So Purely Shea sent me a full-sized sample of its organic shea butter. Apparently, this stuff does everything from act as an antioxidant to combat wrinkles to help heal sunburns.
But as a gal who has no major skin woes at the moment, I have to say I don’t like the smell of shea butter. “It smells like a hospital,” said my roommate’s friend who was crashing at our place last week.
That said, I’d never tried shea butter before — Maybe it’s something I should get used to. And if you’ve got skin troubles of any sort, it sounds like shea butter might help — a lil hospital-esque smell might be worth it, considering that organic shea butter’s an organic, natural product, vs. the animal tested, synthetic stuff L’Oreal and the like have to offer…
Purely Shea says it’s fairly traded, and that it’s applying for membership in the Fair Trade Foundation. Its products are in a few retail outlets; it plans to expand to co-ops and natural food chains soon.
For now, I’ve been poking my elbows directly into the shea butter stuff whenever I think they’re lookin’ a bit dry –
Update, 12/27/06: Another good shea butter option’s Alaffia, which offers fairly traded, unrefined shea butter that’s paraben and petroleum free. Alaffia’s a member of fair trade federation; the co-op members Alaffia works with get fair and steady incomes, and receive a larger portion of the final price.
August 1st, 2006 at 8:23 am
FYI, for more fairly traded beauty products, you can go to http://www.anti-body.com
They have amazing lotions, lip balm, soaps and more. (Definitely none of this hospital-smelling stuff) Also, they have a very strict commitment to fair trade for all of their products. (Their products are also available at Ten Thousand Villages, Pasadena)
Enjoy!
August 1st, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Thanks for the tip! My friend Summer sells some organic, ethically US-made body scrubs at BTC Elements, for others who’re interested :) I think that this organic shea butter is best marketed to those who already use shea butter for specific reasons, but want an organic, fair trade option –
August 2nd, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Shea butter is not only a remarkable moisturizer, it also has natural sunscreen properties. It’s best for older skin, though.
August 2nd, 2006 at 12:11 pm
I wonder if it’ll keep for a decade or so till I’m ready for it?
August 3rd, 2006 at 12:23 pm
Give it to your Mom? Or winter? (Here it gets super dry.)Or use it for the under-eye area.
August 4th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
I’ll try giving it to my mama — We’ll see how she feels about the smell :)