Our East African Shea Butter Vitelliaria nilotica is cold pressed, unrefined and ORGANIC! It's unique fatty acid composition makes it a suitable emollient for many skin-care applications, such as baby-care products, massage creams, make-up, and similar products.
Suggested use at 5-10% in the oil phase although we use this at 100% all the time.
This Butter is Fair Trade
Our Shea Nilotica is purchased from an organization who supports and affirms Fair Trade, but the organization does not belong to the Fair Trade Federation because doing so would reduce significantly the funds they can pass directly to the women's cooperative with whom they work in Uganda. The nuts are sourced from organically grown trees and harvested by the 1600 member women's cooperative who are paid fair trade prices 25 - 50% above the rates women earn in the local markets. The shea butter nuts are cold-pressed without any chemicals, and the butter is filtered and packaged into sterile containers for shipment to us. We repackage it in our warehouse without further processing.
Our Organic Nilotica Shea Butter (Vitellaria nilotica), is a highly nourishing ingredient that is remarkably effective in healing dry and cracked skin, eczema, psoriasis and sun damaged skin. Its high content of non-saponifiables and unique fatty acid profile gives it the ability to replenish lipds and retain the elasticity of the skin. Organic Nilotica Shea Butter helps combat the signs of aging and can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It moisturizes the lips and repairs brittle, damaged hair. Organic Nilotica Shea Butter may also help to protect the skin against the damaging effects of the sun while repairing cellular degeneration.
Organic Nilotica Shea Butter is a noteworthy anti-inflammatory and is a beneficial ingredient in formulations intended to reduce swelling and ease muscular aches and pains. Organic Nilotica Shea Butter (Vitellaria nilotica) is produced in Northern Uganda. It is far superior in texture, nutritive value and aroma than shea butter produced in West Africa. Nilotica Shea offers a significantly higher content of olein, a glyceride of oleic acid. Organic Nilotica Shea Butter is softer and creamier than West African Shea Butter, and it is more readily absorbed into the skin and hair. This butter also possesses a lighter, more pleasant aroma than West African Shea Butter.
Our Organic Nilotica Shea Butter (Vitellaria nilotica) is 100% natural and certified NOP organic. It is produced in a manner that uses newly developed technology to carefully process the butter without the use of chemicals. We ensure that our procurement methods do not harm the environment or the valuable shea trees. Important Notes: Because Nilotica Shea Butter is a soft butter, it is more sensitive to temperature changes during transit. It may melt and re-harden. If it re-hardens, you may notice an inconsistent or gritty texture. Simply remelt and cool the butter as explained below: Like West African Shea Butter, Nilotica Shea Butter can crystallize and seem grainy if it is not properly melted and then quickly cooled. To melt shea butter, heat it at 175° F for 20 minutes using a double boiler. Then, pour it into your desired packaging and allow it to cool in the refrigerator. It may not solidify properly if allowed to cool at room temperature.
Shelf Life and Storage Information for Our Products and Ingredients
Finished Products - generally don't need to be refrigerated as they are preserved, but you can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. The shelf life for most products is 9-12 months. Vitamin C Serum(s) and VitaResurface products should continually be refrigerated to extend their shelf life. Sample Sizes - do have a shorter shelf life (generally 3-6 months), and items in jars can dry up quicker than this if the lid is not tightened well enough (Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).
Please Keep Your Products Out of Humidity, Heat, Direct Light and in a Dark Cabinet When Possible
Exfoliating Acid - products have a shelf life of 9-12 months. The only things we don't suggest refrigerating are the Mandelic Acid Serums or Salicylic Acid Serums, as they can crystallize in the refrigerator. If this happens, you can set the product into a hot water bath to see if the crystals will dissolve.
Additional Items That Require Refrigeration and/or Kept in the Dark
Hydrosols and Distillates - remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add it to a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take the oil out, warm it up at room temperature, and it should liquefy. If not, set the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shake the bottle, which will hopefully turn into a liquid. Some oils, like coconut cream and jojoba oil, have a super long shelf life.
