Shea has a softer texture than cocoa and mango butter, but slightly firmer than avocado butter. It has a shelf life of about 2 years, and a melting point of about 90° F. We recommend it at 15% or less of the total oils in your cold process recipes.
THIS is why your body butter isn’t whipping.
FAQ
Is shea butter supposed to be solid?
Why is my African shea butter hard?
What texture should shea butter be?
Does shea butter have a hard or soft consistency?
Variability can be high even locally, and a tree that produces hard butter can grow with one that produces soft butter. Nuts are gathered from a wide area for local production, so shea butter consistency is determined by the average fatty acid profile of the population.
Is shea butter good for skin?
Shea butter is commonly used in skincare products because it is rich in essential fatty acids that help moisturize and hydrate skin. Shea also provides other nutrients including cinnamic acid, minerals, carotenes, and vitamins A and E. Shea butter is able to seal in moisture, which promotes hydration and helps make the skin feel soft and smooth. The American Shea Butter Institute recommends selecting unrefined, unscented, and premium grade A shea butter without fragrance. Look for the seal of The American Shea Butter institute on products.
Why is body butter softer than shea butter?
Being softer also means this formulation is more sensitive to hot weather than a firmer one would be. This has an additional benefit of making the formulation lighter on the skin as most liquid oils are noticeably lighter than shea butter is. Our star ingredient—the thing that lets this body butter be whippy, creamy, soft, and decadent.
Why is shea butter hard?
Nuts are gathered from a wide area for local production, so shea butter consistency is determined by the average fatty acid profile of the population. Within West Africa, shea butter from the Mossi Plateau region of Burkina Faso has a higher average stearic acid content, and so is usually harder than shea butter from other West African regions.