The Short Answer is that types carrying these designations are believed to be the most natural form available derived from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree leaving most of its properties intact. Raw unrefined shea butter is believed to retain the most nutrients and benefits found in it, whereas when it is processed or refined some of these properties may be altered or stripped from it during the purification process.

Consumer Watch: Be Wary of the Word Pure

When looking for various products to try and use, such as soaps or lotions, it can be quite confusing as to what exactly you are getting if you have never purchased it before and if there is not a lot of information about the actual product you are interested in. It is especially confusing because many producers and manufacturers will use the word pure to describe their product, which could sometimes mislead people into believing that their product is all natural and not processed. However, pure and unrefined are not always the same thing, since many define “pure” to mean to strip away any impurities that are naturally found in it. While there are still some benefits in types that have been proccessed, you are not as likely to have the same results, since refining it to remove certain elements can also pose the risk of it losing the different properties during the purification process.

The Biggest Difference is in How It Is Made

To help clarify the differences of the types you are considering, it helps to understand the process in which the butter is extracted. The original and manual method involves picking the fruits from the tree and then by hand removing the pits. Once the pits are removed, they then undergo a process that may include boiling, sun drying, and roasting the nuts. At this point they are then crushed by hand.

Commercial producers now do most of this process by machine to help expedite and speed up the process, since the manual method can take almost a full day to simply produce a single pound of the extract. Using high temperature ovens and machinery makes sense when producing large quantities, but doing so can also result in differences in the item that is produced. Often times when making shea butter extract on a commercial basis manufacturers will then add other chemicals or ingredients into the batch. This is believed by many to diminish the level of benefits one would receive from using the product. However, it is also the most cost effective solution, since it could be quite expensive to do everything by hand or not add ingredients that can lengthen the shelf life of the smooth creamy substance.

How Do I Make Sure the Product I Order is High Quality?

When doing your research, it is helpful to understand basic consumer ingredient labels to ensure that you are getting a genuine product. Many companies will claim that their product has shea butter in it, and even emphasize this – however when inspecting the label in greater detail you may notice that on the list of ingredients it is one of the last items listed. High concentrations will have the ingredient listed first – not last.

The best way to tell if the product you are interested in is unrefined is to assess its color and smell. Natural manual extractions of the nut will have a thick somewhat yellow-ish tint to it and smell “nutty”. When it has been extracted mechanically or had chemicals added to it, it may be solid white in appearance and have little to no smell whatsoever.

Another way which will help you ensure a quality product is to buy only from reliable sources and companies. Be wary of vendors who claim ridiculous benefits or seem pushy about selling it. You may also want to consider how much the price is – very low priced items may signify that it has been diluted.

Naturally occurring vitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin F. Vitamin A and Vitamin E have long been associated with having beneficial properties for healing skin ailments as well as helping promote moisture retention and protect it from the elements. Another property found naturally in unrefined whipped shea butter is cinnamic acid, which can be used as a natural sunscreen. Another component of raw shea butter is the fat composition in it. These are “good fats” and are also attributed to better health and skin and hair care.

Now that you know the difference between pure, raw, and unrefined shea butter, hopefully you are equipped with the information you need to make sure that you choose a product that meets your needs exactly.

Have any questions or comments about raw shea butter? Feel free to leave them in the comments below and we will do our best to answer them for you.