Raw Shea Butter vs Refined Shea Butter

Goldstar shea butter, a family own business pride itself in selling 100% Grade A, unrefined, raw, unadulterated organic shea butter in its natural form. We do not sell refined shea (also called "white shea butter") so you can use our raw shea better as you see fit.

There are some major differences between raw and white shea butter. Goldstar shea butter is happy to supply you with raw shea butter so you have the flexibility to use it as you wish. You can use raw shea butter in its natural form or you can use it to make bodu butter, lotions, soap etc.

Goldstar Raw Shea Butter

Raw Shea Butter is unrefined and beautifully earthy. This is what Goldstar Shea Butter is known for. It's extracted with traditional West African methods, without the addition of chemicals or heat. It has vast amounts of vitamin A, Vitamin E, fatty acids, and other skin foods. The color can vary from an ivory color to a more yellow or green tone color.

Refined Shea Butter

Refined Shea Butter is extracted during a process which uses high levels of heat. Many of the benefits that shea  has to offer are lost when exposed to higher temperatures, like the heat used to refine shea butter. The color is removed during the process, so this type of shea butter is white.

Many people use white shea butter because of its lack of color and fragrance. This shea, however, also lacks many of the bioactive nutrients (like Vitamins A & E) that raw shea butter has. In fact, up to 75% of the bioactive ingredients are lost during the refining process. 75% is a pretty significant loss. It is a very creamy consistency, more like a lotion. White shea is still moisturizing, you just do not receive the same healing and beautifying properties as raw shea.