Shea Butter - One Product Many Different Uses

There’s no doubt that natural African shea butter is one of the finest skincare ingredients available. Not only is it an excellent moisturiser suitable for all skin types, but it is also renowned for its healing properties and the soothing effect it has on irritated or sore skin.

If you want to try skincare products containing shea butter there are plenty on the market – perhaps too many! How can you be sure of choosing just one or two shea butter products that are best suited to your particular needs from all those on offer?

The most important thing is to check what sort of shea butter has been used in the product, and how much. Always look for generous amounts of pure, unrefined shea butter from East Africa, as this is the most beneficial type for skincare. It will have been produced using traditional methods that preserve as much as possible of the shea butter’s natural active ingredients. Refined shea butter, extracted by industrial processes, is more plentiful and cheaper, but of poorer quality.

The next thing to remember is that unrefined shea butter is very versatile. A product in which the shea butter has been blended with other natural plant based ingredients to improve its performance in one aspect of skincare, can often be just as effective when used for a different purpose. Here are a few examples of how this can work:

Acne

Many acne sufferers notice an improvement in their condition when using shea butter. It has natural antiseptic properties to fight bacteria, it moisturises without leaving a greasy feel or clogging pores, and its anti-inflammatory agents calm itchiness. If you are prone to acne reject any shea butter face cream that contains artificial additives that might further irritate your skin. But do look for natural additives such as jojoba oil and rosehip essential oil that have been proven to be helpful in treating acne.

When you find a face cream that works for you it can, of course, be used on the back or chest if these areas are also affected by acne. And you can still use it when your acne clears because shea butter is perfect for maintaining healthy, unblemished skin.

Tired feet

If you stand or walk for much of the day you will know all about tired, aching feet. For blissful relief gently massage with a shea butter foot cream that contains peppermint or spearmint essential oils. The shea butter will moisturise and soften hard skin while the mint cools and refreshes.

If you love the feel and scent of your foot cream you don’t have to confine its use to below the ankle. Try it on rough knees and elbows, or any other part that needs a little TLC.

Dry, coarse hands

The skin on busy hands takes a lot of punishment. Constant exposure to the elements, frequent washing, and contact with all sorts of potentially harmful substances soon take their toll. A shea butter cream carefully formulated to care for hands can work wonders by restoring lost moisture and improving the smoothness and elasticity of the skin. It’s also good for treating dry, brittle nails. And when you see the difference shea butter hand cream makes, using it for the rest of your body is the obvious next step!

If you want all of the many benefits of 100% natural shea butter without buying a whole range of skincare products, save money by buying a few favourites and find out how many different ways you can use them.

How Shea Butter can be used by the Whole Family

Once you’ve discovered the many benefits of shea butter you’ll want to share the good news, and the best place to start is within your own family. Pure, unrefined shea butter is gentle enough to use on the youngest baby, yet powerful enough to soften and smooth the toughest of adult skins. Even people with problem skin that reacts badly to other skincare products will appreciate the soothing and healing properties of shea butter.

For Her

Used on its own, or combined with other natural plant based ingredients, shea butter can be used for all routine skin care: cleansing, moisturising and protecting from head to toe. Its unique composition, which includes fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, keeps all types of skin supple and healthy, without the need for any artificial additives.

Expectant and new mothers can use shea butter to minimize the appearance of stretch marks, and women of all ages will be delighted to notice the anti-ageing properties of pure shea butter.

Shea butter is also the first thing any woman should reach for when she feels in need of a little extra pampering. Tired feet and hardworking hands will quickly regain lost moisture and become beautifully smooth again. For skin that smells as good as it looks and feels choose a shea butter body or hand cream blended with fragrant essential oils.

For Him

The men in your life might not want to try floral scented shea butter creams, but give them natural, unscented shea butter, or some of the shea butter products specially designed for men, and they’ll soon become fans. Shea butter can be used to make shaving more comfortable, to soothe sun or wind burn, and to ease aches and pains when massaged into tired muscles. Its anti-inflammatory properties can also be helpful in the treatment of sore and itchy skin conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis.

For Kids

Unrefined shea butter, which has been carefully produced without the use of chemicals, is safe enough to use on even the delicate skin of newborn babies. And when your little one is running around – and falling over – a dab of pure shea butter is all you need to treat minor grazes, bruises, insect bites and rashes. It sinks quickly into a child’s skin calming any irritation and promoting speedy healing.

