Umuthi Refined Shea Butter is a rich, moisture-loving botanical butter used in DIY skincare, haircare, soaps, lip products, body butters, moisturisers, and massage candles. Also known as African Butter, shea butter is naturally high in fatty acids and has a creamy emollient feel that helps smooth and soften dry-feeling skin. It melts at body temperature, making it easy to apply and blend into anhydrous formulations. The refined version is especially popular in DIY cosmetics because it is generally easier to work with than darker unrefined shea butter.

♡ Why we love it: Refined shea butter is a practical, versatile staple for natural formulators. It gives products a rich, nourishing skin feel and works beautifully in everything from whipped body butters and balms to haircare and soap recipes.

Key Properties

Also Known As: African Butter
Form: Refined cosmetic butter
Skin Feel: Rich, emollient, softening
Melts at body temperature
Suitable For: Cosmetic Use
Naturally Occurring Components: Fatty acids
Use Type: Anhydrous skincare, haircare, soap, balm, and massage candle formulations

What It's Used For

Making body butters, balms, and skin moisturisers
Adding richness to lip gloss and lip care formulations
Blending into hair conditioners and styling products
Reducing the look and feel of frizzy hair
Creating soaps and massage candles
Supporting products for dry, itchy-feeling, rough, or mature-looking skin
Helping improve the appearance of blemishes, fine lines, and uneven-looking skin in well-formulated products

Who It's For

This Product Is For:

DIY skincare and body care makers
Soap makers and balm formulators
Haircare makers working on frizz-control or conditioning products
Anyone wanting a rich botanical butter for natural cosmetic formulations

This Product Is Not For:

Water-based formulations without a suitable emulsifying system
Products needing a lightweight dry-oil skin feel
Products requiring a verified SPF or certified sunscreen ingredient
Formulations where a butter texture is not suitable

How To Use

As a Body Butter: Use on its own or whip with carrier oils for a softer, spreadable texture.
In Balms and Lip Products: Melt gently with oils and waxes, then pour into containers.
In Haircare: Use a small amount on fingertips and smooth over frizzy or unruly hair before styling.
In Soapmaking: Add according to your soap formulation.
In Massage Candles: Blend with suitable waxes and oils for a massage candle formulation.
Processing Tip: Shea butter can become grainy if melted and cooled unevenly. Stir continuously while it cools to help keep the texture smooth.

Safety Instructions

For external use only
Do not ingest
Patch test before wider skin use
Avoid contact with eyes
Do not rely on shea butter as your primary sun protection
Store away from children, pets, sunlight, and heat
Use caution when melting, hot oils and butters can burn

FAQs

Q: Why can shea butter become grainy after melting?
A: Shea butter contains different fatty acids that can cool and solidify at different rates. Stirring while it cools helps reduce grain formation.

Q: Can Refined Shea Butter be used in hair products?
A: Yes. It can be used in conditioners, styling products, and frizz-control blends where a rich buttery feel is suitable.

Umuthi Refined Shea Butter