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Key Takeaways
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Raw shea butter is an unrefined, natural product derived from the nuts of Vitellaria paradoxa trees.
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It retains its full nutrient profile because it undergoes no chemical processing or artificial enhancement.
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Raw shea butter embodies centuries of African traditional skincare wisdom.
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In skin care, it is especially valued for barrier support, deep hydration, and soothing effects.
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Our Skin Repair Balms harness raw shea butter alongside seaweed extract and organic plant oils for a balanced and easy-to-use blend.
Table of Contents
Raw Shea Butter: Nature's Unrefined Nurturer
When you use a balm enriched with authentic raw shea butter, you are drawing on centuries of traditional African skincare wisdom. This ivory-coloured butter, extracted from the nuts of Vitellaria paradoxa trees, retains its full nutrient profile—no chemical processing, no artificial enhancement—just nature’s original formula for skin nourishment.
In our Fragrance Free and Wild Seaweed Skin Repair Balms, raw shea butter is combined with organic oils and seaweed extract. This blend enhances shea butter’s natural protective and hydrating properties, while also delivering minerals, antioxidants, and omega-rich oils that support skin repair and resilience.
What is Raw Shea Butter? Understanding Origins
Raw shea butter emerges from the nuts of Vitellaria paradoxa trees, which grow exclusively across Africa's semi-arid Sahel region. Traditional extraction involves crushing, roasting, and hand-kneading the nuts into a paste, then separating the fat through water washing. Traditional extraction methods preserve the butter’s natural fatty acids, vitamins, and anti-inflammatory compounds, all of which contribute to skin health.
In our balms, this pure ingredient is not used alone. Instead, it is carefully blended with seaweed extract, sunflower seed oil, and other natural botanicals to create a smooth, easy-to-apply formulation that nourishes the skin barrier without the firmness of raw butter.
Raw Shea Butter's Nutrient Composition & Skincare Benefits
The nutritional density of raw shea butter makes it a cornerstone of natural skincare. Vitamins A and E provide antioxidant protection against environmental stressors, whilst vitamin F (essential fatty acids) supports skin barrier integrity. Beyond vitamins, raw shea butter contains cinnamic acid esters, natural compounds with anti-inflammatory properties that help calm irritated skin.
Plant sterols and triterpenes, contribute to its ability to support skin healing and reduce inflammation. The fatty acid profile includes palmitic acid (3-7%), stearic acid (35-45%), oleic acid (40-55%), and linoleic acid (3-8%), percentages that mirror the skin's natural sebum composition, explaining why shea butter absorbs so readily.
Raw shea butter excels at reinforcing the skin's natural protective barrier, making it particularly valuable for those dealing with dryness, sensitivity, or environmental exposure. Its non-comedogenic properties mean it won't clog pores, whilst the natural anti-inflammatory compounds can help soothe conditions such as eczema or dermatitis. The butter's natural healing compounds also make it valuable for addressing scars, stretch marks, and areas of rough or damaged skin.
Our Skin Balms preserve these benefits of raw shea butter and extend them with additional natural ingredients. Seaweed’s natural anti-inflammatory compounds and the emollient effects of organic oils create a synergy that works well for:
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Dry, rough skin – deeply nourished and softened by shea butter and sunflower oil.
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Sensitive skin – calmed with fragrance-free formulations and naturally soothing seaweed.
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Weather-stressed skin – protected by antioxidants and fatty acids that help lock in hydration.
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Mature skin – supported by vitamin E and the mineral-rich profile of seaweed to help maintain elasticity and hydration.
How to Use Shea Butter in Blended Balms: Application Guide for Skin & Body
Our Skin Repair Balms are designed for concentrated, targeted skin recovery. By blending raw shea butter with seaweed extract, organic oils, and soothing botanicals, they provide a versatile treatment for areas of dryness, irritation, or damage.
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Dry, rough, or cracked areas: Warm a small amount of balm between your fingers and apply directly to hands, feet, elbows, or cuticles. Massage gently until absorbed. For cracked heels, apply a thicker layer overnight and allow the balm to work as an intensive treatment.
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Sensitive or reactive skin: The Fragrance Free Skin Repair Balm is especially suitable for delicate, eczema-prone, or psoriasis-prone skin. It contains no essential oils or fragrance, offering the pure benefits of shea butter, seaweed minerals, and calming botanicals to ease irritation and support natural barrier repair.
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Everyday protection: Use as often as needed throughout the day to protect skin from environmental stressors and moisture loss. The waterless, oil-rich formula forms a natural protective layer while still allowing the skin to breathe.
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Cleansing and soothing: The balms can also be used to gently cleanse away dirt or makeup while nourishing the skin, making them a multi-purpose staple for everyday routines.
Choosing the Right Balm
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Wild Seaweed Skin Repair Balm – Enriched with Cornish seaweed, red peony root, rhubarb, and dandelion extracts, this balm provides targeted skin recovery with added minerals and anti-inflammatory botanicals. Ideal for daily protection against dryness, redness, and irritation.
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Fragrance Free Skin Repair Balm – A stripped-back version designed for highly sensitive skin. With no added essential oils or fragrance, it is especially calming for eczema or psoriasis-prone skin, and suitable for all ages.
By combining raw shea butter’s deep hydration with seaweed’s minerals and soothing plant extracts, both balms deliver more than shea butter alone — offering focused relief, barrier support, and natural skin restoration where you need it most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is raw shea butter traditionally extracted from Vitellaria paradoxa nuts, and why does this method preserve its natural benefits?
Traditional extraction involves crushing, roasting, and hand-kneading the nuts into a paste, followed by water washing to separate the fat. This gentle, manual process avoids chemical treatments, thereby maintaining the butter’s complete nutritional profile and natural properties.
What specific skin care benefits does raw shea butter?
Raw shea butter supports the skin barrier and offers lasting hydration through its rich content of natural fatty acids and vitamins. Its nourishing qualities help soothe sensitive or dry skin and can also support hair and scalp health.
A picture tells a thousand words: out of necessity, some images in this blog post have been created using artificial intelligence models. This is to help us bring to life & more comprehensively express the written content within this post. We only using artificially generated images when we don’t have a suitable image available to us.