Refined Shea Butter is a versatile vegetable butter valued for its rich emollient properties and ability to soften and condition the skin. The refining process produces a lighter-coloured butter with a mild, neutral aroma, making it particularly suitable for formulations where fragrance, colour, and consistency are important.
The following are general guidelines. Actual usage rates may vary depending on your specific formula and desired consistency. We recommend preparing small test batches to evaluate the texture, stability, and performance of your finished product.
- Lotions & Creams: 2–10%
Adds richness and emolliency while helping soften and smooth the skin. Its mild aroma and light colour make it particularly suitable for fragranced lotions, facial creams, and body moisturizers without significantly affecting the finished product's scent or appearance. - Body Butters: 10–30%
Provides a rich, creamy texture while helping soften the skin and reduce moisture loss. Refined Shea Butter blends well with liquid oils and other vegetable butters to create smooth, spreadable body butters. Higher concentrations produce richer, more substantial formulations. - Lip Balms & Lipsticks: 5–20%
Helps soften and condition the lips while contributing a creamy texture and comfortable glide. Its neutral aroma makes it particularly suitable for flavoured lip balms and lip products where a strong natural butter scent is undesirable. - Lotion Bars & Solid Balms: 10–30%
Adds emolliency and a smooth, creamy application to solid skincare products. Works well alongside beeswax, candelilla wax, and firmer vegetable butters to provide the desired structure while maintaining a comfortable skin feel. - Cold Process Soap: 5–15% of Total Oils
Contributes to a firm, long-lasting bar with a stable, creamy lather. Shea Butter contains stearic and oleic fatty acids, which contribute to bar hardness and conditioning properties. Higher concentrations may accelerate thickening and should be balanced with other oils to achieve the desired soap characteristics. - Whipped Body Butters: 10–40%
Particularly well suited for whipped body butter formulations due to its rich, creamy consistency. Can be combined with lightweight liquid oils to create a softer, more spreadable texture. Its neutral aroma allows fragrances and essential oils to remain prominent in the finished product. - Hair Conditioners & Masks: 2–10%
Helps soften and smooth the hair while improving manageability and reducing the appearance of frizz. Particularly suitable for richer conditioning treatments and hair masks designed for dry, coarse, or textured hair. Lower concentrations are recommended for fine hair or lightweight leave-in products.
Formulating Tips
Refined Shea Butter can be gently melted and incorporated into the oil phase of emulsified products or combined with other oils, waxes, and butters for anhydrous formulations.
Its mild aroma and light colour make it an excellent choice for products where a consistent appearance or specific fragrance profile is desired.
Shea Butter may develop a grainy or uneven texture if it melts and cools slowly. To help maintain a smooth consistency, gently melt the butter completely, mix thoroughly, and cool the finished formulation promptly and evenly. Avoid prolonged exposure to excessive heat.
Shea Butter may be used at concentrations outside the suggested ranges depending on the application, including up to 100% in suitable anhydrous products.
