I spent some time searching on the internet about high quality shea butter moisturizers extraction process and it was quite hard to find anything decent.
So I will try to help you on this one providing as much information as possible, so you can make an informed choice.
Shea butter is the main component of these beauty related products, it is an extract of natural fat, made of shea trees originated in Africa.
In this article I will focus on shea butter extraction process.
Naturally it has ivory or even slightly yellowish color, that's why shea butter moisturizers usually have that color.
It is also edible and often is used like a substitute for cocoa butter, or as spice for some dishes.
There are few commonly used was of getting the shea butter extract for moisturizers.
First one is traditional and here how it is done.
African natives make following steps to extract shea butter from the shea tree: Differentiating/breaking up: First of all the outer cover of the fruit is being removed.
Then the nut that was covered with pulp gets dried, after which the carapace it has should be dispatched.
This is done by Women Elders like a traditional social activity.
Jamming: The next step is smashing the shea nuts with mortar and pounder into small pieces, so they can be roasted.
This is a tough work that takes hours to be done.
It is also done by Women Elders.
Roasting: Now the mashed shea nuts have to be roasted.
It is done in cauldrons on an open fire.
The contents of the cauldron have to be interfused all the time so the nuts won't burn.
At this step the light smoke-filled smell adds to the original shea butter.
Abrasion: Now as the nuts are crushed and roasted they are getting milled and some water is added so it turns into a smooth paste, which is then stirred by hand.
This part is usually done by young girls of the tribe with elders supervising the process.
Separating the oils: Now the paste made during the previous grinding step is put into large bowls.
Then water is added to the bowls, so the butter oil can separate and float to the top.
The oils are in a curd state, so they can be taken by hand from the top of the bowl.
The water is being extruded of curd oils and they are liquefied in huge pots on a slow open fire.
This process boils all the water out of the oils.
Collecting and shaping: After boiling off all the water the shea butter is finally extracted.
It has a golden yellow color, sometimes creamy.
While the shea butter is still hot it is dipped out of the pot and placed in a cool place so it becomes solid.
The second way is modern and is made in only few steps, with the use of some automatic nut sheller and special chemicals like hexane to extract the refined butter.
After the extraction a plenty of other, usually natural, ingredients are being added, which make every specific product fit certain needs.