Making Handcrafted Natural Shea Butter

Welcome to our Shea butter cooperative in Northern Ghana. Let’s pause for a moment to truly appreciate the artistry of handcrafted Shea butter – the most precious form of this natural gem! If you have ever wondered how Shea butter is made, we are happy to share the process with you.

How Shea butter is made?

Let’s start from the basics. Village women harvest our Shea nuts from the wild African savannah region in the remote corners of Northern Ghana. This means that our Shea butter arrives at your doorstep free from preservatives, chemical fragrances, or any additives. This detail matters because, like you, we too love natural skincare!

The Heartbeat of Shea Butter’s Quality: Nuts, Drying, and Sorting

Once women have gathered the nuts, the next step involves drying them thoroughly. We rely on the traditional sun-drying method. Moving ahead to what truly matters – kernel sorting, the most crucial step. During this phase, skilled hands separate the black and flawed nuts from the good ones. It might not appear glamorous, but trust us, this step is an essential cornerstone in creating top-notch Shea butter. One misguided nut could tarnish the quality of the entire batch!

Transitioning to kernel crushing – a pivotal step before the roasting process. In the days of old, mortars and pestles did the work. However, to cater to the needs of our expanding customer base, we’ve embraced modernity with a mechanical sheller, preserving tradition while ensuring quality and efficiency.

Ever wondered about the smoky scent of raw Shea butter?

Here’s the scoop: after the nuts undergo their crushing journey, they experience a roasting session in large pots right over open wood fires. This roasting takes its time, lasting about 45 to 75 minutes. To ensure perfection, those pots require constant stirring during the process. This is a vital move to prevent the nuts from absorbing a burnt flavor. This is exactly where the iconic smoky aroma of traditional Shea butter originates. Read more about the smoky scent here. 

From Roasted Nuts to Luxurious Paste: The Grinding Stage

After roasting, Shea nuts journey to the grinder, transforming into a rich, luxurious, dark brown paste. Then, skilled hands (yes, the village women!) take the lead. In this phase, women knead the paste within spacious basins, coaxing the separation of Shea butter oil. As these oil curds rise to the surface, the women carefully skim them off, liberating them from any excess water. Then the Shea butter oil curds are melted in large open pots over a low fire. During this slow-boil period, all remaining water evaporates.

From Pot to Package: Shea Butter’s Journey to You May Start

Now, the women carefully place the pots in cool spots where the Shea oil solidifies overnight and transforms into golden-yellow butter. The next day, it’s ready for packaging, and the journey to your doorstep may begin.

Click here to visit our store –  where every product is a labor of love from the incredible women in the video below! 👇

Behind the Scenes: Click Here & Witness the Magical Process of Shea Butter Making in Our Cooperative!

Have you ever looked at the back of your favorite skincare product and marveled at the list of ingredients, wishing you could personalize it a little more? Well, you’re in luck. Raw Shea butter, the wonder ingredient from Africa, is not just a fantastic moisturizer on its own, but also a versatile base for numerous DIY skincare recipes. From natural sunscreen to skincare solutions that support healthy aging, there’s a Shea butter recipe for everyone! Here are a few of our favorites:

Mix up a nourishing Shea butter wrinkle cream for healthy, radiant skin

We already know that raw Shea butter is a powerhouse moisturizer for your skin. When combined with Baobab oil, rich in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids known for promoting healthy tissue regeneration, and vitamin E, an antioxidant superstar, this Shea butter mixture can stop the time and help your skin stay healthy and radiant!

Ingredients:

• Raw Shea butter: 2 tablespoons
• Baobab oil: 2 tablespoons
• Vitamin E oil: ½ teaspoon
• Essential oil of your choice: few drops (optional)

Procedure:

• Place all the ingredients in a glass jar.
• Fill a pot with 4-5 inches of water and heat it to near boiling.
• Place the jar, without the lid, into the pot and stir occasionally until all ingredients have melted and mixed.
• Pour the mixture into a small glass jar and allow it to cool and harden in the fridge.

Voila! Store it in the room temperature and apply it every morning and night after washing your face.

Prepare to whip up a wonderfully simple yet incredibly luxurious DIY body butter cream without even melting your Shea butter!

Yes, you heard it right! No need to fuss over melting your Shea butter! The secret weapon? An immersion blender! This nifty kitchen gadget is your ticket to creating the most lavish whipped Shea butter – a genuine skincare revolution!

The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. You can keep it straightforward by using just two ingredients, or go the extra mile and personalize it with your favorites. One of my personal go-tos is carrot seed oil, not only for its SPF protection but also its skin-enhancing radiance.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to this skincare magic:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Raw Shea butter 🧈
• Baobab oil: 1/4 cup

Procedure:

• Place 1 cup of room temperature raw Shea butter into a bowl.
• Add Baobab oil and your other favorites if you like.
• With your immersion blender, whip the Shea butter until it transforms into a light, fluffy, and creamy masterpiece. Takes only a minute or two.

