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Amazing Shea Butter...here is why it is such a popular ingredient in beauty potins and lotions all over world.

Shea butter is known as the most effective skin moisturizer and conditioner because of its high content of non-saponifiable fats including vitamin F. It is an excellent skin moistener and is used for aging skin, eczema and all forms of massage. It is also used to relax the muscles and to treat sprains wounds and colds. The unique formula of Shea butter also helps prevent and protect dry skin providing temporal relief from irritation, dryness and wind burned skin.

Some of the benfits of using unrefined shea butter are:

• Sun damaged skin
• Scars
• Acne
• Shingles
• Psoriasis
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Inflammations
• Rosacea
• Athletes Foot
• Fungal Infections
• Burns
• Dry skin
• Wrinkles
• Rashes
• Arthritis

Below are some great unrefined/raw shea butter recipes to try!

Whipped Shea Butter

Melt 1 lb shea, do not let it boil, heat until very soft and nearly fully melted. Remove from heat, Add 1/2 to 1 ounce of jojoba or grapeseed oil. Using a stick blender (do not use a stand up blender),  begin blending on high, this will be done off and on for at least 15 to 20 minutes, blend 3 to 4 minutes, turn off blender, wait 2 minutes and begin again. When your butter begins to thicken  near the end you will add your fragrance oil or essential oils. Add up to 2 tablespoons fragrance or 1 teaspoon essential and blend this in well.

Once your butter is like firm whipped creme you will take this and refrigerate it until completely cool. Package and store closed in a cool dry place.

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Easy Sheasy Lipbalm / Lipstick

16  0.15 ounce lipstick or lipbalm tubes
2 fluid ounces Castor Oil (we will have this for you in our store!)
2 fluid ounces plus 1 teaspoon Jojoba Oil
1/4 weighed ounce of beeswax
1/2 weighed ounce candelilla wax
2 teaspoons unrefined shea butter
1 teaspoon grapeseed oil
1/4 teaspoon vit. E ( you can use a large soft gel capsule, open and squeeze out)

Melt oils and waxes together in a microwave safe dish, this takes at most 2 minutes. Melt in intervals, watching not to let it reach a boil.

Remove and let sit at least 3 to 4 minutes before adding you pigments. The pigments should be stirred in very thoroughly. Pour into tubes and let set at least 45 minutes prior to closing. You may need to add a few more drops of melted formula to finish off the tops, during cooling it will sink down in the center.

You may also want to add powder pigments to create lipstick:

Powders: Grind these together well before adding to the melted wax and oils

• 4 teaspoons Mica powder color, the photo lipstick was made with 3 teaspoons rouge flambe and 1 teaspoon Bolero.
• 1/2 teaspoon red oxide powder (in order to have color transfer that stays on the lips you do need an iron oxide, red can be substituted with brown, orange etc... although the shade will vary tremendously. Try mixing half red and half brown, there are endless possibilities).
• 1 teaspoon zinc oxide ( use this if you prefer a more matte than shiny/glitter finish)

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Mint Cream Hair Dressing (great recipe from Agbanga Karite)

approximately 16 oz jar
8 oz raw shea butter
4 oz olive oil
4 oz castor oil
2 tbs ginger mint herb tea
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
30 drops peppermint essential oil

In a double boiler slowly, gently melt shea butter. While butter is melting, add herb tea to olive oil and heat in double boiler for about 20 minutes - enough time to infuse oil with the essence of the tea. Strain through cheesecloth or a coffee filter and set aside. Combine melted shea butter, infused olive, and castor oil. Stir in peppermint essential oil (and cayenne pepper, if you desire - good scalp stimulant in small quantities) and set aside, allowing to cool. After mixture solidifies, you may use a hand mixer to make it creamier. It's now ready to use!

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To buy unrefined shea butter you may be able to find it locally at african grocery stores or you could order it online at Calabash Shea Butter

If you would prefer to buy shea butter products you could try the range Shea Alchemy. They are available at Budgens stores or online at http://www.sheaalchemy.co.uk/index.html

The products were created by a lady called Sally. She started making creams for fun, in her kitchen, a few years ago, when she realised just how many dodgy chemicals were in most commercial products on the market. She had bought some 100% natural creams, at vast expense, when in the US, and when she couldn’t find them in the UK – or afford them if she could find them – she decided she would have a go at making natural creams herself. The range includes:

• EYE CREAM for mature skin
• LIGHT NIGHT CREAMwith organic almond oil & vitamins (Geranium or Lavender)
• BLUSHER
• LIGHT DAY CREAMwith organic almond oil & sunscreen spf 6
• SEMI TRANSLUCENT TINTED MOISTURISER
• ANTI-WRINKLE NIGHT CREAMwith green tea, Siberian ginseng & vitamin A
• ANTI-WRINKLE RICH DAY CREAMwith vitamin A and apricot kernel oil, suncreen spf6
• MOISTURISING MILKwith organic avocado & vitamin E (geranium)
• SOAP-FREE CLEANSING MILKwith witch hazel & calendula
• TEENAGE CLEANSER (SOAP-FREE) with organic juniper & vitamin A
• LUSCIOUS LIPSorganic lip balm with semi translucent tint
• FACIAL SCRUB mild citrus
• INTENSE HAND CREAM with shea butter & aloe vera

and much more...