Besides being a winter hater in general, I mostly dread it because my skin freaks out! This year is sadly no different where I am scrambling for a solution. Thankfully before s**** got real – I was introduced to shea butter!

When my husband saw this sitting on the counter after I brought it home he naturally asked me “What is a shea and can I eat it?” Initially my answers were well I’m not sure and no you can’t eat shea. After doing some research though, I had to change that answer though…technically he could have eaten it.

Raw, Refined, Unrefined Shea Butter – What’s The Difference?

Shea butter comes from the nut of a shea tree and contains moisturizing fatty acids and vitamins A, E, & F and a bonus little SPF protection– simple, right? Nope. You will see variations such as raw, unrefined, and refined – what does it all mean!? Basically, how much the shea butter has been processed. Raw has not been processed at all but unrefined has usually gone through a cheese cloth. This matters because the more the shea butter is processed the more nutrients that are lost in the process.

So why would you want it refined? Most people find it more convenient. But what is the point if you are losing the bulk of the nutrients!? Shea butter in raw and unrefined states at room temp is going to be the consistency of a candle. You will want to keep a small spoon nearby to remove it from the jar. You can warm it between your hands to soften it and apply.

shea butter dry skin
Besides this being a product that has been noticeably making a difference for my skin – it’s pretty dang affordable! I picked this jar up at my local Whole Foods for around $12 (also available in unscented)