Older children can apply pure shea butter themselves wherever there’s dry, itchy or damaged skin. You’re never too young to get into the shea butter habit!

Dig Deeper When Buying Shea Butter

Shea Butter is a wonderful product as I am sure you are aware. Light, easy to apply and with a delightful light scent, people all across the world use it for a variety of reasons – from medical to beauty. However, just because something claims to be Shea Butter doesn’t necessarily mean that it is.

What do I mean? Well Shea Butter in a pot on its own is only half way towards getting a great Shea Butter product. At Tausi I have spent many hours, days and months researching the best way to use Shea Butter and what other natural ingredients to add in order to get the best product. I have gone to great lengths to combine ingredients in such a way that they provide the maximum possible skin care benefits. All Tausi Signature products are 100% natural, free from artificial ingredients and not tested on animals.

Unfortunately not all other Shea Butter products can make this claim. West African Shea Butter is no match to the East African variety that I use – a simple but major difference that separates my company from the rest.

So before you go out and buy any old Shea Butter product, dig a bit deeper and actually look and see what makes up the product you are buying. It could make a big difference.

Shea Butter - Helping a Common Problem

Eczema is a nightmare condition to have. Dry, itchy and flaky skin anywhere on the body is a real problem. It can have a real affect on everyday life and a person’s confidence. Whilst extremely serious cases of eczema will of course require medication prescribed by a doctor, most cases can be easily treated by using a good moisturiser – such as my famous Shea Butter, which has been proved to help treat eczema in people of all ages.

Why and how I hear you ask? Well, because the East African Shea Butter that my company produces contains soothing essential oils, soothing cocoa butter and other essential ingredients that all act together to promote the growth of new cells and fight the effects of eczema.

What’s more, my Shea Butter is 100% natural, meaning there is no chance of the skin being further aggravated by unnatural chemicals or ingredients. Just pure, totally natural ingredients. For peace of mind, I have even listed every single ingredient that we use in our products online, and even noted what is in what product. At Tausi you will never get any nasty surprises. Just a product that you can rely on to fight the effects of eczema, for yourself, your child or anybody in your family!

Plus its produced in a sustainable way – what more could you ask for in a eczema fighting cream?

The increasing appeal of sustainable products

The mass production of goods and products has become more and more widespread in recent decades. Cheap, mass produced items flood virtually every major market, from food to beauty products.

There are however some companies that refuse to follow this same path. Local, cottage based industries that produce items using natural ingredients such as Shea Butter often have a number of benefits over mass producing companies, benefits that can affect the producers, the customers and the business itself in a positive way.

So what are these benefits?

Support to Local Communities

By not mass producing a product or natural ingredient, local communities, which are often located in some of the world’s poorest regions, are not exploited. East African Shea Butter, which is sourced from civil war hotspots areas such as northern Uganda, is often produced in a way as to not exploit the local communities, such as making sure that the Shea Butter is not over farmed and enough is left over for future generations to benefit from.

Sustainable products allow for some of the money generated to be put back into the communities that produce it, allowing for improved living standards, increased education or simply making sure the product can be produced for many years to come by future generations.

A simple way to find out if a company or product supports sustainable development is by looking on their website. There should be some details outlining their commitments to sustainable development.

Protecting the Environment

By working in close partnership with suppliers, it is a lot easier for small cottage style industries to maintain and reduce the effects of environmental damage of their product. By working together with other organisations in the supply chain, businesses can keep the impact on the environment down to a minimum.

Many companies that are dedicated to protecting the environment such as Shea Butter producers in east Africa, do so by, for example, using waste generated by producing the commodity as fertiliser, or in other productive ways.

Attracts similarly minded customers

Businesses that support sustainability attract loyal, similarly minded customers who often buy the product for their stance on the environment and support of local communities as much as they do for their loyalty to the product itself.

Remember businesses that support sustainability will not be shy about advertising their stance. If you cannot see any information on sustainability on either the company’s website or marketing materials, the chances are they do not support sustainability.

By strictly controlling quality at the source, companies can sell sustainable, environmentally friendly and uncontaminated products that are more often than not made from higher quality ingredients when compared to mass producing rivals.

