Shea Butter

About This Product

Shea butter is the fat of the nut of the African shea tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, with the INCI name Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter. The unrefined grade supplied here is yellow to cream with a mild, nutty and slightly smoky character, soft enough to scoop at room temperature and melting close to skin temperature. In wax-based products it is the softening partner to the structuring waxes. Beeswax, candelilla or rice bran wax sets a lip balm or lotion bar; shea butter brings it down to a texture that glides and melts on contact, and its unsaponifiable fraction gives the cushioned, conditioning skin feel shea is known for. In massage candles it lowers the melting point of a soy or coconut wax blend so that the melt pool can be used on the skin. Shea can turn grainy if it is melted and then left to cool slowly; melting it fully and cooling it quickly avoids this. It is used in body butters, lip balms and lotion bars, massage and spa candles, creams and lotions, soap, and hair and beard balms. Bio Green Wax supplies unrefined shea butter with a certificate of analysis for every batch, covering moisture, free fatty acid, saponification value, total fatty matter, peroxide value, colour and odour. A refined, deodorised grade is available where a white, scent-free base is needed, for example under a fragrance.