Ingredient Deep Dive, Part 3: Why We Use Shea Butter

TL;DR: Shea butter is our comfort blanket. It supports a soft, conditioned feel after rinsing and adds creamy density to the lather. We use it at roughly fifteen percent to keep bars cushy without getting too soft.

What shea butter brings to your skin

• Cushion and comfort: Natural unsaponifiables help skin feel flexible after washing.

• Creamy lather: Think lotion-like slip that pairs with coconut’s bubbles.

• Kind to dry days: A smart pick for fall and winter skin.

What shea butter does inside the recipe

• Conditioning boost: Rounds out the cleanse so skin feels cared for.

• Bar integrity: Improves feel without sacrificing longevity when used in balance.

• Label-speak: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter. After saponification it may appear as Sodium Shea Butterate.

Why not 100% shea butter

All-butter bars can be soft and low-lather. At high levels they can feel waxy and slow to cure. We keep shea in a supportive role so the bar stays balanced.

Where shea butter fits in a daily routine

• Daily body bar: Especially welcome for dry, mature, or seasonally parched skin.

• Face friendly for many: Gentle enough for many faces, though everyone’s skin is personal.

Quick facts

• Skin feel: conditioned and comfortable

• Lather style: dense, creamy, small bubbles

• Best for: dry, mature, sensitive

• Plays well with: olive oil for mildness, castor oil for lather stability

Honest sourcing note

We choose reliable refined shea for a neutral scent and consistent performance. If we move to unrefined for a drop, we will note it.

FAQs

Does shea make the bar softer?

A little, which is why we balance it with coconut and a proper cure time.

Will shea clog pores?

In rinse-off soap, the fats are turned into soap and rinse away. Most people do fine with shea in a balanced formula.