Shea Butter
Pure & Unrefined
While Shea Butter is originally white, a
natural dye obtained from an organic plant source is mixed together
creating a golden yellow color.
Yellow
Shea Butter
SHB02
White
Shea Butter SHB05
Raw African
Shea Butter can be used to treat all of the following conditions:
•
Dry skin
• Chapped skin or lips
• Sun damaged skin
• Wrinkles
• Stretch marks
• Scars and blemishes
• Eczema
• Cracked and dry heals or elbows
• Small wounds and scrapes
• Diaper rash (prevention and relief)
• Hair & Dread maintenance
• Insect bites & stings
• Arthritis
• Muscle fatigue, aches & tension (excellent
massage oil)
• Burns
• Athletes Foot and other fungal infections
• Dogs & other pets (skin infections, dry skin
& coats)
• Natural mechanics lubricant
• Horses (hoof maintenance, sunburn, scrapes)
Pure unrefined shea butter comes
from seeds of wild shea trees scattered throughout the fields and
forests of Afr.
The moisturizing and healing properties
of shea butter have recently been discovered by
the western cosmetic industry, but shea butter has been a mainstay of
African pharmacology for centuries.
Shea butter has many useful
properties and has been traditionally used as a decongestant, an
anti-inflammatory for sprains and arthritis,
a healing salve for babies'
umbilical cords, a lotion for hair and skin
care, as cooking oil, and for lamp fuel. However, the protective and
emollient properties of shea butter are most valued for skin care. In
Africa, shea butter is applied to the skin and hair as
a moisturizer and is also a main
ingredient in traditional black soaps.
Unrefined shea butter contains an
abundance of healing ingredients, including vitamins, minerals,
proteins and a unique fatty
acid profile, and is a superior active moisturizer. Unlike petroleum
based moisturizers, shea butter actually restores the skin's
natural elasticity. Shea butter enables your skin to absorb moisture
from the air, and as a result, it becomes softer and stays
moisturized for longer. In addition, shea butter has natural sunscreen
properties and anti-inflammatory agents. Because of its
amazing properties, shea butter is an excellent ingredient for soaps,
lotions and creams. Perhaps it is most effective when applied
to the skin in its pure state. Regular users of pure, unrefined shea
butter notice softer, smoother, healthier skin. Shea butter has
also been shown to help with skin conditions and ailments such as
extreme dryness, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, skin allergies,
fungal infections, blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, scrapes,
and more.
Pure, unrefined versus
refined shea butter
Only pure, unrefined shea butter
has the true healing and moisturizing properties of shea butter. Most
shea butter available
to the general public outside West Africa is white and odorless, in
other words it has been "refined" to remove the natural scent
and color of natural shea butter. In the process, the majority of the
effective agents are also removed. In addition, refined shea butter
has usually been extracted from the shea kernels with hexane or other
petroleum solvents. The extracted oil is boiled to drive off the toxic
solvents, and then refined, bleached, and deodorized, which involves
heating it to over 400F and the use of harsh chemicals, such as sodium
hydroxide. Shea butter extracted in this manner still contains some
undesirable solvent residues, and its healing values are significantly
reduced. Antioxidants or preservatives such as BHA (butylated
hydroxyanisole) or BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) may be added
as well. The end result is an odorless, white butter that may be
aesthetically appealing, but lacks the true moisturizing, healing,
and nutritive properties of true traditional shea butter. In addition,
refined shea butter is often hard and grainy, not smooth
and creamy like pure, unrefined shea butter. All that can be said for
refined shea butter is that it has an extended shelf life, a white,
uniform color, and no odor.
African Black
Soap
African Black Soap
SHB04
African Black Soap is made
with virgin palm kernel oil, residues from making unrefined shea
butter, and plantain leaf ashes.
The shea butter residue adds the base necessary to saponify the virgin
palm kernel oil. All of ingredients are simple and natural.
The soap-making process is highly sophisticated, and requires
hand-stirring for at least a day. After the soap has crystallized,
it is allowed to cure for two weeks.
Uses of
African Black Soap
African Black Soap is an excellent
all purpose soap. It is recommend especially for individuals with
sensitive skin. It is known for making smooth skin, and is also used to
treat skin irritations, acne, and other skin conditions. Black soap
can be formed into bars or balls with pressure. As soon as you begin
using the soap, the contact with water will make it keep its shape.
Also, you can make a liquid soap
by filling a container loosely with the black soap and adding water to
fill. The soap pieces will dissolve into the water and form
a versatile liquid soap. Finally, athough the odor of our African black
soap is very mild and pleasant, you can add essential oils to
create your own fragrances.
Black soap in Africa is the only
soap used by mothers to wash their newborn babies, as its purity makes
it gentle and non-drying for
their sensitive skin. Black soap is produced in small batches by
hand, using age-old traditional techniques. Authentic African black
soap is made in Togo from pure virgin oils following fair trade and
organic guidelines. The ingredients of African black soap
are virgin palm kernel oil, pure, unrefined shea butter and potash
produced from the ashes of plantain leaves and bark from
a local tree called Agow. The high percentage of shea butter (48%) is
one of the unique features of the soap.
In addition, there are no chemicals added as preservatives, color
enhancers, or fragrances.