East African Shea Butter (Vitellaria nilotica) is an excellent moisturizer that absorbs quickly into the skin and is non- comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores). It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic and skin healing properties, and nourishes skin and hair with Vitamins A, E and F. This is a raw, natural, USDA certified organic product that has not been refined with chemical solvents.
There are two main varieties of shea nut, West African shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) and East African shea (Vitellaria nilotica). The majority of shea butters on the market are harvested from the paradoxa species found on the dry savannah belt of West and Central Africa.
The rarer, nilotica species of East African shea is found only in the savannahs of Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan. Nilotica has a milder scent, a lower melting point (77 – 86 degrees F) and has a higher percentage (50 – 60% for nilotica vs. 30 – 45% for paradoxa) of the skin penetration enhancer, oleic acid. Practically, this means that nilotica is more easily incorporated into cosmetic formulations without further processing, has a softer, smoother quality at room temperature, melts when applied to the body and is more readily absorbed by skin and hair.
English