All Things shea butter
Rich in Vitamin E, along with other fatty acids with healing properties and vitamins A, F, and D, shea butter is undoubtedly one of the superfoods for skin care. Shea butter contains less than 10 SPF, so it should never be used in place of conventional sunscreen, despite claims made by many marketers that it is a natural SPF. Writings mentioning Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba applying butter to their skin and hair can be traced back to approximately 50,000 BC.
I was raised using generic brands of lotion, never giving the components I was putting on my skin much thought. As a 25-year-old adult, I have lately discovered that shea butter is my new obsession when it comes to my skincare. I started getting weird rashes on my legs about two years ago, which made me look into something a little more skin-nourishing. After that, I started using shea butter exclusively on my entire body, and it has not returned. Not everyone will benefit from this, however, for my skin, this is what I found works for me.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING SHEA BUTTER
Not all shea butter is made the same! When looking for shea butter, here are a few things to consider before making a purchase:
Raw/Unrefined: Look for raw and unrefined shea butter, as it is in its most beneficial state. Refined shea butter can lose its beneficial properties through bleaching.
Grade A: Choose shea butter with a Grade A classification to ensure it contains the highest levels of cinnamic acid, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it more effective for conditions like eczema and rashes.
Organic or Wild Harvested: To avoid pesticides and genetically modified ingredients, opt for organic or wild-harvested shea butter, especially considering the skin’s absorption of chemicals. Your skin is your largest organ and is constantly absorbing everything it touches; take care of it.
Unbleached: Unbleached shea butter may have an ivory or beige color, unlike bleached versions that are bright white. Bleached shea butter may lose its healing properties in the process.
HOW IS SHEA BUTTER MADE?
Shea butter is primarily produced in West Africa, specifically in Ghana, where the shea or karite tree is native. Many mothers work during the day to make shea butter to earn money for their children’s education. Shea butter production is a family affair, with many mothers teaching their kids from a young age how to make it. Each community has its own method of making shea butter, but the general process remains the same.
First, the tree nuts are harvested, washed, and left to dry in the sun. Once dry, the nuts are hand-crushed with a large wooden pestle. The crushed nuts are then roasted and ground into a fine powder or paste using a machine. The powder or paste is kneaded until the butter forms on top. Water is added throughout this process to create a thick, smooth consistency, and then the mixture is boiled in a pot for hours while being stirred. This process separates the oil from the rest of the mixture. Finally, the oil is strained into another pot, covered, and left to cool and settle into the shea butter that is known and loved. Some people add herbs like turmeric to give the shea butter a yellow color.
At Alliyah and Things, our shea butter is Grade A, unrefined, raw, and wild-harvested, directly purchased from the women of Ghana through FairTale Ghana, a reputable organization that doesn’t barter with the women. We recognize the hard work these women put into making shea butter to support their families. Additionally, FairTale Ghana collaborates with NGO Mondo to provide financial support for the education of children in the Kongo village of Northern Ghana, improving the quality of education and the school environment. You can find more information about the great work that NGO Mondo is doing on their website.
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