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 rich texture. 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 plus fatty acids such as oleic, stearic, and linoleic acid. It helps dry or rough-feeling areas feel softer and more conditioned over time. For best results, apply a thin layer to clean skin. Consistency matters more than quantity.

For a new tattoo, follow your tattoo artist's aftercare instructions first. Once your skin is ready for a simple moisturizer, raw shea butter can be used sparingly to keep the area feeling soft and hydrated. It is free of added fragrance, dyes, and preservatives. Apply a thin layer — a little goes a long way.

Shea butter can be used as a rich moisturizer after time outdoors, but it is not sunscreen and should not be used as sun protection. Apply to clean, comfortable skin as part of your normal moisturizing routine.

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.

Raw shea butter is a simple, fragrance-free moisturizer that many people with dry or sensitive skin prefer. Because it is a single-ingredient product with no added preservatives, dyes, or synthetic fragrance, it is easy to patch test before wider use.

Raw (unrefined) shea butter is cold-pressed and filtered — nothing added, nothing removed. It retains its natural vitamins A, E, F, fatty acids, and unsaponifiables. 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 has a lighter scent and feel. If your shea butter is perfectly white and scentless, it's likely refined. Nimba sells only raw, unrefined shea butter because we prefer its natural texture, aroma, and full ingredient profile.

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.