Butter up with 100% Vegan Shea Butter!

NOW Solutions Shea butter is 100% natural with no animal testing and it’s vegan! Since it contains only one ingredient, using Shea butter allows you to bypass preservatives, dyes, chemical fragrances and the commercial gunk in mainstream body butter moisturizers.

Shea butter is extracted from nuts of the Shea-Karite tree found on the continent of Africa.  It has been used for centuries by the African people for its rejuvenating hair and skin benefits. It’s a thick, rich, moisturizing, emollient cream that liquefies upon contact with the body. It will liquefy in heat, so to restore back to a cream, simply put it in the fridge.

Since Shea butter is much richer than sweet almond oil, I like to combine the two for a slightly richer body cream. This is excellent for healing cracked, dry heels, dry hands and elbows.  I find it also works beautifully on split ends, too!  For an all-natural, cheap lip balm, simply scoop a small amount of Shea butter into a tiny plastic pot (you can get free ones filled with makeup or a cream sample at Sephora cosmetic boutique in Pacific Center).

Therapeutic benefits of Shea butter:

-It nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F, preventing premature wrinkles and facial lines.

-It’s anti-inflammatory making it useful in treating rheumatism.

-It has a high level of cinnamic acid, a natural sun screen.

-It’s effective in treating eczema, psoriasis, rashes including diaper rash, minor skin burns and small wounds.

-It reduces blemishes, scarring and stretch marks during pregnancy.

-It heals dry, cracked skin.

But beware, not all Shea butters are the same!

Look for 100% Shea butter that is raw or lightly refined. The color should look like whipped butter or a greyish-yellow. A pure white color means it’s been highly refined or processed with the use of a solvent like hexane. Raw or lightly refined Shea butter typically has a slight nutty smell.

Over time the smell will diminish, which means it’s getting old. Since Shea butter can go rancid, it’s best to use it within two years and store at room temperature or keep cool.

NOW Solutions Shea butter is hexane-free. At $13.99 for 207ml at Body Energy on Davie Street in Vancouver, it’s a great deal as I’ve seen 100% natural Shea Butter sold for over $20 and up elsewhere. With its multitude of uses, Shea butter is an economical must have. You can find 100% natural Shea butter at almost all health food stores and vitamin shops.

Courtesy of Beauty Contributor Morgan Embury

~The Vegan Project

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