Refrigeration of The Following Ingredients is Not Necessary, But it Won't hurt
Essential Oils - essential oils are best stored in a cool, dark place. Co2 Extracts - these should continually be refrigerated. Butters - we suggest refrigerating our "skincare" butters. You can remove what you need and keep the rest in the fridge. Clays - keep in a dry, dark place. Shelf life is at least 2 years. Herbs All herbs <i>(whole or ground)</i> should be kept in a dark, cool, and dry location. Herbal (liquid) Extracts are created using grain alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herb, root, trunk, leaf, and flower. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be stored in the refrigerator or a dark, dry place. Other Raw Ingredients - such as Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc., will all have different shelf lives.
I wanted to find an alternative to lotion for my hands, and this shea butter is amazing! I never bought any type of shea butter/oil before, so when I first put this one on, I couldn’t believe how smooth and creamy it felt. It absorbs within seconds! I’ve tried a few oils for my hands before and most of them just felt a bit too greasy, but this shea butter is nothing like that at all. I kind of regret buying a sample size - I have a feeling it’ll be gone very soon! Can’t wait to get a bigger jar of this stuff :)
Mary,
Beautifully written! This butter is so soft, supple and as you mentioned
it absorbs like you wouldn't expect a butter to do.
Wait until you try the East Shea oil we offer. ;-)
Thank you for the wonderful review.
Markey
s
samantha
the best for dry/chapped skin
This stuff saves my skin during the winter! I put it on my hands before bed and on my lips/nose as needed. Highly recommend if you have dry skin!
We really appreciate you taking the time to do this review! This is a customer fave!
L
Linda
Wonderful shea butter
I am really loving this east shea butter. It's incredibly smooth and moisturizing. There is no graininess at all. I love using this as a body moisturizer or any spots like the elbows/feet that need a little loving
This is a staff fave too! Markey and Jen especially like it :) Thank you!!
F
Florence M Anderson
Soft and Smooth
The East Africa Shea Butter is so soft and creamy . . . such a nice texture. It isn't grainy like the West Africa Shea that I've encountered. It's a do-it-all butter that absorbs well enough but does leave a textural film on the skin surface if you are generous with the amount you use.
This is one of my (Jen's) favorite butters to suggest! So glad you are loving it :) Thank you!
I love this ReNew Cream!
It has been my favorite go to for years. It is one of the few products that doesn't irritate my skin. It hydrates and makes my skin feel so much better. I can't wait for it to be in stock again!
Thank you to all of the amazing people at GOW!
Elayne
Thank you for your kind words about our ReNew Cream with Renovage! We are thrilled to hear that it has been your favorite for years and that it doesn't irritate your skin. We take great care in creating products that are gentle yet effective. We apologize for the inconvenience of being out of stock. We are working hard to restock it as soon as possible.
Thank you for your continued support and loyalty to GOW. ༄˖°..ೃ࿔*:・
I adore a good lavender scented product! A natural botanical even more! I use this spritzer as a bottom layer to smooth and evenly distribute some of my other outstanding GOW products. It’s a great starter and makes me smile in the mornings.
Anne °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・
Thank you for sharing your experience with our Lavender Blossom Hydrosol! We are thrilled to hear that you love the scent and find it to be an excellent base for your skincare routine. It's always a pleasure to know that our products bring a smile to our customers' faces. We appreciate your support and hope you continue to enjoy our natural skincare products.
All Our Best,
Markey ྀི
I bought the Argan Oil Organic to use on my scalp, but , unfortunately, I didn't get the results that I was looking for.....I wanted a moisturizing effect, but, my hair was very dry.....I still very excited about discovering your website and I plan to try your other products....Thank you!
Patricia
We are sorry to hear that you did not achieve the desired results with our Organic Argan Oil on your scalp. We take great pride in the quality and effectiveness of our products, so we understand your disappointment. Please know that we always strive to provide the best possible experience for our customers.
We would love to help you find a solution that works for your hair and scalp. Our customer service team is available to assist with any questions or concerns you may have, and we would be happy to recommend alternative products that may better suit your needs.
Thank you for giving us a try and for your kind words about our website. We genuinely appreciate your support and hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.
Kindest regards,
Markey (owner) of Garden of Wisdom 😊
Every single product is top tier with clean ingredients! Definitely my favorite skincare company right now!
Hi Nicole!
⋆.˚✮ ✮˚.⋆ for your honest and kind review.
It's so cool to hear when customers are happy and return to us.
We greatly appreciate you.
