Unrefined Shea Butter vs. Refined Shea Butter

Shea butter is a rich fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. Unrefined shea butter is rich in complex fatty acids such as oleic acid and stearic acid, Vitamins A, D, E, & F. 

Unrefined Shea Butter is extracted and prepared without the use of chemicals or preservatives. 

It has high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins that makes shea butter an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening the skin. Unrefined shea butter maintains much more skin care benefits and vitamins than refined shea butter. 

Unrefined Shea Butter is non-processed natural butter with distinctive light cream, Ivory or yellow color and smoky, nutty scent. Refined Shea butter is processed shea butter that is white and odorless butter. Refined Shea Butter may have less nutrition properties than Unrefined Shea Butter, but it is still widely used in cosmetics. Odorless and white colored shea butter can be mixed with other butters and ingredients without overpowering its scent. It’s easier to work with because it gets less grainy when reheated unlike the unrefined shea butter, and it doesn’t have the distinctive color of shea butter when mixed.