Do you use shea butter in your beauty routine? Did you know that there is a way to tell if the shea butter that you are using is real or not?
In this blog post, we will discuss how to identify raw shea butter and how to tell if it’s original.
Shea butter is a great beauty product because it has many benefits. You can use it to moisturize, soothe skin, and treat certain skin conditions such as eczema.
Unfortunately, some sellers out there may try to sell you fake shea butter products. This can be dangerous to your health, especially if you use the shea butter product for medical purposes.
So how can you tell if the shea butter you are using is real? There are several ways that you can do this. Let’s have a look at different ways on how to tell if shea butter is real?
How to Tell if Your Shea Butter is Real
Many people may not realize this, but there is a big difference between real and fake shea butter looks.
With so many brands of shea butter out there, how do you tell if your Shea butter product is? It can be challenging to determine if the shea butter you are buying is authentic or not!
Here are some tips on how to tell if your shea butter is real:
1) Check The Color:
One way to tell if the shea butter is genuine or not is by checking the color.
Genuine shea butter usually has a light yellow or ivory color, while fake shea butter can be a range of colors such as green, black, and red.
So if you are buying shea butter from a store, take a quick look at the color to see if it matches what you are expecting.
If the shea butter has a different color than what you are expecting, it is likely that it is not the real thing.
However, It is important to note that some color variations can occur due to how the butter was processed or its geographical location.
So if the shea butter you are looking at has a slightly different color, but all other signs seem to be pointing that it is the real thing, then it is likely okay to purchase.
2) Look at The Ingredient List:
You can also tell if your shea butter is real or fake by checking out the ingredient list. Real shea butter is usually made up of one or two ingredients. These are raw shea nuts and/or pure, unrefined African Shea Butter.
A quick way to check this out is by reading how many grams of fat per serving from a certain brand of shea butter.
If the number is significantly lower than you would expect, it’s likely that the shea butter has been diluted with other oils.
So if you are looking to buy real shea butter, always check the ingredient list to see that raw shea nuts and/or pure African Shea Butter are listed as one of the ingredients.
If they’re not, it’s probably best to avoid purchasing that product.
Read: Can you add water to whipped shea butter?
3) Check The Texture and Consistency of the Shea Butter:
Another way to tell if the shea butter is real or fake is by checking how it feels. Genuine raw organic African Shea Butter has a very smooth and creamy texture, while some imitation butter may be gritty in texture.
Simply take a little bit of it and rub it between your fingers. If it feels gritty or grainy, it’s likely that it is not real.
So when you are buying your product of pure unrefined African Shea Butter, take time to see how it feels on your hands.
If the shea butter feels grainy, avoid purchasing this kind of product because there is a high chance that it isn’t 100% authentic African Shea Butter.
4) The Smell Differs:
Another way to tell if the shea butter is real or fake is how it smells. Pure organic African Shea Butter has a distinctive natural nutty smell, while imitation butter may have a chemical-like odor.
However, please note that this can be tricky because some shea butter brands add other fragrances to cover up any possible unpleasant odors from their product.
But you should still try your best to check out how it smells when buying pure unrefined African Shea Butter, at least for peace of mind and satisfaction purposes.
So before purchasing any shea butter, take time to see how it distinctively smells like on your hands. Genuine raw African Shea Butter usually doesn’t have an overwhelming scent.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Genuine Shea Butter
What Color is Unrefined Shea Butter?
Unrefined Shea Butter is generally a light yellow or ivory color. However, some color variations can occur due to how the butter was processed or its geographical location.
Where is Shea Butter From?
Shea butter is native to Africa and has been used by women in the region for centuries to protect their skin and hair from the harsh sun and wind. Today, it’s becoming increasingly popular worldwide because of its fantastic health benefits.
How Long Does it Take for Shea Butter to Expire?
It takes several months for Shea Butter to expire, but it will naturally spoil after a few years. Fresh raw organic shea nuts have a shelf life of about one year, while refined and unrefined African Shea Butter lasts longer because the end products are usually packed in airtight containers.
What Does Pure Unrefined African Shea Butter Mean?
Pure unrefined African Shea Butter is Shea butter that has not been refined or processed. It’s made from raw Shea nuts, which are harvested in West Africa and then ground into a paste before being boiled to extract the fatty oils out of it.
So now that you know how to tell if the shea butter is real or not, be sure to keep these tips in mind when purchasing your next jar.
It’s always important to read the ingredient list and check out how the product feels to make an informed decision.
And don’t forget to smell it too! If it smells like chemicals, then it’s likely a fake. But if it has a natural nutty scent, then you can be sure that you’re getting the real deal.