What is Shea Butter (Organic & Unscented)?

Shea Butter, also known as Karite butter, is a wonderful, hydrating butter. You can use it for your skin and hair. It is made from the nuts of the Shea tree or Karite tree. This tree is known as the Tree of Life due to its many special properties.

The Latin name is Butyrospermum Parkii. The unscented variant is very nice for people who do not enjoy the typical Shea nut scent. In addition, it is often used in recipes for skin and hair care.

Unscented and organic Shea Butter consists mainly of fatty acids, which play an important role in its nourishing and hydrating properties. The main fatty acids in shea butter are:

1. Stearic acid: This fatty acid contributes to the firm texture of shea butter and helps it maintain its solid form at room temperature.

2. Oleic acid: This is a monounsaturated fatty acid that helps hydrate and soften the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm irritations.

3. Palmitic acid: This fatty acid contributes to the stability and texture of shea butter. It also has hydrating properties that help keep the skin smooth and supple.

4. Linoleic acid: This is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that helps maintain the barrier function of the skin and can help reduce moisture loss.
   

How is Shea Butter (Organic & Unscented) made?

Shea Butter is made from the nuts of the Shea tree. It is quite a process to produce Shea Butter. The tree only produces its first fruits after 20 years and only after 45 years do you harvest a large quantity of fruits. However, the tree can grow for over 200 years.

The process of making unscented shea butter begins with collecting the nuts from the karite tree. After the nuts are collected, they are carefully washed to remove any dirt. Then the nuts are dried in the sun or at a low temperature to remove excess moisture.

After the nuts are dried, they are roasted. This roasting process helps break the nuts and release the oil they contain. Once the nuts are roasted, they are ground into a thick paste, which is known as shea butter.

After this, the Shea Butter is further processed to start the deodorizing process. This creates a Shea Butter that has a neutral scent. Many nutrients and of course the hydrating properties are preserved.

After deodorizing, the shea butter is filtered and cooled and is ready for use!

What are the benefits of Shea Butter (organic & unscented)?

Hydrates the skin
Shea butter is known for its deeply hydrating properties. It penetrates deep into the skin and hair follicles, keeping them hydrated and supple.

Nourishes and repairs the skin
Shea Butter is rich in vitamins such as vitamin A and E. Therefore, Shea Butter nourishes the skin and hair from within. These vitamins help repair, renew and protect the skin against harmful external influences, while they strengthen the hair and give shine.

Softens and restores the elasticity of the skin
Due to the rich and creamy texture of Shea Butter, it feels wonderfully soft on the skin and hair. It can help soften rough spots, reduce flaking and restore skin elasticity.

Protective barrier layer
Shea butter forms a protective barrier on the skin that helps retain moisture and prevent dehydration.

Hair care
For hair, Shea Butter can be used as an intensive conditioner to reduce dryness, prevent split ends and improve the overall health of the hair. You can also use it to calm and hydrate the scalp, making it a wonderful care for an (irritated) scalp.

How do you use Shea Butter (Organic & Unscented)?

Use Shea Butter pure on the skin or incorporate in your homemade care products.

It is a fantastic eye cream, lip balm, hand cream, body butter, pregnancy cream, scar cream or hair mask.

Shea Butter can be a fairly hard substance. Rub some of the butter between your fingers and a wonderful buttery substance is created! Because this Shea Butter contains no scent, it is very suitable for everyone.