Shea perfection
What do customers really want out of their beauty formulations?
Over and above luxurious packaging or the latest trending ingredients, we know that consumers desire products that have been proven to work time after time. Over the years, a select few natural ingredients have gained a long-lasting reputation for their myriad of benefits. Leading the line-up of stellar ingredients is shea butter: the star component of many of Hera Beauty’s private label blends.
Few beauty ingredients have stood the test of time as well as shea butter. But what exactly is it? Shea butter is a natural fat extracted from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), which is native to the savannah regions of Africa. This staple ingredient has been used to nourish, hydrate and protect skin and hair for centuries now.
Shea butter is rich in fatty acids and vitamins, which provide it with unique moisturising and protective properties. A multipurpose ingredient, it can be used in numerous ways - including everything from soothing dry skin to taming flyaway hair. For soft and glowing skin, it makes a great all-over moisturiser. Cracked lips are no match for shea butter’s healing powers. Or why not incorporate it as a deep-conditioning hair mask?
The possibilities are endless. Let’s find out more about why shea butter is a star ingredient in our beauty formulations…
Benefits of shea butter
Put simply, shea butter has intense hydration capabilities. It locks in moisture to make skin softer and more elastic, without being greasy or blocking pores. Rich in vitamins A and E, along with fatty acids like oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids, shea butter deeply penetrates the skin. It’s great for revitalising dry skin; leaving it soft and silky smooth.
Shea butter is also renowned for its anti-ageing properties. It’s packed with antioxidants like vitamin E, which fight off the free radicals that contribute to premature ageing. Used as a regular part of beauty regimes, it is reputed to boost collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This star ingredient is also known for providing soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits, making it ideal for reducing redness and irritation from sensitive or dry skin. Traditionally, shea butter has also been used to promote the healing of minor cuts and for reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars.
What makes shea butter such a great natural ingredient is that it isn’t just for skin; its nourishing properties can also help smooth frizzy and damaged hair while adding a healthy shine. It’s the perfect boost for curly or textured hair types.
Sourcing sustainable supply chains
Once you decide to use shea butter as a key ingredient in your beauty products, how do you ensure it comes from a sustainable supply chain?
Shea nuts are primarily collected by women across West Africa. It has sometimes been called ‘women’s gold’, due to shea butter’s rich golden colour in its raw format, and also because it provides an income for women. But it can be hard and dangerous work, with many potential hazards during the collecting process.
Rest assured, Hera Beauty sources its shea butter from sustainable supply chains, ensuring these women work in safer ways, and get a fair price for their work. Hera Beauty’s supplier says: “Our shea range is produced solely by a dedicated women’s co-operative in Ghana, who gather, hand-craft and process the shea nuts to produce these beautiful butters.”
They continue, “As a company dedicated to giving back to communities across the globe, this process gives 15,000 jobs to women in rural locations, empowering them to earn an income and feel valued. The co-operatives we work with throughout Ghana also aim to contribute to the sustainability of our planet’s ecosystem, which is absolutely in line with our own commitment to sustainability and the environment.”
Harnessing the power of shea butter
Now we’ve explained the amazing benefits of shea butter, take a look at just some of our private label formulations (containing this star ingredient) to see how it’s used:
Soothe rough, dry or chapped skin with our shea-rich formula, which quickly penetrates without clogging pores.
Our luxurious cleansing butter is enriched with shea, avocado, and mango butters. It leaves the skin feeling smooth, cleansed and hydrated.
The combination of shea butter and natural oils ensures dry feet and cracked heels receive an intense moisturising treatment.
This rich body butter is designed to protect and nourish delicate skin. Contains natural oatmeal and shea butter. Suitable for use from 6 months.
A versatile and 100% natural and vegan-friendly formulation, this balm contains shea and mango butter combined with rich emollient oils.
Containing shea and mango butter, apply this balm to face, hands or body for a nourishing result.
This rich and silky foot butter treats and nourishes the feet. Great for an intense treatment or daily use.
Infused with shea butter, this scrub transforms into a lavish balm upon application, cocooning your skin in a layer of hydration and softness.
Crafted with a rich blend of macadamia oil, shea butter, and a calming bouquet of essential oils, this mask is your ticket to a peaceful night's sleep.
The addition of shea butter and coconut oil makes this mask intensely moisturising. It will leave your skin feeling refreshed and energised.
A perfect solution for calming and soothing problematic and dry areas, this mask will leave your skin looking refreshed.
This natural body custard is like pure silk for the skin. Ingredients olive oil and shea butter provide moisturising and nutritional properties.
Shea butter is more than just a beauty ingredient: it’s a versatile and timeless natural remedy that offers countless benefits for healthy and glowing skin. Take a look at our full product range to see our UK-manufactured private label beauty products. Alternatively, get in touch to discuss any bespoke formulations you have in mind. Our in-house product development team can quickly bring your concept to market.