I have been using shea butter since my daughter was a little baby and had a nasty case of cradle cap. I had read that using petroleum based and mineral oil based products was not good for you. Unfortunately, a lot of products for skincare and haircare list those very ingredients. So I searched for an alternative. I had a big book of natural remedies and came across shea butter as a good way to moisturize from head to toe and also soothe skin for people with eczema and other skin conditions. So I went online and found shea butter for cheap. I got in the mail, applied it to my daughter's scalp after brushing it with sea breeze on a toothbrush and within two weeks, her scalp was cleared.
Ever since then, I have been a fan of shea butter. I use it head to toes. When I had a afro, it kept my hair moist. It makes my dreads softer when used every now and then. It makes my skin so soft and smooth. This summer, I neglected my skin and used baby oil because it was easier than making up a batch of butter. But I learned the hard way that easier is not always better. My skin was wrinkly and dry.
Hellnaw. Not good at all.
So I started mixing it up again. Now I use a carrier oil like sunflower oil, which has a lot of vitamin E in it, to make a luscious cream. I add a scent to it and we are good to go.
A word to anyone who wants to try shea butter: You will see a lot of products in the store that claim to have shea butter, look on the back of the package, most likely, shea butter is not the first ingredient. Drop it like it's hot! Your best bet is to buy it in it's purest form. Make sure you buy the unrefined butter which has all the goodies your skin loves. You can then take chunks and melt them down, add fragrance if you would like, pour it into a pretty container, put it in the freezer and after an hour or so, you will have the best skin moisterizer EVER... other than drinking plenty of water.
Here is a short list of places I purchase from:
fromnaturewithlove.com
oilsbynature.com
thechemistystore.com
Ever since then, I have been a fan of shea butter. I use it head to toes. When I had a afro, it kept my hair moist. It makes my dreads softer when used every now and then. It makes my skin so soft and smooth. This summer, I neglected my skin and used baby oil because it was easier than making up a batch of butter. But I learned the hard way that easier is not always better. My skin was wrinkly and dry.
Hellnaw. Not good at all.
So I started mixing it up again. Now I use a carrier oil like sunflower oil, which has a lot of vitamin E in it, to make a luscious cream. I add a scent to it and we are good to go.
A word to anyone who wants to try shea butter: You will see a lot of products in the store that claim to have shea butter, look on the back of the package, most likely, shea butter is not the first ingredient. Drop it like it's hot! Your best bet is to buy it in it's purest form. Make sure you buy the unrefined butter which has all the goodies your skin loves. You can then take chunks and melt them down, add fragrance if you would like, pour it into a pretty container, put it in the freezer and after an hour or so, you will have the best skin moisterizer EVER... other than drinking plenty of water.
Here is a short list of places I purchase from:
fromnaturewithlove.com
oilsbynature.com
thechemistystore.com