Altevita SHEA BUTTER 500g

Product detailed description

Unrefined shea butter contains natural antioxidants, vitamins A, D, E, F, phytosterols and fatty acids.

It instantly smooths and nourishes damaged hair and supports its growth.

Nourishes and hydrates the skin, supports collagen production and restores skin elasticity.

• packaging – 500g

Ways to use shea butter:

• dry, flaky skin and hair

• sunburn

• acne

• wrinkles

• red and irritated skin after shaving

• cracked skin

• protection against frost and wind

• stretch marks, post-surgical scars

• minor cuts and grazes

• allergies, atopic eczema and dermatitis

• arthritis

The shea butter is cold-pressed and originates from GHANA (fair trade, A+ quality).

The butter has a shelf life of 2 years.

Storage warning: Store the product at a temperature of 5 - 23°C, away from direct sunlight or a direct heat source. A change in consistency due to higher temperature does not affect the quality of the product.

Composition of shea butter

Shea butter is composed of the following fatty acids:^[5]

• oleic acid 40-60%

• stearic acid 20-50%

• linoleic acid 3-11%

• palmitic acid 2-9%

• linolenic acid less than 1%

• arachidic acid less than 1%

The proportion of individual fatty acids varies depending on the region from which the particular butter is sourced. In addition to fatty acids, shea butter also contains vitamins A and E and phenols, which have antioxidant effects.

Refined vs. unrefined shea butter

Unrefined shea butter simply means that it is extracted and prepared without the use of chemicals or preservatives. In other words, it is made the same way Africans have done for centuries. Only unrefined shea butter retains all its natural healing properties. Refined shea butter is usually extracted using hexane or other petroleum solvents, and antioxidants or preservatives may also be added to it. Unfortunately, this process significantly reduces the healing properties of the shea butter.

The difference between unrefined and refined shea butter lies in the scent and also the colour. Unrefined shea butter has its typical nutty scent and a beige colour. Refined shea butter is chemically treated so that its natural scent and colour are removed, leaving it with only a small part of its natural healing properties. The end result is a white, scentless butter that may be aesthetically appealing, but lacks the genuine moisturising, healing and nutritional properties of real traditional shea butter.

Another important term is the grade of shea butter:

A – raw or unrefined, water-extracted (it retains the most natural vitamins, especially vitamins A and E, which occur in much smaller amounts in other grades)

B – refined shea butter

C – highly refined, solvent-extracted

D - the lowest non-contaminated grade

E – shea butter with impurities (contaminants)