Shea Butter Refined
Shea Butter Refined
Shea Butter Refined (Soft, Pale Shea Butter with Little Scent)
Our Refined Shea Butter is expeller pressed from shea seeds and then refined (INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter), giving a soft, pliant, white butter with only a slight odour. It melts at about 34-44 °C.
Makers use it to add richness and body to balms, body butters, lotions, creams, soaps and hair care when they want a neutral scent and a pale colour.
|
Refined shea butter White, little scent |
Melts at 34-44 °C Soft, semi-solid |
Use at 3-100% Depends on the recipe |
100 g to 2 kg Five pack sizes |
Safety information: for external (cosmetic) use only. Keep out of reach of children and keep away from the eyes. Melted butter is hot and can burn. See Safety below and the Safety Data Sheet in the Product Documents section at the end of this page.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Shea Butter Refined |
| INCI | Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter |
| CAS number | 91080-23-8 |
| Botanical source | Karite tree (Butyrospermum parkii), seeds |
| Origin | Burkina Faso (refined in France) |
| Process | Expeller pressed, then refined |
| Appearance | Soft, semi-solid, white butter |
| Odour | Slight to practically odourless |
| Melting point | About 34-44 °C |
| Typical fatty acids | Oleic 40-50%, stearic 36-50%, linoleic 4-8%, palmitic 3-8%, arachidic 0-2% |
| Typical use rate | Lotions and creams 3-5%, balms 5-100%, bar soaps 3-6%, hair conditioners 2-5% |
| Suitable for | Balms, body butters, lotions, creams, bar soaps, lip care, hair conditioners |
| Not suitable for | Use in water-based products without an emulsifier, or internal use |
| Pack Sizes | 100 g, 200 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 2 kg |
| Storage | Tightly closed, in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight |
| Use | Raw material for makers. Formulation, safety assessment and labelling of finished products are the maker's responsibility. Not for internal use |
Uses
| Use | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Body butters | Whip on its own or with a liquid oil for a rich, creamy butter |
| Balms and lip care | Blend with wax and oil for a rich texture |
| Lotions and creams | Melt with the oil phase to add body |
| Bar soaps | Add to the soap oils for a creamy bar |
| Hair conditioners and hair butters | Melt into the oil phase, or warm for a hair treatment |
| Massage bars | Combine with wax and oil for a solid bar that melts on warm skin |
How to Make a Simple Whipped Body Butter
- Weigh. Weigh your shea butter and a liquid oil such as sweet almond oil. A traditional starting point is about 1 part butter to 1 part oil, then adjust for the texture you want.
- Melt. Melt them together gently in a double boiler over low heat. Never heat over a direct flame or leave it unattended.
- Cool. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool until it just starts to firm at the edges. A short stay in the fridge speeds this up.
- Whip. Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add a little vitamin E oil or fragrance at this stage if you wish.
- Pack. Spoon into clean, dry jars and label them.
- Store. Keep in a cool place. Butter-based products without water are not usually preserved, but keep them clean, dry and sealed.
Tip: Refined shea has little scent, so it lets your essential oils and fragrance come through.
Using It in Your Formulas ▼
These are common maker starting points, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so always test a small batch first.
| Use | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lotions and creams | About 3-5% | Melt with the oil phase of the recipe. |
| Balms | About 5-100% | Blend with oils and waxes to set the firmness you want. |
| Bar soaps | About 3-6% | Add to the soap oils. Larger amounts can make soap firmer and quicker to trace. |
| Hair conditioners | About 2-5% | Melt into the oil phase. |
These are starting points for makers, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so test a small batch first.
Tips & Troubleshooting ▼
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Grainy texture | The butter cooled slowly and its fats set in crystals | Melt fully, then cool quickly (fridge or freezer for a few minutes) while stirring, then whip. |
| Product too hard | Too much butter or wax for the recipe | Add more liquid oil, or reduce the butter or wax. |
| Product too soft in warm weather | Low melting point butter or too much oil | Use more of a firmer butter or add a little wax. |
| Melts in the pot or in warm rooms | Butters melt at or just above skin temperature | Store in a cool place and use a firmer blend for warm climates. |
| Smell changes over time | Fats can go rancid if stored warm, open or wet | Store cool and sealed, use clean dry tools and add some vitamin E oil. |
Safety & Selling Your Products ▼
This product is a cosmetic raw material for external use only. Do not swallow it, keep it out of reach of children and keep it away from the eyes. Melted ingredients are hot and can burn, so never heat over a direct flame and never leave them unattended. Patch test finished products before first use and stop using a product if irritation occurs.
