1) Ecological Choice ? Think Green

Shea butter is undoubtedly the 21st century solution to global warming and dangerous levels of pollution. Shea butter comes from one of the best renewable resources in the world. Shea butter comes from the stone (kernel, "nut") of a green, sweet and fleshy fruit. The fruit trees grow wild throughout the savannah, shea belt of Central and West Africa. Women and their children collect these fruits, high in vitamins. After consumption the pits are collected, dried, roasted, ground and then boiled to extract their soft, healing butter.

At present the supply far outweighs the demand. Karite nits are a great renewable and abundant, natural resource.

2) The single ingredient skin care companies don?t want you to "know"

Shea butter is probably the only ingredient you will ever need on your skin. Shea butter is so healing and moisturizing that most will never need anything else in order to maintain beautiful, healthy looking skin as well as to slow and even reverse signs of aging. This renewable, completely safe butter replaces the need for petroleum, mineral oil and other ineffective, hazardous chemicals and gasoline by-products found in the majority of skin care products today.

Largely unknown to millions of Americans, shea butter is finally making its way into large company ad campaigns. Big skin care companies are finally seeing the need to cash in on the African Shea Butter name. Tiny percentages of shea butter are being added to otherwise chemical formulations. Why the trend? Because large skin care companies have caught on. They are aware that consumers across America are learning about the amazing properties of shea butter. Millions across America are realizing that no other single ingredient produces healthier or younger looking skin. Large skin care companies are now starting to cash in on what they see as hype before its too late. They much rather have you buy their anti-aging cream with "shea butter" than to have you buy pure shea butter on its own.

3) Shea butter?s amazing properties

Shea butter protects, heals and improves skin better than any other single oil presently known.

Highest in unsaponifiables: anywhere between 7-12% unsaponifiables found in good quality shea butter is far higher than avocado (2-4%) and soybean oils being researched by rheumatologists for their ability to reduce inflammation. The high percentage of unsaponifiables found in shea butter contribute to its ability to heal eczema, psoriasis, rashes, severe dry skin, burns, wounds, parasitic infections, and more.

Vitamins A & E: shea butter is very high in vitamin A. in combination with vitamin E shea butter is highly effective in cell regeneration and anti-aging. Shea butter greatly improves the look and feel of skin. After a few days of use skin looks noticeably younger and healthier.

Stigmasterol: known as the "anti-stiffness factor", the stigmasterol in shea butter gives shea butter its ability to relax tired muscles as well as provide relief for swelling and arthritis.

UV sun protection: shea butter has helped women in Africa for centuries to have beautiful skin fighting off sun and harsh climate.

4) Dozens of uses ? everyone benefits

Pure organic shea butter:

Babies: Please- throw away the chemicals! Do not use chemical lotions, petroleum and mineral on your baby?s gentle ecosystem. Massage shea butter all over your baby?s body. Works wonders on cradle cap.

Women: Come on- we women are pretty vain! Nothing makes a woman look more beautiful than her skin, and nothing improves or makes skin more beautiful than pure shea butter. Shea butter works to reduce wrinkles and greatly decreases the formation of wrinkles. During pregnancy and growth spurts shea butter helps the skin to stretch, greatly decreasing the chances of stretch marks. It softens hair, rough ankles, feet and lips. After a few applications you WILL look beautiful.

Men: as macho as a man may be, men are starting to learn that maintaining their skin has many benefits. Not only will shea butter decrease signs of aging but it improves the overall appearance. Shea butter helps relieve stiff joints and muscles. Don't forget to carry some around. Shea butter is the perfect remedy for cuts and abrasions.

Elderly: helps with stiff joints and muscles, aids overall appearance of skin.

Estheticians/spas/ massage therapists: shea butter dramatically improves skin tone. Employing shea butter into skin treatments is the wise choice. It glides and absorbs into skin and is much less greasy than most oils/ butters. Offering our retail line to follow up treatment is a sure way to keep customers coming back.

5) Doctor Recommended

Doctors around the world recommend shea butter for their patients. Maria from Argentina recently contacted us for a severe skin disease her 2-year-old daughter has. Doctors in Argentina finally recommended shea butter to heal her open skin wounds. Exhausting her finances on her daughters skin disorder, we have offered her a free shipment of shea butter and will be tracking her daughter?s improvement.

Coming soon: Dr. Ishaq, a neprhologist in the Washington, DC area, and VP for the company that provides our pure organic shea butter, has promised us his detailed recommendation. This may take awhile, but with the active life of a physician, a company to help run and 10 small children to run after, Dr. Ishaq is extremely busy. He will be providing his recommendations shortly, however.  

Buying Tips

When buying shea butter be sure that you are getting a 100% pure and natural product. Shea butter can be extracted naturally or by using hexane. If your supplier cannot accurately address your concerns you may ask for an analysis sheet. When buying a refined and deodorized shea butter, be sure that chemicals are not used in the process. Look for suppliers that are well informed about shea butter and know their chain of supply. Avoid buying from pushy sellers or those who will not take the time to address your concerns.

Refined or not- the choice is yours: For the most benefits of shea butter, choose an unrefined or raw shea butter. Some, however, cannot tolerate the strong, pungent aroma of shea butter and may prefer a refined deodorized shea butter. Some properties of pure shea butter are denatured during the refining process. However, the majority of our customers buy refined shea butter and yet have excellent results.

WARNING

Not all shea butter is the same. Some may even be toxic. One must be very careful in selecting a shea butter supplier. Some shea butter on the market is known to have toxic levels of iron. Some have been chemically or unhygenicaly extracted. For babies, small children, elderly and people with low immunities, we suggest using only our certified organic refined shea butter, which has been tested for microbes and toxicity. There are currently no governing bodies to oversee the production of shea butter. Look for a supplier who tests their shea butter and offers a clean butter without debris.

Fair Trade?

In regards to fair trade shea butter, there frankly isn't any, unless you consider impoverished suppliers as those receiving fair compensation. Women work for countless hours to produce one kilo (2.2 lb.) of shea butter. Their pay is very nominal. Any true profits go to the middleman. West Texas Soapworks purchases our butter at twice market value to maintain a high quality of butter. We know that there cannot be a fair wage for these women who toil for hours making this butter. Instead of telling you that we offer fair trade (again not overseen by any agent), we buy from a reputable wholesaler that sends money back to the women and are concentrating on providing their children with the education they will need to get out of poverty. Claims of fair trade are painful knowing that even if these women do get a share it is still so nominal that it amounts to a continuous life of poverty. They are not sharing in the profit of the butter sold in the US. They are simply receiving pay for what they make, just as all producers do. As a consumer you should ask for proof of fair trade claims. Global organizations currently overseeing fair trade cocoa butter, coffee and tea, have not yet added shea butter to their list. We have contacted US certifying agencies on several occasions over the last few years so that we can have our butter certified "fair trade". We are told that there are no set standards for this certification at this time. We believe our world and our people deserve respect and a decent wage.