Shea Butter

Where do we get it?

Lush UK purchases this butter from a company in Ghana’s Northern Region. Founded in 2021, they work with a co-operative of over 1,000 women producers. Indeed, in this country, the know-how surrounding the process of extracting shea butter is passed down from woman to woman through the generations.

With seven manufacturing sites across the globe, this information may vary depending on where your Lush products are made.

What are the benefits for people and the planet?

Moisturising and emollient, it softens the skin.
Conditions the hair and skin, making them smooth to touch.
Contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fatty acid that is highly compatible with our body's natural sebum and allows the butter to be more easily absorbed into the skin.

This Ghanaian supplier is all about regeneration. First, they provide their producers with a stable net income that reaches at least the country’s poverty rate. It may not seem like much, but the women producing shea butter are usually paid a quarter of that rate. Second, they set aside a share of their profits for sourcing communities to invest in their future. Top of the list of projects is the development of organic community farming and initiatives to upcycle waste to satisfy energy needs and reduce deforestation.

What are the benefits of shea butter for the skin and hair?

Aside from generating a stable income, shea butter making is also an important social custom in Ghana and solidifies the position of women in the community.