Shea

About : Shea

Shea nuts are harvested from shea trees which are native to West Africa. Shea butter, known to locals as "women's gold," has traditionally been harvested by women alone – who retrieve fallen nuts versus picking them from trees before they are ready. The "butter" made from these shea nuts has natural moisturizing, nourishing and protecting properties and has been used by African women for years.

Hand-Made Shea Butter

The process of making shea butter is a difficult, yet social one – with women of all ages contributing to various steps. Once collected, the outer layer of the shea tree's fruit is removed. The inner "nut" is then dried and crushed. After being roasted, the nuts are then further ground into a flour-like substance which transforms into a paste as water is added gradually. Women knead the paste to separate the oils used to make shea butter. Finally, the yellow-gold shea butter hardens, leaving the final product ready for packaging.

Perfect for Mom & Baby

Because shea butter is so gentle, it is ideal for your baby's delicate skin. Africans even believe it has properties that help to strengthen a baby's muscles! They use it on their newborns for exactly this reason and have traditionally done so for many years. Shea butter is also an excellent treatment for new moms who wish to preserve their skin and fight stretch marks.

Nourishing Shea Butter Products by L'OCCITANE

L'OCCITANE has been producing shea butter products for more than 20 years. The skincare range includes hand creams, foot cream, body creams, soaps, face scrubs and "Mom & Baby" products. L'OCCITANE is passionate about natural beauty, as well as corporate social responsibility, and sources its shea butter in a fair trade agreement from Burkina Faso, Africa.