Most people have heard of or used shea butter for skin care, and natural skin brands like Ellovi swear by it as part of a team of hero ingredients that make body and face care so effortlessly healing. So what’s all the hype about? What actually is shea butter? Let’s do some learning.

Origin & Historical Uses

Shea butter is a solid fat extracted from the nuts of the protected African shea tree, which is native to 19 west African countries. 

Ancient African cultures used shea butter for moisturizing skin and hair, as well as for massage, joint relief (arthritis and other inflammatory conditions) and for healing minor wounds, burns, irritation and bites.  In some cultures it was used in religious ceremonies, applied to newborns as a protective balm.

European explorers brought the butter home for uses in cosmetics, medicines, and chocolate in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Shea butter has been a part of local and international trade for hundreds of years, often exchanged for goods like salt and gold. 

A symbol of the region’s natural wealth, shea harvesting continues to provide economic opportunities for millions of women and is celebrated for its versatility, healing properties, and deep-rooted cultural significance. It’s no wonder it has been called “women’s gold.”

Woman Empowerment 

In many West African cultures, knowledge and techniques for harvesting and processing shea butter have been passed down through generations of women. The practice remains one of the few sources of income over which women have full control at every stage of the production cycle and the ability to maintain the deeply rooted healing culture tradition.  

The essential role these women take, directly contributes to the health and sustenance of their families and communities.

So What are the Benefits?

Vitamins A, E, & SPF: These promote cell regeneration, improve elasticity, deliver antioxidant protection and add a small layer of sun protection

Wound Healing & Stretch Marks: Triterpenes accelerate skin healing

Cinnamic acid: Reduces inflammation and soothes irritated or inflamed skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis

Anti-aging fatty acids: Oleic and linoleic acids help smooth fine lines and wrinkles to promote firmness and elasticity

All-Over Moisturizer: As an emollient, shea butter hydrates and softens skin to lock in moisture for face, lips, and body

Non-comedogenic: Will not clog pores while minimizing scars

Hair: Moisturizes hair and scalp, reducing frizz and promotes hair growth, while strengthening hair to reduce breakage

Bonus points  **Safe for sensitive skin for adults and babies**

Unrefined vs. Refined

Natural ingredients like these can sometimes be corrupted by practices that strip them of their wonderful benefits. Unrefined shea butter is extracted using traditional methods with no chemicals or heat, preserving its vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants. Refined shea butter is processed using heat and filtering to remove natural color and scent.

With shea butter and a cherished list of other, carefully selected ingredients, we strive to offer skincare in its original form, unstripped.

With nature’s incredibly enduring wisdom, we can receive and give benefit, connecting on a smaller scale to our bodies, to our healthy skincare brands, and woman to woman across countries. 

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At Ellovi we believe skin health is deeply connected to overall health and well-being. Our mission is to offer wellness using pure ingredients with safe and transparent methods. Self care is not just a luxury and it cannot wait. We’re here to remind you to invest in your health from head to toe, inside and out. 

Team Ellovi