Shea butter: Why ditch mass produced for Cottage Industry?

Natural Shea Butter is one of the most effective, gentle and versatile moisturisers you can buy, but if you want the very best Shea Butter skin or hair care products it’s worth seeking out the smaller producers. There are exceptions of course, but small, cottage industries often offer Shea Butter creams and lotions that are superior in many ways to those produced by large multinational companies.

The best Shea Butter

All Shea Butter comes from the nut-like seeds of an African tree, but the way the butter is extracted and processed makes a big difference to the quality of the finished product.

Unrefined Shea Butter is extracted using traditional manual methods. These take a long time to produce small quantities and are labour intensive, but the resulting Shea Butter retains high levels of vitamins, anti-inflammatory agents and other ingredients that are so good for the skin. Pure Unrefined Shea Butter is always chosen by cottage industries that are passionate about giving their customers the very best quality.

Large companies tend to use Refined Shea Butter because it is cheaper and produced in bulk. It is extracted using chemical solvents and high temperatures that destroy some of the butter’s beneficial ingredients. Refined Shea Butter can also contain traces of chemicals left over from the processing.

Best for Shea Butter producers

A steady demand from cottage industries for top quality Unrefined Shea Butter has enabled groups of African women to form cooperatives run on fair trade principles. By controlling the business themselves, the women can retain more of the profits from their hard work. As well as being an important source of income for individuals, many of these cooperatives are able to fund local development projects that benefit their whole community.

Best for the environment

By supporting the eco-friendly production of Unrefined Shea Butter, cottage industries are doing their bit for the African environment. But many of them are also committed to reducing their carbon footprint at home and have introduced energy saving, recycling and waste reduction measures into all their business operations.

The best added ingredients

Unrefined Shea Butter does wonders on its own, but it can be blended with other skin care ingredients to create products designed for specific uses and skin types. A cottage industry that prides itself on using the finest Shea Butter won’t want to spoil its reputation (or its products) by adding any artificial chemicals. It will take care to source only natural, plant-based ingredients, choosing organic options wherever possible – even if they are more expensive. How many large companies can make the same claims?

Best for the customer

A cottage industry values every one of its customers. It welcomes feedback so it can improve its range of Shea Butter products and is happy to answer any questions. With the owner being closely involved in every aspect of the business a cottage industry is able to provide a highly personalised service.

In contrast, managers of large companies usually have to put shareholder’s concerns first and their customer service departments rarely have the flexibility to respond constructively to individual requests.

Shea Butter for Summer

Whatever you’re planning to do this summer, make sure you have plenty of Unrefined Shea Butter handy. If you already use this 100% natural ingredient for your everyday skin and hair care you certainly won’t want to be without it during your holidays. If you haven’t tried it yet, summer is the perfect time to discover just how good Shea Butter can make your skin look and feel from head to toe.

Have a good journey
Travel should be an enjoyable part of your holiday. Make it easier by travelling light and only pack items you really need. If you normally leave home with a bag full of creams and lotions you’ll be surprised at how many you can replace with a few versatile Shea Butter alternatives. And because Shea Butter is suitable for all skin types you can safely share it with the rest of the family or travelling companions, so they’ll be able to lighten their loads too!

Long journeys, especially by air, can be very dehydrating. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water along the way. It’s also a good idea to moisturise your skin with a little extra Shea Butter before travelling.

When you arrive at your destination, take a refreshing shower using a shower gel containing Shea Butter. It’s the quickest way to restore lost moisture to your skin, leaving it supple and silky smooth all over.

Enjoy a break from routine
New places and new experiences make holidays exciting, but if you have sensitive skin it can react badly to a strange environment. Soothing Shea Butter with its anti-inflammatory properties calms irritated skin. Apply it to any dry, itchy patches for instant relief. It can even help to keep skin conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis under control.

Sun, sea and sand
If these are your three essential ingredients for a perfect summer holiday you’re not alone! But whether you’re lazing on a tropical island or making sandcastles on a British beach, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Even if you’re sensible about avoiding sunburn, exposure to sun and wind can rapidly dry and damage your skin.

Unrefined Shea Butter naturally contains a unique mix of fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants and even a mild sunscreen (cinnamic acid) that work together to keep skin in the best possible condition. That’s why it’s been used in Africa for centuries to protect skin and hair against harsh weather.

