At Prodigia, the beauty secrets that Mother Nature has to offer us are our favorites. Here is one of the oldest, a jewel of Mama Africa: here is Shea Butter. Very rich in unsaponifiables and vitamins, this butter protects, softens and restructures damaged skin, nourishes and restores shine and beauty to the hair. We are telling you all you need to know in this article:

Karité, or Shea, which means “butter tree” in Wolof and “life” in Dioula, is a tree that grows in the savannas of West Africa and stands between 10 and 15 meters high. It can live for 2 to 3 centuries. Shea butter is a substance obtained from the fruits of this tree which is composed of pulp and a nut.

A shea tree produces an average of 10 to 20 kg of fresh fruit per year. However, it takes 15 years for it to give its first nuts (fruits) from which the almonds needed to make shea butter will be extracted. It is only between 50 and 100 years of existence that the harvest becomes fruitful.

As for the production of the butter, it comes from traditional know-how developed only by women. Indeed, according to legend, a harvest led by men would make the shea tree infertile.

Here are the steps to follow for the making of this precious ointment: First, the fruits are harvested. Then, the nuts that lodge there are extracted from it. Then these nuts are boiled and dried in the sun, which makes their shell thinner and easier to break. By breaking open the nuts, the almonds inside are collected. Then, these almonds are roasted and crushed. A thick and fatty paste is thus obtained. Finally, the latter is brewed by hand, then mixed with boiling water. This process naturally separates the impurities, which are found at the bottom, from the shea butter which, in turn, rises to the surface.

Under its INCI name: Butyrospermum Parkii Butter; it exists in two forms:

• Raw: For direct use on skin or hair, may have a strong odor.
• Deodorized: To be used in formulations, if the refining takes place in an organic way, refined shea butter is just as effective as raw shea butter. In any case, our advice is to avoid solvent extracted and refined shea butter.

It’s a gold mine of good nutrients: Shea butter is packed with vitamins A, E, D, F, ceramides, latex, resinous esters, and phytosterols, and is particularly rich in oleic acid and stearic acid. They have characteristics that provide exceptional cosmetic benefits. This butter is indeed known for its moisturizing, repairing, softening and softening properties.

1- For the body

Naturally rich in vitamins A, D, E and F, this butter nourishes, softens, protects and revitalizes the epidermis. Its concentration of anti-inflammatory active ingredients helps to treat skin problems such as eczema, dermatitis or other skin irritations. Its healing properties make it possible to repair skin damaged by a burn, a scar or even a tattoo. It is even very popular with athletes (and not only) for relieving muscle pain. As a fatty substance, it is obviously very nourishing and softening. Excellent moisturizer, it takes on the air of hand and foot cream! Finally, it is known to have a remarkable effect on the elasticity of the skin. It helps prevent the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.

It is therefore an excellent key ingredient in your cosmetic preparations for formulating:

• Emulsions or body balms before and after sun
• Nourishing balms for the body
• Balms protection for scar areas
• Satinating body care
• Shower scrub butters
• Repairing balms for the hands
• As an active superfatting ingredient for making moisturising soaps

2- For the face

It promotes healing thanks to terpene alcohols (lupeol, parkéol) and the phytosterols it contains, hydrates and nourishes the skin in depth. Regenerating the skin, it revitalizes the tissues and restores its elasticity to the skin. Its similarities with the natural sebum of the skin and its exceptional content of unsaponifiable active ingredients promote the penetration of its active ingredients and vitamins into the skin. And if for the face, this treatment has the same properties as for the body, we note here that it is also rich in antioxidants. Thus, it protects our face from external aggressions and prevents the appearance of visible signs of aging. It is particularly recommended for sensitized and damaged skin (shaving, depilation, laser …), and for lips and dry areas of the face.

Use it in your cosmetic preparations to formulate:

• Soothing and protective care balms for the lips
• Night face care for dry skin
• Soothing and regenerating care for sensitized skin
• Balms protection for scar areas

And in synergies:

• For the care of sensitized skin: essential oils of Lavender aspic, Roman Chamomile or Blue Cypress.
• For oily care for sensitive skin: Calendula.
• For a soothing cream: hydrosols of yarrow and Roman Chamomile.

3- For the hair 

Initially, the shea butter will help regenerate, soothe and limit irritation of the scalp. On the other hand, this fatty substance is endowed with film-forming properties, in other words, it limits the natural evaporation of water and thus contributes to better hydration of the scales of the hair. Finally, applied as a hair mask or conditioner, it repairs dry hair in addition to protecting and giving shine to the mane.

Shea butter is perfectly incorporable as an ingredient in your cosmetic preparations to formulate:

• Hair masks and balms to give shine
• Nourishing and repairing care for dry or textured hair

And in synergies:

• For color maintenance: Tucuma butter and Buriti vegetable oil.
• To embellish the hair, make it shiny: Ceramides, Castor oil, Ylang-Ylang essential oil.
• For the care of blond hair or blond locks: essential oil and hydrolate of German Chamomile and Turmeric powder (in emulsion).
• For the maintenance of brown hair: Walnut stain and Chestnut henna (in emulsion).

Are you looking for premium quality Shea Butter? Discover the one that Prodigia offers for sale in bulk. As well as our Argan And Shea Serum and our Argan and Shea Butter Conditioner, available in white label. Do not hesitate to discover the rest of our services.