BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER:

Africans have used shea butter for hundreds of years for its healing properties. The qualities of organic unrefined shea butter are unique. Unlike petroleum based moisturizers such as mineral oils found in many cosmetics, unrefined shea butter actually restores the skin's natural elasticity. It is also a natural humectant which means it enables our 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. Shea butter contains vitamin A which can improve many skin conditions. It is also rich in vitamin E, a natural preservative that lengthens the life of the butter against rancidity and contains natural antioxidants a key ingredient in many anti wrinkle creams/serums.

WHERE DOES SHEA BUTTER COME FROM?

Our unrefined shea butter is made from wild crafted shea nuts from Shea Nut trees in Ghana. These trees grow in the wild and are not cultivated. In fact most of the terrain on which shea trees grow has never been developed. As a result, no chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, toxic or hazardous substances come in contact with these trees. The nuts are therefore totally organic and the unrefined shea butter made from the nuts is handmade without the use of chemicals at any stage of the process.

FAIR TRADE

Our organic unrefined shea butter is fair trade, which means it is purchased directly from a women’s co-operative which cuts out the middle men. By buying direct from them our supplier ensures that they are not exploited for their efforts but receive a fair wage for their labour, which is long, intensive involving them working outside in 45c heat gathering nuts and mixing the butter by hand.

It is estimated that over 95 percent of picked Shea nuts in Africa is exported to oils mills in industrialized countries of the West to make shea butter for the manufacture of countless beauty products that make profits for the companies. But the women whose hard work produce shea butter often have little to show for it.

AFRICAN TRADITION

By tradition, no individual can own a Shea nut tree even if the tree is on the individual's property. It is a taboo. It is forbidden to cut or cause damage to a shea nut tree. The tree belongs to all. The Shea tree is perceived to be the lifeline of the people. The people of Northern Ghana live in harmony with the Shea tree in nature.