If you want to enjoy the beach and return home glowing with health – not looking ten years older – be generous with the Shea Butter!

Fun and games
It’s great for children to be able to play outdoors, but all that running around is bound to result in a few bumps and falls. A dab of Shea Butter on small cuts and grazes promotes rapid healing and can reduce the formation of scars. It’s also good for treating insect bites and soothing rashes.

Of course, it’s not only children who might need some Shea Butter first aid. Adults with minor burns from the barbeque, bruises caused by cricket balls, or aching feet from too much dancing will also appreciated the healing qualities of Shea Butter.

Shea Butter: Nature’s own Anti-ageing Skincare Ingredient

Human skin is amazing. Day after day we treat it roughly, expose it to harsh weather, and even allow it to come into contact with harmful chemicals, yet it continually heals and renews itself. But as the years go by, the rate at which new skin cells are formed slows down. Skin becomes thinner, less resilient, and begins to show its age.

There are lots of skincare products on the market that promise to keep skin youthful, but have you looked closely at their lists of ingredients? Some of them read like the contents of a chemistry laboratory.

A truly natural ingredient
If you prefer to treat your skin with 100% natural ingredients, Shea Butter is definitely one you should consider. This creamy, oil-rich substance is obtained from the nut-like seeds of a tree that grows wild in the Savannah belt of Africa. Because the trees are not cultivated in large plantations (although they are protected by the women who use them as a source of income) their fruits and seeds are organic and they have no adverse effects on their environment.

Furthermore, if you want to be sure of using the best quality Shea Butter, with no risk of it containing chemical residues, always choose Unrefined Shea Butter that has been carefully extracted using traditional, environmentally-friendly methods. Few other skincare ingredients can claim to be so natural!

Can Shea Butter compete with the latest anti-ageing miracle creams?
It’s natural, but does it work? Nothing can stop us getting older, but keeping skin moisturised, nourished and protected is the best way to minimize the effects of time. Scientific analysis shows that Unrefined Shea Butter has a unique blend of essential fatty acids, vitamins (including A and E), and antioxidants that all actively promote healthy skin. It also contains lupeol, which inhibits enzymes that can damage skin proteins, and cinnamic acid, which acts as a mild sunscreen.

Shea Butter can be used from scalp to toes, is safe on fragile or sensitive skin, and is especially useful in treating these tell-tale signs of ageing skin:

Dryness
Less sebum is produced as skin ages. Without the protection of this natural oil, moisture is lost from the skin more easily and it can quickly become dehydrated. Shea Butter is an excellent moisturiser. Its light texture allows it to sink easily into the skin leaving it soft and smooth.

Fine lines and wrinkles
Lines and wrinkles form as the production of collagen and elastin in the skin slows down leaving it weaker and less supple. At the same time, the supporting layer of fat beneath the skin becomes thinner allowing skin to sag. Unrefined Shea butter has been proven to stimulate skin cell regeneration and improve the skin’s elasticity, while its moisturising action helps to keep skin plump.

Slow healing
Cuts, grazes and bruises on mature skin tend to take longer to heal than those on young skin, but Shea Butter’s anti-inflammatory properties support the skin’s natural healing systems. It also soothes soreness and calms irritated or itchy skin.

Using natural Unrefined Shea Butter won’t turn back the clock, but it will keep your skin looking and feeling wonderful: whatever your age!

How to Heal Bruises: Naturally

Everyone has bruises from time to time, and people who do a lot of manual work or take part in contact sports such as martial arts or rugby are obviously more at risk than others. They occur when a blow damages the tiny blood vessels in the lower layers of the skin. This allows blood to seep out into the surrounding tissue where it can be seen as the familiar dark mark of a bruise.

For healthy people, the vast majority of bruises give no cause for concern. If left alone they will gradually fade away over two or three weeks as the body’s own defences repair the damage. But they can be painful in the early stages, and if they are on your face or another visible part of your body you might want to try to speed up the healing process.

Natural Healing for Bruises

The most effective home treatments are the simple ones that use natural ingredients.

Cool the skin: The first thing to do is to cool the skin. The sooner you do this after receiving a blow that might result in bruising, the better. Cooling reduces the blood supply to the area and so limits the amount of bleeding. A commercial ice pack used for sports injuries is ideal, or improvise one by putting ice cubes in a plastic bag and then wrap it in a clean cloth. Never put ice directly on the skin as it can cause a freeze burn. If ice is not available use a face cloth or towel rinsed in cold water.

