Long before it appeared in luxury moisturisers, raw shea butter was a household essential across the savannahs of West Africa — used to soothe skin, protect against sun and wind, and care for newborns. Extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, unrefined shea butter is rich in vitamins A and E and naturally occurring fatty acids.
What sets raw shea butter apart from many commercial creams is its simplicity. In its purest form there is nothing added and nothing stripped away, which means it retains the healing compounds that make it so effective for dry, sensitive or irritated skin.
How to use it
A little goes a long way. Warm a small amount between your palms until it melts, then massage into skin while still slightly damp to lock in moisture. It works beautifully on elbows, heels and hands, and many people swear by it for taming frizz and sealing hair ends.
Because it is comedogenic for some skin types, those prone to breakouts should patch-test first and use it sparingly on the face. For body care, however, it is hard to beat as an all-natural, single-ingredient moisturiser.
The key is authenticity. Truly raw, ivory-to-yellow shea butter has a distinctive nutty aroma and a grainy-then-smooth texture. Heavily processed versions lose much of their benefit, which is why sourcing genuine, ethically produced shea from African beauty specialists is worth the effort.