Give Me an "A"

Shea Butter, in its purest form, without any additives or chemicals, earns a Shea Butter grade of A because of its healing properties. Shea Butter processing and Shea Butter extraction methods are factors affecting quality of Shea Butter.

Shea Butter contains vitamin A and E as well as cinnamic acid, which have some mild protective properties against the sun’s UV rays. Some of the conditions that Shea Butter helps through its restorative properties are dry skin, sunburn, eczema, insect bites, blemishes, poison ivy or oak, flaky skin and more.

It is important to note that in order for Shea Butter to keep the sheabutter grade A rank, it must not be refined nor processed. Only unrefined Shea Butter with nothing added retains its healing properties; unlike the refined Shea Butter which can only tout moisturizing properties.

The American Shea Butter Institute

In addition, a sheabutter grade of A is awarded by the American Shea Butter Institute, which performs tests on the Shea Butter to evaluate its properties.

Some of the things they test include the presence of bacteria and mold as well as some metals like copper, iron, mercury and lead. Having the right balance of various vitamins and minerals to ensure that its healing properties are untouched is the reason for the Shea Butter grade of A.

Refined Shea Butter with no additives is still a fine product but don’t expect to see much improvement for your skin other than moisture. Refined Shea Butter as well as Shea Butter with added essential oils or other ingredients are only good for its moisturizing properties and can be used for adding to cosmetic products.

Options B, C, and F

A sheabutter grade of B, C or F means that while they could be useful for its moisturizing properties, they will not have the healing properties that the unrefined grade A has. However, that is not to say that these lower sheabutter grades are not beneficial in other ways. They are perfect for adding moisturizing properties to other cosmetics such as liquid foundation and face and body lotion.

When purchasing your Shea Butter, look on the label for the seal by the American Shea Butter Institute with its sheabutter grade. This is the only way you will know about whether your product is sheabutter grade A quality with healing properties or another grade that just serves a moisturizing purpose.

Pure Shea Butter

Going outside in windy, cold or hot weather tends to dry our lips out causing chapped areas. Stressing over an issue and worrying may cause us to bite or chew on our lips. The solution to retaining a kissable pair of lips is to apply a Shea Butter lip balm.

History Of Lip Protection

Lip balm protection has been around for over a century and while the invention was noble, the product itself was not very beneficial. The reason is that the first lip balm’s main ingredient was petroleum jelly. This petroleum product does not absorb through the skin and at best just serves as a barrier against the outside elements.

Petroleum based lip balm has no restorative properties and long term use of a petroleum jelly based lip balm can actually make lips worse simply because the lips are not getting the healing properties it needs. However, with Shea Butter lip balm, your Karite lips actually absorb the moisturizing properties, which promote healing. You can almost literally feel it working with the first swipe of the balm across the lips.

The Shea Butter Difference

Shea butter lip balm often has other natural ingredients, which help promote the healing of chapped lips like beeswax, olive oil and even vitamin E. The Shea Butter reacts differently from petroleum products in that it allows the skin to breathe whereas petroleum just lies there, forming an impenetrable barrier blocking skin absorption.

Sheabutter lip balm promotes elasticity in your lips and keeps them well hydrated, even if you have lip biting or chewing tendencies. Because Shea Butter has restorative properties, you can use it even on broken skin like a split lip. The skin will absorb the Shea Butter lip balm and it will feel virtually weightless, unlike a petroleum-based product.

Moisturizing And Healing Properties of Shea Butter

Whether you are a lip biter or a lip licker — two habits which can damage your lips — you can trust in the moisturizing, healing properties of Shea Butter. If you used a petroleum-based product on the same lips, you run the risk of trapping bacteria between the petroleum barrier and the affected lip. However, with a Shea Butter lip balm, it is absorbed trapping nothing, only promoting healing.

Ditch your petroleum based lip balms and seek out those with Shea Butter and other natural ingredients. You will enjoy hydrated, healthy lips as well as protection from the sun’s UV rays and not have to deal with the peeling mess that petroleum tends to leave behind as it hardens on your lips when exposed to air. Shea butter lip balm is just a natural, healthy solution

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