All about Shea Butter

Name: BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER

Origin: Burkina Faso

Botanical family: Sapotaceae

Parts used : Shea nut kernels

Storage: Like all high-quality vegetable fats, butter can be stored for several months.

For best results, store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, away from light and heat, in its sealed packaging.

Precautions : In case of contact with eyes, rinse for several minutes, keeping eyelids open. If swallowed, rinse mouth. Shea butter provides light UV protection, but is not a substitute for sunscreen.

Karité, which means "butter tree" in Wolof and "life" in Dioula, is a tree that grows in the savannahs of West Africa, between 10 and 15 meters high. It can live for 2 to 3 centuries. Shea butter is a substance derived from the tree's fruit, which consists of pulp and a nut.

Shea butter has been an integral part of African traditions for many years. Used from an early age, it is a veritable African treasure.

A shea tree produces an average of 10 to 20kg of fresh fruit a year. However, it takes 15 years for the tree to bear its first nuts (fruit), from which the kernels needed to make shea butter are extracted. It's only between 50 and 100 years of existence that the harvest becomes fruitful.

As for butter-making, it's a traditional skill developed exclusively by women. Legend has it that a harvest carried out by men would render the shea tree infertile.

THE CHOICE OF SHEA BUTTER EXTRACTION METHOD

The first step is to recover the kernel from the shea nut. These kernels are washed and then dried. Today, three methods are used to extract the butter:

- The traditional method: The kernel is crushed, roasted and kneaded, then mixed with boiling water to remove impurities. The shea butter is then cooked for a long time to evaporate the water. The resulting liquid butter is filtered and packaged. The result is artisanal shea butter, as it has been used in Africa for decades.

- Extraction of shea butter by mechanical cold pressing: Approved by organic certification bodies, this is the best method of extraction. The kernels are crushed and pressed. Not all the butter is extracted, but its quality is better, and its properties are better preserved.

- Solvent extraction of shea butter: This method is less respectful of the raw material. It is used to obtain higher yields. After the raw material has been ground and heated to a high temperature, it is mixed with a solvent that will dissolve the butter. The shea butter obtained using this chemical process is of inferior quality.

THE CHOICE BETWEEN REFINED AND UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter can be used raw or refined. Raw shea butter is virgin and untreated. It is then yellow in color and has its original odor, which is quite strong.
Refined, on the other hand, means that it has been neutralized. The purpose of refining is to whiten butter, deodorize it or eliminate certain residues.

Today, there are 2 methods of refining shea butter:

- Physical refining, approved by organic certification bodies: This refining method involves vacuum distillation of free fatty acids and deodorization by steam injection. This type of refining does not alter the properties and benefits of shea butter. It simply modifies its color and odor to suit consumers who do not appreciate the strong odor and yellow color of raw shea butter. It also facilitates its integration into cosmetics formulas.

- Solvent refining : This is a chemical refining process. It is the least recommended since it shows little respect for the raw material and can even degrade its properties.

Shea butter is an all-purpose balm.

Nourishing and protective, it cares for skin and hair in summer and winter alike. It softens, protects and smoothes. Shea butter is suitable for all members of the family, and can be used on its own or with vegetable oils.

In whipped cream, shea butter can meet all your needs (whipped cream for the little ones, nourishing hair care, body care for the skin, etc.). It is very gentle and can be used by pregnant women, especially those wishing to prevent the appearance of stretch marks.

It's an indispensable beauty treasure to have at home every day.

Natural Cold Cream: In the morning, apply a dab of shea butter to your body, especially on areas exposed to the elements. Its thick texture and high fat content reinforce the skin's hydrolipidic film, protecting it from drying out due to climatic aggression.
Moisturizing and repairing, shea butter provides immediate comfort for very dry skin and prevents skin dehydration. In the evening, apply a dab of shea butter to your hands and feet.

Did you know? It's at night that the skin absorbs all the products applied to it most deeply.

Shea butter on the body: combating "crocodile" skin

Shea butter is particularly effective against eczema and psoriasis. It also alleviates the effects of tight, itchy skin, one of the main causes of which is hard water. For incredibly soft, smooth skin, massage generously into your skin every day after a shower or bath, paying particular attention to rough areas.
WAAM Secret: add a dab of shea butter to your bath and that of your children. The butter will soften the water and wrap the skin in a protective film.