Apply the cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes, remove for the same length of time, then repeat. This won’t always prevent a bruise forming, but it will minimize its spread.

Natural remedy to promote healing: After cooling, you can use a natural plant-based remedy to promote healing. A number of herbs including arnica, calendula, parsley, St John’s wort and comfrey are all useful for treating bruises. If you have the fresh herbs they can be crushed and applied directly to the skin, but it is probably easier to use a cream or gel containing extracts of the same herbs.

Shea Butter: One of the Best Natural Healers for Bruises

One of the best natural ingredients to use on bruises is Shea Butter. In the West, Shea Butter is mostly known as an excellent skin moisturiser, but in its native Africa it has also been valued for centuries for its soothing and healing properties. The creamy butter, extracted from the nut-like seeds of the Shea or Karite tree, contains a range of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that aid healing and stimulate skin cell regeneration. Its light texture enables it to sink easily into tender skin without rubbing, and it is safe to use on all skin types including the most delicate or sensitive.

If a bruise does not fade in the normal way, or bruises appear for no apparent reason, you should consult a doctor in case they are symptoms of a medical condition. But for fast treatment of everyday bruises always keep some Shea Butter handy at home, in the workplace, or in your sports bag.

Nairobi Natural Body Store Opening Announced

We are delighted to announce the planned opening of a new store which will sell a luxurious range of natural Shea Butter Products.

The Tausi Natural Body Store will be set in the heart of Kenya’s bustling capital Nairobi, offering visitors direct access to the company’s vast range of wonderfully natural Shea butter products for the face, body, hands, feet and hair.

The popularity of Shea Butter is rapidly growing and the Tausi range of products, which includes Orchard Fruits and Lavender collections as well as an unperfumed selection, has gone down exceptionally well in Africa, exceeding all expectations and leading to a demand for a centrally located retail outlet.

Try Before you Buy … and Expert Advice

Visitors to the Nairobi city centre based store will be able to try any products before they buy and will have the benefit of the knowledge of fully trained staff who I and Tausi co-founder Nancy Njenga will be personally teaching to ensure their complete familiarity with all the products and their ingredients, and also with as wide a range of skin complaints as possible.

If you have issues with your skin, you will always have in-depth questions about how certain products will react with your condition and how they will help you. Because you need absolute expert advice, we will make sure all staff at the Natural Body Store will be fully trained and able to answer all of your questions, however complex,” she says.

The entire product range will be on offer in the Nairobi store as well as gift sets and other beauty accessories.

The Tausi Natural Body Store is due to open in February 2010. Meantime, products are available online. For more information visit http://www.tausisignature.com/, telephone 01908 764 394 or e-mail shea@tausisiganture.com.

Have a Tausi Signature Shea Butter Party!

Fancy a fun time with your friends? Do you want a chance to pamper yourself and make some extra cash? You can do all these things by hosting a Tausi Signature Shea Butter party. Simply choose a time and place, introduce your guests to the pleasures and benefits of Tausi Signature skincare products, and take the orders.

Tausi Signature began when two friends decided to share their passion for using pure, fairly traded skincare ingredients, especially finest quality Unrefined Organic East African Shea Butter. They created skin creams for themselves, their friends and families, and their hobby soon turned into a thriving business.

One way they like to reach new customers is through parties where people have plenty of time to try out their products in relaxed surroundings. The host doesn’t have to use any hard sell techniques. All the items in this range of 100% natural creams look, feel and smell so lovely that they practically sell themselves. There’s something for everyone – babies, teenagers, men and women of all ages and skin types. They also make great Christmas gifts.

Tausi Signature products are good for:

· All the family’s skincare needs. With the remarkable moisturising and healing properties of natural Shea Butter combined with other carefully selected plant butters and oils, they can be used safely even on sensitive or problem skins. The range includes face cleansers and moisturisers, hand and foot creams, and luxurious body butters and soufflés. Treat the men in your life to Shea For Him. And Shea Soothe-It does exactly what it says on the label!

· Vegetarians and vegans. All ingredients are derived from plants with no artificial additives. The products are not tested on animals.

