Raw Shea Butter

[michael941260]

I would like your opinions of raw shea butter.  Have you heard of it giving anyone breakouts?  Should it only be used on very dry skin?  What kind of experiences have you had with it? Thanks!flowerofthesun

 

[Kowshik]

I really like to use shea butter on my skin at home.  It worked wonders for clearing up a rash I had from using something with chemicals.  The only thing about using it raw is that it's somewhat grainy texture, you have you warm it up between the palms of your hands to smooth it out.

 

[Lindsay F]

Cocoa butter is also very gentle. And it sorta smells like chocolate It also gets grainy, but I'm fooling around with proportions  and "molds" to make a massage butter that's both organic and hygienic that I can use with clients. And once it melts the graininess is gone, so only you would notice.Jill

 

[~*Hannah*~]

Raw unrefined shea tends to be a bit greasy to me.  I have dry skin so it does help tremendously.  The raw shea also has an odor to it.  It's a smell that has to grow on you if you don't like it immediately.  So far though, all the body butters I've made and used for massage has not caused any breakouts.

 

[ArmyChemo]

Raw Shea Butter

I tired some on my hands, and have to agree with DoLLz. The smell is something you have to get used to. But it does feel good when it's on.

 

[NM-47]

Raw Shea Butter

What about mixing some aromatherapy with the shea butter? Has anyone tried this to counteract the smell?

 

[Bunnyluvr]

You'd be using a lot of fragrance to cover up the smell.  If the smell is a bother, you can use refined shea.  

 

[Raliegh Theodore Sakers]

Raw Shea Butter

There are lots of products on the market that use shea in them; Burt's Bees has a hand cream that isn't bad. They don't hide the smell as much as blend it.

 

[Ramez]

Raw Shea butter is one of Mother earth's most healing & versatile products.Although it is very rich and emollient, I have never heard of it breaking out on the skin.  I would'nt recommend it for use on the face on a daily basis, It may be too rich, but during those days when your skin is extremely dry, it works wonders. There are sooooo many uses for Shea butter.  I like to scoop a quarter cup full and place in a small cup the size of a saki cup, then sit it outside in the sun.   Once the butter is melted, I mix it with jojoba oil, essential oils or my favorite lotion for dry skin.  I also use this mixture after I soak my feet, massage then cover with socks.  It makes my feet very soft & smooth.I also use it on my lips as a lip conditioner. Nothing cures dry cracked skin faster and better.The raw smell will disipate after some time but using essential oils does help.    

 

[Pompal 09.]

re: Raw Shea Butter

I love using it. Between Friends Too has some good recipes for using it...

http://www.betweenfriendstoo.com

-Melody

 

[Cat_possum]

Raw Shea Butter

I purchase refined Shea Butter and mix it with essential oils. It mixes very easily. Right now I have some mixed with peppermint to use on clients' feet , and another with lavander for the hands. All my clients love it, even the men. It's just enough foo-foo without being feminine.  I just got some more jars so I'll be mixing more soon. I buy mine from:

http://www.tropicalbutters.com

They also have it raw.

 

[Wackoz]

What is the difference between refined and raw... when it coem to massaging? Is it just the smell. Has anyone tried both and can tell me the difference?

 

[shann]

Raw Shea Butter

I love Shea Butter. My face gets extremely dry in the winter, and this is the only moisturizer that works for me. I put it on immediately after getting out of the shower, and the moisture lasts at least 24 hours. Also, Shea Butter is naturally high in vitamins A & E. It protects from UV Rays, reduces scars, helps cell regeneration and capillary circulation. My face has never looked more healthy!

I have tried both raw and refined butter and I prefer the raw. I found that the refined butter didn't moisturize as well, and it also irritated my eyes. However, I don't mind the nutty smell of the raw butter, so there's no reason for me to choose refined. Also, the refining process removes many of the beneficial properties of shea butter. Here's a quote I found from another website: http://www.treasuredlocks.com/shebutben.html

"The differences between raw, refined and highly refined Shea Butter lie in how the Shea Butter is extracted from the nut and how it is processed after that. Manual extraction processes leave more of the raw ingredients in the Shea Butter. After it is extracted, it can be further refined removing color and impurities that some people don't like. This further refining can also remove some of the smell. You can think of the difference between raw Shea Butter and refined Shea Butter as being similar to the difference between wheat bread and white bread. Truly raw Shea Butter can even be unfiltered. That is one end of the spectrum. On the other end, there is Shea Butter that is extracted using chemicals that is pure white, has no smell and has lost a lot of its healing properties in the process."

The website listed above also answers many other questions about Shea butter. I recommend checking it out.