Unrefined Organic Shea Butter

Unrefined organic shea butter

Organic shea butter is cold-pressed from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). In Ghana, the nuts are collected, cleaned and pressed by local women's cooperatives, using traditional methods passed down through generations. The unrefined, yellowish butter retains its natural color and aroma.

Fatty acid composition of organic unrefined shea butter

• Stearic acid (44%) – solidifies butter, strengthens the skin's protective barrier, and reduces water loss from the skin. In soap, it provides hardness and a dense, stable lather.
• Oleic Acid (44%) – An Omega-9 fatty acid that softens the skin, supports cell renewal, and is well absorbed without leaving a greasy film on the skin. In soap, oleic acid reduces foaming but adds a caring, softening feel.
• Linoleic acid (6%) – strengthens the skin's lipid barrier, reduces flaking and soothes sensitive skin.
• Palmitic acid (4%) – supports the skin's protective barrier and gives the soap hardness and creamy lather.
• Arachidic acid (1.5%) – a saturated fatty acid present in smaller amounts that adds stability to butter.
• Linolenic acid (0.2%) – supports the anti-inflammatory effect of the skin, although it is only found in trace amounts.

The butter contains nearly 5% unsaponifiable matter, including vitamin E, phytosterols, and triterpene alcohols, which are responsible for shea butter's antioxidant and skin-care reputation.

Use in skin care

Unrefined shea butter is suitable for dry, normal, aging and sensitive skin, including skin prone to flaking. The rich butter melts into skin care and is suitable for use both in pure form and in mixtures with other vegetable oils.

• Body butter and whipped body butter – use shea butter at 50–80% of the formula, mixed with lighter oils, such as sweet almond oil, which makes the texture softer and easier to spread on the skin.
• Balms and ointments – with cocoa butter and beeswax, recommended dosage 20–50%.
• Creams and lotions – use 5–25%; higher amounts will make the formula thicker and more nourishing.
• Lip balm – use 20–40% as a softening and caring base ingredient.
• Solid cream bars – use 30–50%, combined with cocoa butter and beeswax.
• Face creams for dry or aging skin – use 5–15%, combined with lighter facial oils.

Avoid using shea butter as a main ingredient on oily or acne-prone skin – it won’t clog pores, but its richness can feel heavy on already oily skin. However, in small amounts, it is suitable for this skin type.

Use in hair care

Shea butter coats the hair shaft from the outside rather than being absorbed deep into the hair shaft – it helps retain moisture, tame frizz, and protect hair from heat and environmental damage. The butter is especially good for dry, thick, or curly hair; it may be too heavy for fine hair, so use a smaller amount or mix with lighter oils.

• Hair butter or styling cream – use 30–60%, mixed with, for example, argan or jojoba oil, to define curls, reduce frizz, and add shine without making hair stiff.
• Solid hair conditioner (with emulsifier) – melts on wet hair, conditions and strengthens the hair shaft, and improves shine and combability.

Use in soap

In cold and hot process soaps, shea butter provides both hardness (stearic acid) and conditioning properties (oleic acid), creating a thick, creamy, small-bubble lather. For enhanced lather, combine with oils high in lauric acid, such as coconut oil or castor oil.

A typical dosage in cold-process soap is 10–30%. In palm-free recipes, shea butter can be used at up to 40% without the soap becoming too soft, provided the overall saturated fat content remains balanced. Soap with a high shea butter content will remain light, which is useful if you want an intense and vibrant color range.

Saponification values: NaOH – 0.130 / KOH – 0.183 (182.5 mg KOH/g)

You can add shea butter to soap made from soap mass as an additional skin softening ingredient, but keep the amount below 20 g per kilogram of soap mass. Any higher amounts will reduce foaming and cleansing properties, and since shea butter does not saponify in the finished soap mass, it remains as a free fat in the soap.

Compatibility with other ingredients

Shea butter is compatible with other butters, vegetable oils, waxes and emulsifiers, and there are no known significant incompatibilities with common cosmetic ingredients. Always use an emulsifier in recipes containing water - without it, shea butter will not mix with water.

Technical information

• INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
• Country of origin Ghana: Ghana – nuts are collected and pressed by local women's cooperatives, imports directly
• Processing: cold pressed, unrefined
• Appearance: solid butter at room temperature, yellowish or cream in color
• Odor: characteristic
• Saponification value: 182.5 mg KOH/g
• Storage: Store in a tightly closed container in a cool, dark place. Avoid direct light and temperature changes, which accelerate oxidation and can cause graininess.