This is an article I posted on squidoo that I’m  putting here. Check it out. There is a difference.

All Sheabutter is not equal

Better read the packaging !

Just over the past few years shea butter has just flooded the store shelves across the USA. Every company is chomping at the bit to add this new “flavor” to their product lines. Of course we now this “flavor” has been around for centuries. If you look closely you’ll see sheabutter but in everything. Lotion,diaper wipes,body wash,foot cream. You name it I’ve seen it ! And most of them have very fancy packaging to get you to buy.

With so many products out there with shea butter in it you have to know the quality will suffer. And when I say quality I’m talking about the type of shea butter these companies use. To keep it simple I will give you two types of sheabutter.
Unrefined/Raw- This is the best quality. It still retains its healing and moisturizing properties. It’s color ranges from a creamy whipped butter look to grayish yellow.

Highly Refined/Refined- This is sheabutter that has been refined to remove the smell and it’s color.This is usually done with hexane or other petroleum products.And the use of harsh chemicals, such as sodium hydroxide. Antioxidants or preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) or BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) may be added as well. It goes without saying that you are left with a odorless and white shea butter product. The yield and shelf life of the shea butter is increased. But you lose much of the healing and moisturizing properties.

These major companies are most definitely not using raw shea butter in all their products. The cost would be enormous. And if you read the packaging you’ll see the ingredients. In your quest go for raw unrefined shea butter. Don’t be fooled by the pretty packaging or the pure white and smoothness. And also if you can buy fair trade sheabutter. That way you ensure the producers are getting fair compensation for the work involved in getting a shea butter nut to the form you see.

Be sure to check out and subscribe to the Shea Butter Spot squidoo lens.  http://www.squidoo.com/sheabutterspot