from additives and preservatives
Suitable for vegan skin care
Suitable to use for pet skin care
Suitable to use for pet grooming

Shea butter used for different skin conditions

Unrefined Shea Butter is used on different skin conditions such as acne, chapped lips, cracked heels, dandruff and eczema. Shea Butter starts to work almost immediately moisturising skin and drying up rashes, use regularly to notice the difference.

Shea Butter is also one of the ingredients in African Black Soap, Shea Butter is used because of it's moisturising properties.

Why unrefined skin care products are suitable for vegans?

Skin care products which are unrefined are suitable for vegan skin care, they are free from animal derived ingredients, cruelty free and have no additives or preservatives. Suitable for all skin types and skin tones.

Products with these ingredients are not suitable for vegan skin care

Squalene - Shark liver but is rarely used
Lanolin - natural moisturising wax extracted from sheep wool
Collagen - pigs, fish, jelly fish, bovine animals (cows, buffaloes and bison). Check labels as there are plant based and animal based collagen products available
Glycerine - A colourless and odourless white liquid. Check labels as there are plant based and animal based glycerine products available

Different products Shea Butter can be found in

Shea Butter is mostly used in the skin care industry which covers many products. It is known for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Body butters
Body lotions
Body lotions and creams for sensitive skin
Prescribed ointments
Body creams
Hand creams
Skin lightening creams
Hand wash
Foot care
Beard care for men
Shaving creams

Face creams
Vegan skin care
Anti-ageing creams
Cuticle treatment
Body, face and hand scrubs
Moisturising face masks
Body wash
Lip balms
UV sun protection
Candles
Pet care

Baby wipes
Baby moisturising creams
Deodorants
Shampoos
Conditioners
Leave in conditioners
Hair oils
Cooking
Cattle feed
Used to oil the wood on African drums

Shea Butter used to make lip balms

Unrefined Shea Butter can be used raw to keep lips moisturised, lips may be dry, cracked or chapped. Cold weather conditions can cause damage to lips as the skin is not protected, having a cold . Being dehydrated can also causes the lips to be dry, remember to drink water.

Mix Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter to make lip balms.

Different methods used to make Shea Butter for skin care products?

Roasted Shea Nuts

Roasting shea nuts gives Shea Butter a nutty and smokey smell this is the traditional handcrafted process used to make shea butter. This process takes a long time as the Shea Butter is pounded in a pestle and mortar and mostly grinded by hand.

Cold pressed Shea Nuts

Shea Nuts are washed and dried the good nuts are separated and put into machines where they are cold pressed to extract the oil. Once the shea oil has settled it becomes Unrefined Nilotica Shea Butter.

Hydraulic machines

Commercial companies make Shea Butter using hydraulic oil pressing machinery, where the oil is extracted. Depending on the product to be made the oil is deodorised taking out the authentic nutty smell of traditional Unrefined Shea Butter which makes the Shea Butter and products refined.

How Shea Butter is traditionally made

The fruits used to make Shea Butter are from the fruit of the Shea tree (Vitellaria Paradoxa) found growing in certain areas of Ghana ,Nigeria, Uganda and other countries in Africa.

When the fruits ripen they fall from the trees and are gathered by groups of women.
Whilst harvesting the women sometimes eat the flesh of the fruit which covers the nut. The flesh can also be dried to make snacks.
Before washing, the nuts are sorted by separating the good nuts from the disfigured bad nuts according to grades. Once sorted the good nuts are washed thoroughly they are left to dry which reduces the moisture. During the drying process the colour of the nuts change. Drying the Shea nuts can take up to 10 days depending on the weather.
Shaking the shea nuts and hearing the kernel rattle against the shell is how the women know the shea nuts are ripe and ready to be crushed.
Once nuts are crushed they are roasted which gives the butter a nutty smell and taste, releasing the oil. They are then grinded by hand with stones which makes it smooth.
Water is added to make a paste several times and mixed which activates the oil. The oil will separate from the water and come to the top leaving the water at the bottom
The Shea oil is heated up, which makes the fat separate from the oil, shea oil will rise to the top during this process the oil gets darker in colour.
The oil is skimmed off allowing the fat to settle at the bottom.
Once cool the shea butter is poured into containers and left to set in plastic containers or bags placed in boxes.

From Shea nuts to the making of handcrafted Shea Butter

Shea nuts used to make Shea Butter skin care products

Women in Ghana to a make handcrafted Shea Butter for skin care products

Unrefined Shea Butter skin care products in Sheffield ready to be packaged

Unrefined Shea Butter has a nutty and smokey smell due to the roasting process after drying which disappears after applying to skin, has an oily feeling on application. Once absorbed into the skin it helps keep skin moisturised for hours without a non-greasy feel.

Shea Butter is also whipped to produce body butter, added to soaps and hair creams, other ingredients are also added such as essential oils and and other butters.

Shea Butter is used to soften and keep skin moisturised

Hands which are regularly in water or in contact with paint and cement and other harsh chemicals will have an effect on hands by drying the moisture out of the skin. Moisturise your hands regularly with Shea Butter or Unrefined Nilotica Shea Butter, you will notice the difference.

Foot care is important as we spend many hours on them. Use Shea Butter on hard skin on heels after soaking feet in Lavender bath salts massage and moisturise feet with Shea Butter.

Baby skin care using Shea Butter in its unrefined state protects babies from getting nappy rash. It can also help with the healing process of a baby who already has nappy rash by soothing the skin and aiding with drying up the rash as well as keeping it moisturised. Shea Butter is also used to heal dry up newborn babies navel.

How to use Shea Butter

Shea Butter is best used after washing, cleansing the face or showering. Use whilst skin is still damp as it helps with locking in the moisture. Recommended to be used before going to bed, giving Shea Butter the chance to be absorbed into the skin overnight without any pollution interference. Shea Butter is anti-ageing and can boost the production of collagen in skin.

Shea Butter is also used as a morning routine to help protect the skin from all weather conditions. Use during the day when needed at times when you have washed your hands to keep the skin moisturised.

Add a small amount of Shea Butter to the palm, the natural heat from the body helps shea butter to melt before adding to skin. Nilotica Shea Butter absorbs easier into the skin than Shea Butter with the help of body heat.

Can Shea Butter be used on animals skin?

Shea butter is suitable to use on pets, on dry noses, elbows, paws and dry patches on the skin to keep skin moisturised. To give you pet's fur a sheen, apply a small amounts of Shea Butter melt in your palms and glide hands over fur and rub on skin or affected dry area.

Soap and shampoos containing Shea Butter that are suitable for pets can be nourishing to animals skin.

Having anti-inflammatory properties, Shea Butter is ideal to use on domestic cats and dogs to help reduce swelling and itchiness that has been caused by insect bites or operations.

If dogs eat Unrefined Shea Butter it will not harm them as it is non-toxic.

How to store unrefined skin care products

To preserve the life span of Shea Butter keep in an airtight container in a cool place away from sunlight. Avoid water or moisture getting into the container, especially when it is being applied to skin.

Keep in temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius (50 - 60 degrees Fahrenheit)

Buying Unrefined skin care products

It is recommended to buy unrefined skin care products from reliable and trusted suppliers. Read reviews and recommendations before buying. Speaking face to face with unrefined skin care specialist and receiving help and being able to test the product on skin is always a bonus.

Health and safety whilst using skin care products

It is important to make sure your hands and skin are clean before applying unrefined skin care and skin care products. If your hands or skin have an infection, rash, sore or dirty it could contaminate the Shea Butter which could grow mould or become rancid.