SHEA     BUTTER

Shea butter has been used for centuries by African men and women to promote healthy skin and hair. Over the past couple of decades, manufacturers of skin- and hair-care products in the United States have caught on to the many benefits it provides. This butter is sold full-strength with no additional ingredients. You’ll also find it listed as an added ingredient in many skin moisturizers and hair conditioners.

I recently purchased 5lbs of fair trade certified organic shea butter.  It’s a lot of shea butter but I can think of many ways to use it. Keep in mind there is a difference between unrefined and refined shea butter. The biggest difference being unrefined shea butter is yellow and has a strong medicinal smell.

REFINED

Refined shea butter is that which has been refined and processed using high heat and chemicals. The American Shea Butter Institute states that while this type of shea butter may have some moisturizing properties, it loses much of its healing and therapeutic properties in the refining process. Refined shea butter typically is odorless, with a pure white color. In some cases, hexane—a neuropathic toxin—is used in the refining process.

UNREFINED

According to the American Shea Butter Institute, unrefined shea butter is the better choice if you hope to reap the full spectrum of benefits it offers. Unrefined or raw shea butter is extracted without the use of toxic chemicals or synthetics. It typically has a nutty aroma, and its color ranges from cream to grayish-yellow. Note, however, that while its fragrance is relatively mild, some people find the smell of unrefined shea butter off-putting.

50 WAYS TO USE SHEA BUTTER

1. Use as a lip balm to deeply moisturize lips so that they feel smooth all day.
2. Use as a targeted treatment on elbows, knees and toes for instant softness.
3. Use as a sun-soother to calm dry, itchy sun-exposed skin after a day at the beach or pool.
4. Mix with your hair conditioner for a deep, nourishing hair treatment.
5. Apply on the skin around your nose when you have a cold to repair chapped and peeling skin.
6. Apply on your eyelids before your powder eye makeup to intensify the color and make it last longer.
7. Use on your dry feet before putting on workout shoes, as the heat from the exercise helps the shea butter soak in better, leaving feet extra soft.
8. Put some around the hairline before color application to protect the skin from stains.
9. Heat it up in your hands and use it as a massage balm for fatigued muscles and joints.
10. Apply to shaved legs to enjoy its extra softening and soothing properties.
11. Pat some on baby’s bum to avoid irritation on sensitive skin.
12. If pregnant apply to belly to reduce and prevent stretch marks.
13. Apply to fading scars and burns to speed up healing time.
14. Use on nails and cuticles, for stronger, shiny, healthy-looking nails.
15. Use it on the roots of fine hair to boost volume.
16. Apply on eyelashes instead of mascara for natural definition.
17. Brush a small amount on eyebrows to keep them in place.
18. Mix with favorite scented body lotion for extra moisturizing skin benefits.
19. Use as a backup moisturizing balm when you run out of eye cream or eye serum.
20. Apply on teeth for a bright and shiny smile.
21. Straighten bands when they tend to become curly.
22. Mix with one or two drops of your favorite essential oil for a spa-like massage experience.
23. Soothe razor burn irritation by applying a very thin layer on the skin.
24. Run on mosquito bites to soothe and reduce itching and swelling.
25. Apply to face before performing outdoor sports in cold weather to protect from wind-burn.
26. Use as a base under concealer to smooth out makeup application over blemishes.
27. Apply generously to hands/feet before bed and cover with gloves or socks for a deeply hydrating treatment overnight.
28. Mix with a little bit of blush for an instant super-moisturizing, non sticky matte lipstick.
29. Apply a layer on pressure points before spraying your perfume to achieve loner-lasting fragrance.
30. Apply on feet before slipping into shoes to keep then hydrated and protect them from blisters.
31. Apply on the cheeks for highlight and an extra-hydrated glow.
32. Take it on vacation as a backup for beauty products you may have forgotten.
33. Apply before body glitter to make your shimmer hold better.
34. Drop a few tablespoons of shea butter in a hot bath water for a moisturizing soak.
35. Use as a cream or lotion base for extra moisture.
36. Rub into chest when you have a cold for comfort and to help decongest the lungs.
37. Apply on skin that suffers from frostbite for intense soothing results.
    
    Put it on top of mails after a manicure to make the paint color shiny and luminous.
38. Make your makeup multitask by mixing with a powder blush for a creamy cheek color.
39. Use on hair to sculpt a fohawk.
40. Use to tame frizzy hair and define curls.
41. Use as a simple yet effective anti-aging balm as it aids in cellular renewal for the prevention of wrinkles.
42. Protect skin from UV rays due to the cinnamic acid it contains.
43. Apply to paper cuts so that they are instantly soothed and leaves no scar.
44. User on and around lips before lipstick to prevent the color from bleeding.
45. Apply to ears in the winter when they burn because of the cold weather.
46. Apply as a nighttime moisturizer or deeply hydrating mask for your face.
47. Use it as a spa foot treatment. Wrap in plastic wrap for a deep moisture treatment.
48. Put fly-ways back in their place.
49. Apply to lips to make them look instantly plumper