At Honam Naturals, we believe your skin deserves nothing but the purest, most nutrient rich care nature has to offer. That’s why we proudly and exclusively use white, unrefined, and unfiltered shea butter in all of our handcrafted products.
But what does that really mean and how is it different from yellow shea butter? Let’s dive into the truth behind these two commonly confused types of shea butter, how they’re processed, and what that means for your skin.
What Is Shea Butter and Why Is It So Loved?
Shea butter is a natural fat extracted from the nuts of the Vitellaria paradoxa tree, native to West Africa. For generations, it has been cherished for its healing, moisturizing, and protective properties used not just as skincare, but also in cooking and traditional medicine.
At Honam Naturals, our shea butter is ethically sourced from women’s cooperatives in Tamale, Northern Ghana, and processed by hand to preserve its traditional value and unmatched potency.
White Shea Butter: Raw, Unrefined & Unfiltered
White shea butter the kind we use exclusively is the purest form of shea butter you can find. It is
- Unrefined: No chemicals, bleaching agents, or heat treatments are used during production.
- Unfiltered: We preserve the butter in its most natural state, including fine particles of the shea nut that add texture and nutritional integrity.
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Raw: Extracted using traditional methods that maintain its full profile of vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids.
Its color can vary slightly from ivory to pale yellow depending on the season and region, but one thing that remains constant is its incredible nutritional value.
White shea butter contains:
- Vitamin A & E to support skin repair and regeneration
- Essential fatty acids that deeply moisturize and soften skin
- Cinnamic acid esters that provide natural anti-inflammatory benefits
This type of shea butter is especially effective for eczema, dry patches, stretch marks, scarring, sunburns, and autoimmune sensitive skin including conditions like lupus and scleroderma.
Yellow Shea Butter: What Makes It Different?
Unlike its raw counterpart, yellow shea butter often goes through additional processing. In many cases, its golden hue comes from:
- The Borututu root, a natural dye added for its anti-inflammatory benefits
- Palm oil or other additives, which alter both color and texture
- Refining processes that remove the butter’s natural scent and color
While yellow shea butter may still offer moisturizing properties, it lacks the full nutritional profile of white shea butter due to the extra handling and heat it often undergoes. The addition of palm oil can dilute the original integrity of the shea, reducing its healing effects on the skin.
Why Honam Naturals Chooses Only White, Unrefined Shea Butter
My personal journey with autoimmune-related skin conditions, including lupus and scleroderma, showed me just how vital pure, organic skincare can be. Through this experience, I have learned that only raw, unrefined, unfiltered white shea butter delivers the consistent, deep nourishment that sensitive and compromised skin truly needs.
This is why we:
- Source directly from Ghanaian women who handcraft butter using traditional, sustainable methods
- Process it ourselves to ensure no refining or fillers are added
- Never compromise purity for color, texture, or shelf appeal
Every jar of Honam Naturals shea butter is rich with heritage, quality, and purpose giving your skin the real benefits of this ancient African treasure.
Which Shea Butter Is Right for You?
If your goal is deep hydration, healing, and protection, then white, raw, unrefined shea butter is hands down the better choice. It's perfect for sensitive skin, natural skincare lovers, and anyone seeking the most potent version of this beloved butter.
Yellow shea butter may have a smoother texture or a vibrant hue, but it simply doesn’t offer the same level of nutrients and skin support.
At Honam Naturals, we keep it real, raw, and rooted in tradition because your skin deserves the best of nature, untouched.