· The women farmers who produce the Shea Butter. They are paid a fair price that enables them to improve the lives of their families and communities.

· The environment. The trees from which the Shea Butter is produced grow naturally in the dry, Savannah regions of Africa and are not cultivated in large plantations. The fruits are used as food and the butter is extracted from the nut-like seeds. The waste products are used as fertiliser, fuel and to waterproof mud walls. Tausi Signature only uses natural, unrefined Shea Butter produced using traditional methods without the use of chemicals. Although laborious, this preserves as much as possible of the Shea Butter’s therapeutic qualities with no harmful chemical residue.

· Tausi Signature party hosts. Not only do they earn money while socialising, but they also have the satisfaction of knowing they are selling a top quality product that will really be enjoyed and appreciated by their customers.

If you would like to learn more about hosting a Tausi Signature Shea Butter Party contact Tausi Signature today!

Is Shea Butter Production Environmentally Friendly?

Yes, Shea Butter production is environmentally friendly – if the end product has not been industrially refined.

The Shea trees are not cultivated in large plantations. They grow wild and the seedlings germinate naturally. They can live for 300 years, but do not start producing fruit until they are 15 to 20 years old. The trees are not only valued for their highly nutritious fruits and Shea Butter, but also as a source of high quality charcoal. When clearing land for agriculture some trees are cut down, but villagers have always tried to protect those that yield the best fruit. In areas where Shea Butter production has been encouraged as a source of income, the trees have become an even more valuable asset and more are being conserved.

Traditional methods of processing Shea Butter have little environmental impact and the waste products are used as fertiliser, to waterproof mud walls and are burnt as fuel.

Smooth Shaving with Shea Butter

Gentlemen, does your face feel wonderfully clean and fresh after a close shave, or do you pick up your razor dreading the soreness and unsightly rashes it might cause?

Ladies, do you wish you could have silky smooth legs and underarms but find shaving leaves your skin dry and itchy?

Shaving is the quickest and easiest way of removing hair from any part of the body, but scraping your skin with a sharp blade is not the kindest way to treat it! Shaving removes the very thin but protective top keratin layer of the skin along with the unwanted hairs. The resulting damage can lead to irritation, infections of the hair follicles, razor bumps caused by in-growing hairs, dryness or excessive oiliness. And, once you have a skin problem, further shaving will only make it worse.

If you want to enjoy the benefits of shaving while protecting, and even improving, the condition of your skin, try using pure, Unrefined Shea Butter. This rich, mild moisturiser with remarkable healing properties can make shaving a pleasure rather than a painful chore.

Obtained from the seeds of the African Shea or Karite tree, Shea butter contains a unique blend of essential fatty acids, Vitamins A and E, and natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. On its own, or blended with other compatible skincare ingredients, Unrefined Shea Butter is suitable for all skin types and can be used in a number of ways:

· Before shaving: to soften the skin and hair in preparation for an easy shave.
· During shaving: acts as a lubricant, helping the razor to glide smoothly over the skin.
· After shaving: to soothe and promote the healing of any irritated or damaged skin, and leave it feeling and looking smooth and supple.
· Between shaves: once you’ve experienced the effect Shea Butter can have on your skin you will want to make it a part of your everyday skincare routine. And you don’t have to confine it to the areas you shave. Try using it from your scalp to your toes!

Avoid refined Shea Butte; it is extracted with the use of solvents and heat and can contain chemical residues. It also has greatly reduced levels of the beneficial ingredients your skin needs.
To get the best possible results from your natural after shave balm, always choose Unrefined Shea Butter which has no added artificial ingredients and has been produced by traditional methods to preserve the maximum amount of its therapeutic qualities.

How to Prevent Stretch Marks

Pregnancy is an exciting but slightly anxious time for most women. You want to do what’s best for yourself and your baby, but there’s a lot of conflicting advice out there!

Take stretch marks, for example. Can they be avoided? Do expensive anti-stretch mark creams work better than cheaper alternatives? Every woman’s experience is different, so if you ask your friends you will get a lot of different answers.

Stretch marks are exactly that: scar-like lines that form when skin is stretched to its limits. They are caused by tiny tears in the fibres of the middle layer of skin. They are most often associated with pregnancy, but can occur in anyone who has a sudden weight gain.