Shea is a tree nut-derived ingredient. People with tree nut allergies should check before using products made with it.
Selling what you make? This is a raw material for makers. The formulation, preservation, safety assessment, labelling and any regulatory requirements for your finished cosmetics or soap (including the NZ cosmetic rules) are your responsibility, and health or treatment claims should not be made for your products. Keep records of the ingredients you use so you can label your products correctly. Contact us at info@purefx.co.nz if you need product information.
Frequently Asked Questions ▼
What is refined shea butter?
It is shea butter that has been expeller pressed and then refined, which gives a whiter colour and little scent.
How is it different from unrefined shea?
Refined shea is paler with little aroma. Unrefined shea keeps its natural off-white colour and mild smoky smell.
How much do I use?
About 3-5% in lotions and creams, 5-100% in balms, 3-6% in bar soaps and 2-5% in hair conditioners.
Does it melt on the skin?
It melts at about 34-44 °C, close to skin temperature.
Can I use it in lip balm?
Yes. Blend with wax and oil for the firmness you want.
Can it go grainy?
Yes, if it cools slowly after melting. Melt it fully, then cool it quickly while stirring.
Is it for internal use?
No. We sell it as a cosmetic raw material for external use only.
Sizes & Price
| Pack | Price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $6.60 | $6.60 |
| 200 g | $9.00 | $4.50 |
| 500 g | $17.05 | $3.41 |
| 1 kg | $26.40 | $2.64 |
| 2 kg | $45.10 | $2.25 |
Pairs Well With
Pair with sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil or avocado oil, and add vitamin E oil. Blend with cocoa butter or mango butter. Use with beeswax in balms, and compare unrefined shea butter. Browse our butters and waxes. |
 Product Documents
|
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Shea Butter Refined (Soft, Pale Shea Butter with Little Scent)
Our Refined Shea Butter is expeller pressed from shea seeds and then refined (INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter), giving a soft, pliant, white butter with only a slight odour. It melts at about 34-44 °C.
Makers use it to add richness and body to balms, body butters, lotions, creams, soaps and hair care when they want a neutral scent and a pale colour.
|
Refined shea butter White, little scent |
Melts at 34-44 °C Soft, semi-solid |
Use at 3-100% Depends on the recipe |
100 g to 2 kg Five pack sizes |
Safety information: for external (cosmetic) use only. Keep out of reach of children and keep away from the eyes. Melted butter is hot and can burn. See Safety below and the Safety Data Sheet in the Product Documents section at the end of this page.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Shea Butter Refined |
| INCI | Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter |
| CAS number | 91080-23-8 |
| Botanical source | Karite tree (Butyrospermum parkii), seeds |
| Origin | Burkina Faso (refined in France) |
| Process | Expeller pressed, then refined |
| Appearance | Soft, semi-solid, white butter |
| Odour | Slight to practically odourless |
| Melting point | About 34-44 °C |
| Typical fatty acids | Oleic 40-50%, stearic 36-50%, linoleic 4-8%, palmitic 3-8%, arachidic 0-2% |
| Typical use rate | Lotions and creams 3-5%, balms 5-100%, bar soaps 3-6%, hair conditioners 2-5% |
| Suitable for | Balms, body butters, lotions, creams, bar soaps, lip care, hair conditioners |
| Not suitable for | Use in water-based products without an emulsifier, or internal use |
| Pack Sizes | 100 g, 200 g, 500 g, 1 kg, 2 kg |
| Storage | Tightly closed, in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight |
| Use | Raw material for makers. Formulation, safety assessment and labelling of finished products are the maker's responsibility. Not for internal use |
Uses
| Use | How it is used |
|---|---|
| Body butters | Whip on its own or with a liquid oil for a rich, creamy butter |
| Balms and lip care | Blend with wax and oil for a rich texture |
| Lotions and creams | Melt with the oil phase to add body |
| Bar soaps | Add to the soap oils for a creamy bar |
| Hair conditioners and hair butters | Melt into the oil phase, or warm for a hair treatment |
| Massage bars | Combine with wax and oil for a solid bar that melts on warm skin |
How to Make a Simple Whipped Body Butter
- Weigh. Weigh your shea butter and a liquid oil such as sweet almond oil. A traditional starting point is about 1 part butter to 1 part oil, then adjust for the texture you want.