Your GoW Crew ྀིྀིྀི
This is a great product. My hair is 3 feet long and was recently destroyed when negligent doctors soaked my hair in saline solution for 4 long hours during my surgery which caused all my hair to break off. I'm devastated. I've been using this product because the ingredients are so good particularly the pea sprout peptide. I believe it's helping with the damage my hair sustainedy
Gaylen
Thank you for taking the time to share your positive experience with our Follicle Stimulator Serum. We are sorry to hear about the damage your hair sustained during your surgery, and we understand how devastating that must be. Side note: I lost a lot of hair in the hospital last year, and this really helped to bring my confidence back. (Markey)
We are so, so, so happy to hear that our product, especially the pea sprout peptide, has been helping with your hair's recovery. Our team is committed to using high-quality ingredients to provide the best results for our customers.
We hope to continue being a part of your hair care journey, and we are always here to assist you in any way we can.
Thank you for choosing our product. We really appreciate your business!
Your GOW Team . ♡♡♡
I love this ReNew Cream!
It has been my favorite go to for years. It is one of the few products that doesn't irritate my skin. It hydrates and makes my skin feel so much better. I can't wait for it to be in stock again!
Thank you to all of the amazing people at GOW!
ReNew Cream with Renovage
Anne G.
Lavender Spritz
I adore a good lavender scented product! A natural botanical even more! I use this spritzer as a bottom layer to smooth and evenly distribute some of my other outstanding GOW products. It’s a great starter and makes me smile in the mornings.
Lavender Blossom Hydrosol Organic
Nicole Kruszka
Love everything!
Every single product is top tier with clean ingredients! Definitely my favorite skincare company right now!
Pea and Pearl Protein Hair Conditioner
Anonymous
This is a great product
This is a great product. My hair is 3 feet long and was recently destroyed when negligent doctors soaked my hair in saline solution for 4 long hours during my surgery which caused all my hair to break off. I'm devastated. I've been using this product because the ingredients are so good particularly the pea sprout peptide. I believe it's helping with the damage my hair sustainedy
Follicle Stimulator Serum - Peptides for Your Hair
Anne G.
Gratitude to Garden of Wisdom!
The dedicated team at GOW have collaborated with me to develop a skin care routine that works to include a custom blended facial cleanser and moisture products for mature skin. I use the Rosacea Serum along with the Renew and Defend Elixir and Rose Stem Cell Peptide daily. I no longer use prescription creams to manage my rosacea! Their responsiveness to my many questions and attentive care to orders proves the integrity of this small family run business. These people put their heart into sourcing natural ingredients and creating formulas that are gentle and effective. I feel great about supporting this business !
Rosacea Serum
Vera Sallek
Spray on the go! 😍
Thought to try this for the first time and I don’t regret it. It feels hydrating and refreshing. The spray works great for reapplication.
What a Gem Antioxidant Mist
Vera Sallek
The Garden of Wisdom AHA + Kojic Acid Serum has been a true staple in my skincare routine
The Garden of Wisdom AHA + Kojic Acid Serum has been a true staple in my skincare routine. I only realized how effective it was when I couldn’t find it for a while—during that time, my skin really struggled. I even tried another serum with a similar formula, but it just didn’t deliver the same results. Now that I’ve found this serum again, I’m beyond happy! My skin is already showing great improvement. It keeps my acne under control and tackles my stubborn post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) better than anything else I’ve tried. This product is definitely a keeper!
Alpha Arbutin 2% and Kojic Acid 1% Serum - Corrective Serum for Stubborn Pigmentation and Uneven Skin Tone
diane eldridge
Does a wonderful job of hydrating and no stinging !
I have found this product to do a wonderful job of hydrating the skin as well as getting the benefits of the vitamin c with no stinging!
C³ Lipid Elixir
diane eldridge
Smells wonderful!
I love the smell of the mist and it does a wonderful job of cleaning any residue left. Will buy again!
Neroli Orange Blossom Hydrosol Organic
Teresa J
Wonderful product
This is another favorite! Didn't think product was doing much until my husband mentioned that my face looked smoother and more even. He also has started using it now and has gotten many compliments. Doesn't burn or sting like ascorbic acid. I use 3-4 times a week at night only and love that it contains squalane because it gives me a little extra moisture.