Shea butter on the bust: Firming care

An excellent hypoallergenic firming balm for maintaining breast firmness, shea butter can be applied generously to the bust morning and evening.

Shea butter for muscles: against muscular fatigue

To relieve muscle congestion, soften shea butter by rubbing it into the palm of your hand, then coat and massage the sore areas with the resulting oil.

WAAM secret: If you use WAAM shea butter enriched with yuzu essential oil, it will quickly become indispensable for your massages. This oil has incredible relaxing and revitalizing properties.

Shea butter on feet: intense softening and repairing care

Are your feet dry? Do you suffer from heel and arch scaling? A daily application of shea butter will restore your beautiful feet!
For an intensive treatment, apply a generous amount of shea butter to your feet in the evening before bedtime, massage in and leave them like this, covered with a pair of socks, all night long.

Shea butter on the lips: an effective remedy for chapped lips

Dry and/or chapped lips are common in winter. To protect and repair them, apply shea butter regularly to the lips during the day.

WAAM secret: By applying shea butter to your lips before going to bed, you'll maintain and regain soft, dead-skin-free, perfectly moisturized lips.

Shea butter for babies: Gentle daily care to protect their skin

Shea butter has a wealth of benefits for the skin, especially that of babies. Babies' skin is finer and therefore more fragile. Shea butter helps soften, moisturize, protect and beautify their pretty little skin. You can use it

• At diaper changes: It helps prevent diaper rash. It soothes and protects against redness and irritation.
• After the bath: After drying baby's skin thoroughly, warm a dab of shea butter between your palms and rub it all over his body. Your baby's skin will feel soft and deeply moisturized.

Shea butter for shaving and depilation: soothes sensitized skin

To soothe burning and irritated skin, apply shea butter generously to areas of the skin that have been subjected to razor burn or various hair removal techniques. For both men and women, shea butter will soothe, protect and repair your skin.

Shea butter for tanning: UV protection

Shea butter offers basic protection for short, indirect exposure to the sun; the presence of latex helps prevent certain sun allergies. Rich in vitamin E, shea butter produces a hydrolipidic protective film for the epidermis that helps preserve your tanned complexion, but CAUTION: it is not sufficient for tanning and does not replace a protective sun cream.

Shea butter as an anti-wrinkle agent: Reduces the effects of aging.

Exceptionally rich in unsaponifiable elements, shea butter moisturizes and softens the upper layers of the epidermis. It provides the skin with essential vitamins for improved elasticity. Thanks to its protective action against skin dryness, it combats wrinkles and ageing. It can therefore replace your usual anti-wrinkle products.

Shea butter against stretch marks: prevents and attenuates their appearance.

To minimize the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy, it's essential to deeply moisturize the skin on a daily basis. Shea butter will relieve itching and tightness, and preserve your skin's elasticity. Apply a generous layer of shea butter to sensitive areas (hips, buttocks, stomach, breasts) and massage in for maximum effectiveness. In case of weight loss or gain, also apply to the appearance of striae on breasts, thighs or buttocks.

WAAM secret: During pregnancy, apply shea butter generously, morning and night, for maximum effectiveness.

Shea butter against dandruff: Anti-dandruff remedy

Vitamin A, the retinol molecule in our bodies, keeps the scalp healthy and helps rebuild tissues. Shea butter therefore acts against dandruff and flaking of the scalp. Apply shea butter directly to your scalp every day and massage it in.
For optimum effect, the shea butter needs time to penetrate: it can be used as an after-shampoo mask for maintenance or preventive care. a minimum application time of 20 minutes is required.

Shea butter for hair hydration and repair: an effective repair mask for very dry, damaged hair

Shea butter is particularly recommended for curly, frizzy or frizzy hair. It softens hair and allows sebum to circulate more freely on the hair shaft. Hair is deeply nourished. As a result, hair becomes suppler, stronger and shinier. But don't forget straight hair! Shea butter also sheathes the hair, protecting it from daily damage and split ends.

Shea butter as a thermo-protection solution: Protective care before blow-drying and the use of heated appliances

Shea butter softens and coats the hair shaft, while restoring the hair's protective lipid film. It strengthens the cohesion of hair scales, which is severely damaged when heated appliances are used.

WAAM secret: Apply shea butter strand by strand for supple, shiny results. Your blow-dry will be child's play!