That’s it! Your DIY Whipped Shea butter body cream is now primed to pamper your skin.

And here’s a valuable tip: A little goes a long way with this ultra-moisturizing butter. 🌿

Safeguard Your Skin: DIY Shea Butter Sunscreen 

Although unrefined Shea butter has a natural SPF of 4-6,  it’s not strong enough to provide complete protection against harmful UV rays for everyone. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. By adding specific essential oils with higher SPF levels, you can boost the sun protection factor of your Shea butter.

Take a look at the SPF levels of these natural essential oils and ingredients:

• Red Raspberry Seed Oil: SPF between 30 and 50
• Carrot Seed Oil: SPF 30
• Wheat Germ Oil: SPF 20
• Hazelnut Oil: SPF 15
• Coconut Oil: SPF 10
• Soybean Oil: SPF 10
• Macadamia Oil: SPF 6
• Jojoba Oil: SPF 4
• Rice Bran Oil: SPF 4
• Sesame Oil, Hemp Oil, Avocado Oil, Peanut Oil: SPF between 4 and 10

Moreover, adding vitamin E not only gives your skin a nutritional boost, but it also helps protect against UV damage and making your sunscreen long-lasting.

Creating your Shea butter sunscreen is simple

Start with raw Shea butter as your base and mix in any of the above-mentioned ingredients according to your desired SPF level.

Ingredients:

• Shea butter: Base
• Essential oils of choice: For added SPF and fragrance
• Vitamin E: To boost skin health and UV protection

Procedure:

• Place your Shea butter in a bowl.
• Whip it up with an immersion (stick) blender.
• Mix in your selected essential oils, vitamin E, and mineral powders, if desired.
• Stir until all the ingredients are fully incorporated.

And just like that, your personalized, natural sunscreen is ready to safeguard your skin. Enjoy the sun safely with your homemade Shea butter sunscreen. Remember, as with all sunscreens, reapplication is key, especially after swimming or excessive sweating. It’s essential to ensure your skin stays protected and comfortable in the sun. Keep in mind that while homemade sunscreens offer natural protection, they may not be strong enough for all skin types, so be mindful of your skin’s needs. Now, go out and bask in the sun responsibly!

Soothing Relief: Shea butter sunburn cream

Sunburns can be painfully uncomfortable, but there’s a simple and soothing solution waiting in your kitchen – a Shea butter-based sunburn cream. This natural remedy offers respite from sunburn’s fiery sting and accelerates the healing process.

While Shea butter takes the lead in this recipe, the addition of aloe vera gel brings an extra layer of soothing relief. Organic rose water, while optional, is also a fantastic inclusion. It possesses the ability to calm the skin, diminish redness, and even act as an anti-aging agent, reducing the appearance of fine lines. In fact, you can easily craft your own rose water at home with guidance from the multitude of DIY tutorials available on YouTube.

Now, let’s create this soothing sunburn solution:

Ingredients:

• Shea butter: 3 to 4 tablespoons
• Aloe vera gel: 1 to 2 tablespoon
• Organic rose water: 2 tablespoons (optional)

Procedure:

• Start by gently warming the Shea butter in a double boiler. This softens it and makes it easier to blend with the other ingredients. Be cautious not to overheat the butter; it only needs to be soft enough for mixing.
• In a medium-sized container, combine the softened Shea butter, aloe vera gel, and organic rose water if you opt for it.
• Stir diligently until all the ingredients meld together seamlessly.

Voila! Your sunburn cream is ready to soothe. Simply apply this cooling mixture to sunburned skin for instant relief. It not only alleviates the discomfort of sunburn but also initiates the healing process. Keep in mind that sunburns indicate significant UV damage to your skin, so safeguarding and moisturizing it is crucial. This cream offers both effective sunburn relief and much-needed hydration.

Final Takeaways: 

As we wrap up, it’s clear that raw Shea butter is more than just an ingredient; it truly is a skincare superstar. With its exceptional hydrating, healing, and anti-aging properties, raw Shea butter has solidified its place as a key player in natural skincare. The best part? You don’t need to wait. You can try these easy homemade favorites right away! Keep in mind that the suggested amounts are just a starting point; you can adjust them to achieve your desired consistency. For instance, in Nordic countries, you might prefer a softer version, while in Ghana, where Shea butter naturally softens in the heat, your preferences may differ.

Ready to experience the benefits of Shea butter for yourself? Grab your Shea butter from the closest store for you from our LinkTree🌳

Want a peek behind the scenes? We invite you to watch a video of our cooperative in Northern Ghana. Witness the care and dedication that goes into every batch of our Shea butter. You can find the video on our Facebook or YouTube page.