Benefits of Shea Butter

Wanted to take the time to educate on the benefits of Shea butter, but not to mention it is my favorite ingredient in my body butters. Shea butter is found in the tropics of Africa and is extracted from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree. The Shea-Karite tree bears fruit after 15 years and can take up to 30 years to bear a quality nut. The healing property of Shea butter is the irremovable fatty acid as I spoke of in a previous article it is essential for healthy skin. Shea butter's irremovable fatty acids makes it superior to cocoa butter and other vegetable butters. Shea butter is solid at room temperature, but melts at body temperature.
There are 3 types of Shea butters raw or unrefined, refined butter highly processed, or highly refined or processed. Raw or unrefined Shea butter is extracted using water and the color ranges from grayish yellow or cream whipped butter. Highly refined and processed Shea butter is pure white. It is not recommended buying Shea butter that has been refined using other solvents or hexane. I personally like the unrefined Shea butter for my body butters although there is a strong Shea smell, but does not last long and if mixed with essential oils the smell is not as strong.
Shea butter is nourishing to the skin with vitamin A and E. Vitamin A and E helps to maintain the skin and keeps it clear and healthy. Vitamin A and E prevents premature wrinkles and facial lines. Shea butter easily penetrates the skin living the skin unclogged.

Here are some additional benefits:

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

Education on toxins in body products

During the winter time it is important to moisturize your skin and ensure you increase your fatty acids to decrease dry skin concerns. The best source is to eat them or substitute them with fish oils or cod liver oils. It is also important we get adequate vitamin D. Soaps are drying to the skin and especially the face, because it causes wrinkles to occur. It is important you limit facial cleansers that have soap ingredients. Particularly Sodium laureth sulfate have toxins that have been linked to cancer and other health care problems. It is important to remember that your body absorbs anything placed on the skin. It is also important that we pay attention to skin care products that have preservatives such as Parabens and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), because they have also been linked to breast and prostate cancer. My Body Butter currently has all natural preservatives that include grape seed extract and liquid germall. Anyone who is trying to lose weight will appreciate this last bit of information. Fat cells are released to protect your body from toxins, so the more toxins you expose your body to the more fat cells that will be released. I hope you were able to learn something new about skin care products.

Getting Started with the butter

Hello Everyone,

I am so excited about my handmade body butter and the opportunity to share with others. When I initially started with the idea of creating my own handmade body butter I did not realize how passionate I would be about it! I think the bulk of the passion comes from the idea of knowing I am doing something great for my skin. I believe we should all pay attention to what we put on our skin from day to day. I remember reading an article in a vegetarian magazine that said it better; our skin care products should have an expiration date!!! That's what I love about my handmade body butter there is an expiration date and each batch is made with passion and dedication. I love the feeling my citrus body butter gives me after a long day, a shower and rub of the butter...not to mention all the great nutrients your body is absorbing verses ingredients we can not pronounce. Well this is a beginning of a wonderful adventure that I look forward to...