DIY Body Butter using Organic Shea Butter

Wow! When I agreed to do this review for Beauty by Shea, I had no idea I would learn so much about raw shea butter. Honestly, I wasn't very familiar with raw shea butter when I started this review last month.  Other than noticing it on the bottles of several different lotions and such, I really never gave it much thought.  That has definitely changed!

Beauty by Shea comes in a light brown, heat sealed paper bag.  Included is a 1 pound block of raw organic and unfiltered ivory shea butter.  I'm really impressed at just how fresh of a product I received.  The shea butter is directly imported from Ghana to the U.S where it's double-filtered, then manufactured into the bricks for shipment.  That's it.. nothing except the shea butter in its' purest form.

So, exactly what is shea butter and where does it come from?

Shea butter is extracted from the nut of the African Karite tree which grows wild in West and Central Africa.  It naturally includes vitamins A and E which both are known for their healing and moisturizing properties.

There's endless uses for shea butter.  In Africa, people cook with it just as much as they use it for skincare concerns. Listed below, are some of the ways I've used it over the last month.

• Great all over body moisturizer.  I love the natural nutty scent, but add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a custom scent.
• Apply to damp hair for a deep conditioning hair treatment.
• Apply around hair line before applying color to keep skin from staining.
• Use on the soles of feet and heels to moisturize dry, cracked skin.
• Rub on cuticles after manicure.
• Apply to scars to promote healing and fading.
• Use as a lip balm for cracked, dry lips.
• Lather on  skin to sooth itching and burning from wind-chapped and sunburned skin.
• Add in bath for extra moisture.

There's several great recipes floating around online for diy body butter using shea.  Check out the blog Life From the Ground Up for the recipe I used. I just love the idea of filling some cute containers with the body butter and giving it for gifts during the holidays.

To purchase your own Beauty by Shea Organic Raw Shea Butter, check it out on Amazon.  Right now, get a one pound block on sale for $15.00

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.