- Melt. Melt them together gently in a double boiler over low heat. Never heat over a direct flame or leave it unattended.
- Cool. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool until it just starts to firm at the edges. A short stay in the fridge speeds this up.
- Whip. Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add a little vitamin E oil or fragrance at this stage if you wish.
- Pack. Spoon into clean, dry jars and label them.
- Store. Keep in a cool place. Butter-based products without water are not usually preserved, but keep them clean, dry and sealed.
Tip: Refined shea has little scent, so it lets your essential oils and fragrance come through.
Using It in Your Formulas ▼
These are common maker starting points, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so always test a small batch first.
| Use | Starting amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lotions and creams | About 3-5% | Melt with the oil phase of the recipe. |
| Balms | About 5-100% | Blend with oils and waxes to set the firmness you want. |
| Bar soaps | About 3-6% | Add to the soap oils. Larger amounts can make soap firmer and quicker to trace. |
| Hair conditioners | About 2-5% | Melt into the oil phase. |
These are starting points for makers, not fixed rules. Results vary with your recipe, so test a small batch first.
Tips & Troubleshooting ▼
| Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Grainy texture | The butter cooled slowly and its fats set in crystals | Melt fully, then cool quickly (fridge or freezer for a few minutes) while stirring, then whip. |
| Product too hard | Too much butter or wax for the recipe | Add more liquid oil, or reduce the butter or wax. |
| Product too soft in warm weather | Low melting point butter or too much oil | Use more of a firmer butter or add a little wax. |
| Melts in the pot or in warm rooms | Butters melt at or just above skin temperature | Store in a cool place and use a firmer blend for warm climates. |
| Smell changes over time | Fats can go rancid if stored warm, open or wet | Store cool and sealed, use clean dry tools and add some vitamin E oil. |
Safety & Selling Your Products ▼
This product is a cosmetic raw material for external use only. Do not swallow it, keep it out of reach of children and keep it away from the eyes. Melted ingredients are hot and can burn, so never heat over a direct flame and never leave them unattended. Patch test finished products before first use and stop using a product if irritation occurs.
Shea is a tree nut-derived ingredient. People with tree nut allergies should check before using products made with it.
Selling what you make? This is a raw material for makers. The formulation, preservation, safety assessment, labelling and any regulatory requirements for your finished cosmetics or soap (including the NZ cosmetic rules) are your responsibility, and health or treatment claims should not be made for your products. Keep records of the ingredients you use so you can label your products correctly. Contact us at info@purefx.co.nz if you need product information.
Frequently Asked Questions ▼
What is refined shea butter?
It is shea butter that has been expeller pressed and then refined, which gives a whiter colour and little scent.
How is it different from unrefined shea?
Refined shea is paler with little aroma. Unrefined shea keeps its natural off-white colour and mild smoky smell.
How much do I use?
About 3-5% in lotions and creams, 5-100% in balms, 3-6% in bar soaps and 2-5% in hair conditioners.
Does it melt on the skin?
It melts at about 34-44 °C, close to skin temperature.
Can I use it in lip balm?
Yes. Blend with wax and oil for the firmness you want.
Can it go grainy?
Yes, if it cools slowly after melting. Melt it fully, then cool it quickly while stirring.
Is it for internal use?
No. We sell it as a cosmetic raw material for external use only.
Sizes & Price
| Pack | Price | Price per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| 100 g | $6.60 | $6.60 |
| 200 g | $9.00 | $4.50 |
| 500 g | $17.05 | $3.41 |
| 1 kg | $26.40 | $2.64 |
| 2 kg | $45.10 | $2.25 |
Pairs Well With
Pair with sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil or avocado oil, and add vitamin E oil. Blend with cocoa butter or mango butter. Use with beeswax in balms, and compare unrefined shea butter. Browse our butters and waxes. |
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Product Documents
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