Raw African Shea Butter from Guinea

Raw African shea butter is the unrefined butter pressed from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), which grows wild across West Africa's savanna belt. Unlike refined shea butter — which is bleached, deodorized, and stripped of nutrients — raw African shea butter retains its natural vitamins A, E, and F, fatty acids, and healing compounds like cinnamic acid esters. Nimba's raw African shea butter is single-origin from Guinea, where shea nuts contain ~75% oil content, the highest in West Africa. It's Grade A, hand-pressed by women's cooperatives, and QR-traceable from tree to pouch.

Yes. Raw, unrefined shea butter contains vitamins A and E, which support skin cell turnover and repair. The fatty acids (oleic, stearic, linoleic) deeply moisturize scar tissue, helping it soften and blend with surrounding skin over time. For best results, apply a thin layer to clean skin twice daily. Consistency matters more than quantity — most customers see visible improvement within 4–6 weeks of regular use.

Yes — but timing matters. During the initial healing phase (first 2–3 days), follow your tattoo artist's aftercare instructions. Once the tattoo begins to peel and itch, raw shea butter is an excellent moisturizer. It's free of fragrances, dyes, and preservatives that can irritate fresh ink. The natural anti-inflammatory properties (cinnamic acid esters) help reduce redness while keeping the skin hydrated so colors heal vibrant. Apply a thin layer — a little goes a long way.

Shea butter can help soothe sunburned skin, though it should not replace sunscreen. Raw shea butter contains cinnamic acid esters which provide a very mild natural SPF (estimated SPF 3–4) and have anti-inflammatory properties. After sun exposure, shea butter works as a recovery treatment — it deeply moisturizes damaged skin, reduces peeling, and supports the skin barrier as it heals. Apply after the initial burn has cooled (not immediately on hot, inflamed skin).

Store raw shea butter in its sealed pouch or an airtight container, in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Room temperature (65–75°F) is ideal. If your home gets above 80°F, refrigerate it — shea butter melts around 89–100°F. Properly stored, unrefined shea butter lasts 18–24 months. The natural nutty scent may mellow over time, but this doesn't affect performance. Avoid storing near strong-smelling products as shea butter can absorb odors.

Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), which grows wild across West Africa's savanna belt. Nimba's shea butter is sourced from women's cooperatives in Guinea — a region with some of the highest oil-content shea nuts in the world (75% oil content vs. ~50% from other regions). The nuts are hand-collected, sun-dried, roasted, and cold-pressed by the same cooperative women who have processed shea for generations. Every Nimba jar includes a QR code tracing your batch back to its source.

Many eczema sufferers find relief with raw shea butter. It works because unrefined shea butter is rich in lupeol and amyrins — natural anti-inflammatory compounds — plus vitamins A and E that support skin barrier repair. A Global Shea Alliance study found 84% improvement in epidermis condition within 6 days of regular application. Because raw shea butter is a single ingredient with no fragrances, preservatives, or synthetic chemicals, it avoids the irritants that trigger many eczema flares. Start with a small test area if you have sensitive skin.

Raw (unrefined) shea butter is cold-pressed and filtered — nothing added, nothing removed. It retains its natural vitamins A, E, F, fatty acids, and healing compounds like cinnamic acid esters. It has a natural nutty/smoky scent and ivory to yellow color. Refined shea butter has been bleached, deodorized, and chemically processed — it's white, odorless, and stripped of most beneficial compounds. If your shea butter is perfectly white and scentless, it's been refined. Nimba sells only raw, unrefined shea butter because the refining process removes what makes shea butter effective.

Warm a pea-sized amount between your palms until it melts, then press (don't rub) into clean, slightly damp skin. A little goes a long way — raw shea butter is concentrated. For daytime, use sparingly as a last step after moisturizer to lock in hydration. For overnight repair, apply a slightly thicker layer as a sleeping mask. Raw shea butter is naturally non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores for most skin types. If you have very oily or acne-prone skin, patch test on your jawline for a week first.