What Is White Shea Butter?

Shea butter comes from the nuts of Karite nut trees, also called Mangifolia trees, which grow in West and Central Africa. It is not a new product; it has been around for centuries. The Europeans rediscovered it about 200 years ago, and now shea butter is made in 19 African countries. It helps heal burns, sores, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff and stretch marks. It also diminishes wrinkles.

Shea Butter Types

There are two types of shea butter: refined and unrefined. These two forms vary greatly. One is shea butter in its natural state and the other is shea butter that has gone through a refining process, which strips it of some of its natural attributes.

Unrefined Shea Butter

Unrefined shea butter is a beige to bright-yellow color instead of a white color. It has a smoky or nutty odor. Unrefined shea butter is available on the market over the Internet.

Refined Shea Butter

Refined shea butter is white and odorless. This is because the refining process strips the butter of its natural odor and color. White shea butter is simply refined shea butter. Some of the shea butter's natural healing abilities are lost during the refining process because of the loss of the natural color and odor. Refined shea butter is widely used in cosmetics and lotions.

References

• Shea Butter Hut: The History of Shea Butter
• Vitamin Stuff: Shea Butter