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What you may not know about shea butter
Shea butter really is more than just a wonderful skin moisturizer. However, many people may be unaware that the vast majority of products claiming to contain shea butter have extremely small percentages of it, and what little is in the product is not even "the real thing"!
So what's "the real thing"? Simply this:
Only shea butter in its pure, unrefined and certified form can provide you with effective therapeutic results for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Look at the picture above to see what an unrefined piece looks like. At the bottom of this page I have placed a photo of the shea nuts.
This rich, ultra moisturizing substance is extracted from the nut of the Shea Nut Tree, which grows in western Africa. If you want to sound very smart, call the tree "butyrospermum parkii". It has a slight greenish tinge to it, but can also have an ivory color (ivory or green makes no difference in its properties). In addition to its uses as a moisturizing and healing agent, it is also used as a cooking oil, or as a substitute for cocoa butter in the manufacture of chocolate. Traditionally, its extraction is carried out by African women who will heat, crush, and boil the shea nuts (reminds me of the extraction of argan oil. Go back to that page if you need to refresh your mind). Another way to extract it is by using hexane. Although this method will result in the highest yield of butter, it is not recommended IF the intended use is for medicinal purposes. The preferred method is to press the nuts in mills. However, due to the scarcity of mills in the native areas, this process is not used very often.
Unrefined shea butter does have an odor that many people do not appreciate. However, that odor dissipates rather quickly once the product is absorbed by the skin.
This great moisturizer also provides some UV sun protection. However, it's only around 6 at the most, so do not rely exclusively on it. It's also very effective for severe dry skin, burns and rashes, wrinkles, and skin discolorations. It makes a great ally in the prevention of stretch marks. Some people claim that it will make existing stretch marks appear less visible, but I have not noticed that. What I do like to do is warm up the butter until it has a very soft creamy consistency. Somehow, I think it works even better!
You may be interested to know that shea butter has been evaluated by the medical profession for its use in arthritis and also as a nasal decongestant (I'll have to try that!). Many arthritis sufferers have reported an improvement in their stiffness by using it regularly. Why? Well, apparently the unrefined butter contains stigmasterol, which is sometimes referred to as the "anti-stiffness agent". Please note that some people who are allergic to nuts may experience adverse reactions to shea. And finally, it's interesting to know that shea butter is also used in certain native ceremonies. For example, members of the Uganda rebel movement called "Holy Spirit" made it a habit to apply a thick layer of it all over their bodies, believing that it would render them immune to bullets. Shea butter is a wonderful substance, but stop bullets??
Before I leave you I'd like to introduce you to a truly wonderful product loved by all my customers. There are even a few customers who buy it simply because of its rich feel, not because they need it! (It's specially suited for dry skin). It is made by a mother-daughter team in the Hudson Valley.
Try this soap and I know you will come back for more. This bar contains a very high percentage of the precious butter (25%!). I know of only one other brand that contains 25%, and I sell that also. If you want to know the difference between them, contact me. In addition to shea, this particular soap also contains 50% food-grade olive oil from Italy, dark and rich with natural moisturizers. To this goodness, add natural extracts, essential oils, butters and herbs and you have an unbelievably moisturizing bar that is exceptionally good to (and for) your skin. My favorite during the colder seasons, hands down! So be kind to yourself. Give your skin a great present this Winter. Protect it from the elements by starting with this lovely soap. No artificial fragrances and no artificial dyes, of course.
A 4oz. bar is only $7.50. It may not be cheap but it's worth every single penny, I promise. You will actually see and feel the difference!
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