SHEA BUTTER

Vitellaria paradoxa

Shea Butter is loaded with natural vitamins (A, E, F) and antioxidants. In its raw state

shea butter is often used for smoothing wrinkles, sun protection, scar prevention,

eczema, skin allergies, insect bites, and as a hair product that adds moisture and

sheen. Shea butter is ideal for acne because it is non-comedogenic, meaning that it

does not interfere with skin pores and block them. Unrefined shea butter is rich in

antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Acne is bacterial and inflamed. Shea

butter is natural, so there are no side effects or harsh reactions on babies and on those

with sensitive skin. It also provides natural protection from UV radiation and soothes

burns.

Shea trees do not produce fruit before they are 20 years old, and the trees do not go

into full production until they are around 45 years old! Shea trees grow naturally in the

dry Savanna region of West Africa, Northern Uganda, and Southern Sudan, and they

will produce fruit for up to 200 years. Shea butter extraction is a laborious process.

There are mechanical ways to produce shea butter, however, the long-established

method of hand-processed extraction continues to be followed amongst African women

who group together for the activity, and ultimately, they provide for their families with

economic means resulting from their efforts. Shea fruits are collected from the ground

after they fall from the shea tree. The fruit of the shea tree is sweet and edible! Once

collected, the kernels are removed from the fruit and the shell surrounding the kernels

are cracked to expose the nuts. The nuts are removed from the shells and left to dry in

the sun and once dry, the nuts are crushed and ground into small pieces. The small

pieces are then roasted and hand-stirred in large pots over wood fires, which releases

the fat and transforms the nuts into a paste. Water is added to the paste and then the

mixture is whipped by hand. The mixture becomes a thickened paste as it cools, and it

is then washed with clean water. After cleaning, the paste is re-heated which causes

fats to rise to the top, and the desired shea oil to settle to the bottom. The fat is

skimmed off the tip and the oil that has collected on the bottom hardens as it cools. This

hardened oil is raw shea butter which is packaged and ready for shipment.

Shea butter differs in color from batch to batch. Because shea nuts range in color from

nearly white to yellow. Shea butter also differs in odor. Shea butter that smells slightly

smoky has picked up the scent from the open fire where it was hand-processed. It is

said if shea butter has no odor, it has either been over-processed (is not raw) or it has

aged and is not fresh.

People that are allergic to nuts are generally not allergic to shea butter. Even though

shea butter is extracted from the nut of a fruit, research indicates that shea butter does

not contain the proteins that are considered allergens.

At Ella Organics, we use raw shea butter in many of our artisan soaps at 5%-15%. Raw

shea butter is also the premier ingredient in all our body butters.