Identifying Pure shea butter.

Hi Fellow Bloggers,

Thanks for viewing my blog and for asking questions. Ewar will like to know how to identify the real shea butter from the adulterated ones (refined ones) and where it can be bought.

Since Shea Butter is an all natural product, it can vary widely in quality, appearance and smell depending on where it is produced from and how it is refined or extracted. There are basic ways of identifying shea butter and its by using out sensory organs, that is the sence of sight (colour), smell and taste.

Colour: The colour of unrefined Shea Butter depends on the Shea nuts used.  Shea nuts will vary in color from almost white to yellow.  Therefore, refined Shea Butter will vary in color. You will not be able to determine the authenticity or quality of Shea Butter based strictly on its color.  There is even a naturally golden yellow colored Shea Butter.  Shea Butter should never be extremely hard or greasy though.  Most Shea Butter is a creamy color.  Shea Butter that is pure white is highly refined and may or may not have its healing properties intact depending on how it was refined. I will not recommend a refined shea butter.

Smell: Shea Butter has a natural smell, which is not unpleasant to most people.  The smell of raw or lightly refined West African Shea is nutty .  Over time the smell of the Shea Butter will diminish. If an unrefined Shea Butter has almost no smell, it is probably getting old.  Shea Butter should not stink, no matter how old it is.  It is possible for Shea Butter to go rancid; If it does, do not use it.  If you do not like the smell of natural, raw Shea Butter, you can purchase more highly refined Shea Butter that has been de-odorized and filtered through clay.  However, I do not recommend ever buying Shea Butter that has been refined using hexane or other solvents.

Shea Butter can provide relief from everything from just dry skin to many minor dermatological diseases however, if you have a serious skin condition, you should see a dermatologist.  It has been clinically shown to provide benefits.  Here are some of the benefits of Shea Butter for the skin:

Daily skin moisturizer (face and body)

Dry skin relief

Dry scalp

Skin rash- including diaper rash

Skin peeling, after tanning

Blemishes and wrinkles

Itching skin due to dryness

Sunburn

Shaving cream to reduce razor irritation

Small skin wounds

Skin cracks

Soften tough skin on feet (especially heels)

Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy

Minor burns

Eczema

Sun and wind protection

Even skin tone

Reduce blemishes and scarring

Eliminating scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing

Preventing bumps after shaving

Reducing acne (especially in combination with African Black Soap)

Absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue

Helps restore elasticity to skin

Restores luster to hair

 

Where can I get good Shea Butter?

You can get quality Shea Butter products right here. We carry a wide variety of products from pure Shea Butter to Shea Butter black soap.  All of the Shea Butter we carry is of the highest quality.  We are very selective about where we obtain our Shea Butter and the extraction methods used.  We do not accept any Shea Butter that has been extracted using solvents.  This is the highest quality by an independent laboratory.  You can find cheaper Shea Butter and Shea Butter products. But, you will not find better ones.  Our Shea Butter products use  copious amounts of Shea Butter.  Some of the major manufacturers are jumping on the Shea Butter bandwagon now by adding small amounts of Shea Butter to their products.  Don't be fooled by this.  Our pure Olaa Shea Butters are of the highest grade. Just get in touch with us by mailing us at olaanaturale@gmail.comIts getting rather late and i hope i have been able to answer your questions. On my next post I'll be talking about how to put your pure unrefined shea butter into good use. 

stay blessed.

shea butter

Good Morning fellow bloggers. I said I'll be highlighting several natural ways to make us beautiful. Today I'll be discussing shea butter, so sit back, relax and enjoy the write up. Shea Butter, also known as karite butter,traditionally called oori in Yoruba land, is a cream-colored fatty substance made from the nuts of karite nut trees (also called Mangifolia trees) that grow in the savannah regions of West and Central Africa. Karite trees, or shea trees, are not cultivated. They grow only in the wild, and can take up to 50 years to mature (they live up to 300 years!) Africans have known for thousands of years, the benefits of shea butter. Shea butter has been used to help heal burns, sores, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, and stretch marks. It may also help diminish wrinkles by moisturizing the skin, promoting cell renewal, and increasing circulation. Shea butter also contains cinnamic acid, a substance that helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Shea butter is a particularly effective moisturizer because it contains so many fatty acids, which are needed to retain skin moisture and elasticity. The high fatty acid content of shea butter also makes it an excellent additive to soap, shampoos, anti-aging creams, cosmetics, lotions, and massage oils—its soft, butter-like texture melts readily into the skin. Shea butter protects the skin from both environmental and free-radical damage. It contains vitamins A and E, and has demonstrated both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It contains beneficial vegetable fats that promote cell regeneration and circulation, making it a wonderful healer and rejuvenator for troubled or aging skin. It also contains natural sun-protectants. Shea butter is already added to many cosmetic products, but you can also purchase 100 percent pure shea butter. Unrefined shea butter is superior in that it retains all its natural vitamins, especially vitamin A and vitamin E. However, the natural smell of shea can be a bit off-putting, though the aroma does disappear after it has been applied to your skin within minutes. You can also buy ultra-refined and refined shea butter. Both of these types have a more pleasing scent, color, and consistency, although the refining process diminishes the vitamin potency. Many sell shea butter in various sizes, containers, prices, and types, but make sure to do your research before buying them—not all shea butter products are created equal, and some products contain a significant amount of potentially irritating additives and very little real shea butter. That said, one hundred percent natural shea butter is a handy thing to have around the house. It can be used as an all-natural hair conditioner, moisturizer, and makeup remover, or as a treatment for burns, cuts, scrapes, sunburns, stretch marks and diaper rash. Shea butter may also help treat skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis; however, keep in mind that you should always consult a physician or dermatologist about serious or persistent skin problems. Shea butter is not recommended for people with nut or latex allergies.

Olaa Naturale

Olaa Naturale is all about treating your skin the way nature intends. Welcome to the beauty world of nature!!!
In this blog we shall be discussing the different things that's been provided by nature and how they work to make us beautiful. This blog is also about introducing different natural pruducts, where to get them and how to use them to achieve the maximum benefits nature intends. I'll be happy to read your comments, contibutions and answer your questions.