Over 70% of pregnant women get some stretch marks. They usually appear after the sixth month, mostly on the abdomen, although they can also occur on the thighs, buttocks and breasts. It is thought that one reason why some women seem to develop stretch marks more easily than others is connected to hormone changes. An increase in a hormone called cortisol reduces the amount of collagen in the skin. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its elasticity.

There is no guaranteed way of completely preventing stretch marks if you are prone to them, but there are things you can do to minimise them. Beginning in the early weeks of your pregnancy you should:

· try to gain weight gradually
· drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated
· massage your skin with pure, unrefined Shea Butter

Why Unrefined Shea Butter?

· Because it is a completely natural, organic product obtained from the seeds of a tree that grows in the dry Savannah regions of Africa.
· Because it naturally contains all the ingredients needed to keep skin healthy, deeply moisturised and supple.
· Because it is rich in natural vitamin E, the essential skincare vitamin.
· Because it has been proven to stimulate skin cell regeneration and improve the skin’s elasticity.
· Because it is produced using traditional methods that do not involve the use of chemicals.
· Because it contains no artificial perfumes or colours.

Continue using Unrefined Shea Butter after your baby is born to help your skin regain its firmness. If you do have a few stretch marks they will fade naturally over time, but Shea Butter can help to speed up the process. It also works on old stretch marks and other scars and skin blemishes.

East African Shea Butter versus West African Shea Butter

All pure, unrefined shea butter has remarkable moisturising and healing properties, but shea butter produced in East Africa is generally more desirable for cosmetic and pharmaceutical use than West African shea butter.

The differences between the two begin with the trees from which the butter is harvested. The shea tree (also known as the karite tree and by many other local names) grows in the dry Savannah regions of Africa, stretching across the continent from Senegal in the west, to Sudan in the east. The main species is Vitellaria paradoxa and it is from this tree that West African shea butter is made. East African shea butter comes from a subspecies, Vitellaria nilotica that grows in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan.

After the shea butter has been extracted from the nut-like seeds using traditional, labour intensive methods, other differences become noticeable.

The natural, nutty scent of East African shea butter is lighter and slightly sweeter than the West African variety. Once the butter is absorbed into the skin, the scent fades and is often undetectable.

East African shea butter is creamier and softer at room temperature so it is easier to apply and sinks into the skin more readily.

The unique fatty acid profile of East African shea butter helps the skin to retain its elasticity more efficiently.

The main problem with East African shea butter for suppliers and consumers is its scarcity. West African countries produce far more shea butter than East Africa, and past civil wars and unrest in the region drastically reduced both production and trade.

The final difference between the two types of shea butter is found in the price. Most people would expect to pay more for the scarcer, high quality East African product, but they might not realise how their money is distributed. In many West African countries, the shea butter price is decided by multinational companies, and after the middle men have taken their profits the women producers receive very little in return for all their hard work. In Uganda, the women work in small co-operatives that give them more control over the financial side of their business. On average, they receive over five times the amount paid to their West African counterparts.

If you want to experience the benefits of East African shea butter yourself, be sure to look for products labelled East African, Ugandan, or Nilotica Shea Butter - or be sure to buy Tausi Signature Shea Butter products!

The Origins and History of Shea Butter

Although Shea Butter is relatively new in the west, it has been used in Africa for thousands of years. There is even some archaeological evidence that it was one of the goods traded by the Ancient Egyptians.

It comes from the nut-like seed inside the fruit of the Shea tree (also known as the Karite tree), which grows in the dry Savannah belt of Africa stretching from Senegal in the west, to Sudan in the east. Traditionally used as a source of vegetable oil for cooking, it has also long been valued for its healing and moisturising properties and is used to protect the skin and hair from the harsh effects of wind and sun.

Scientific analysis has confirmed what African women have always known; pure, unrefined Shea Butter has everything needed to keep the whole family’s skin feeling and looking good. It is exceptionally rich in unsaponifiable matter and fatty acids, which nourish and moisturise; contains vitamins A and E (both essential for healthy skin), and even has its own natural sunscreen in the form of cinnamic acid.

If you want to experience the benefits of Shea Butter be sure to look out for products labelled Natural, Unrefined Shea Butter. This will have been produced by African women farmers using traditional methods that, although laborious, preserve all of the Shea Butter’s beneficial properties. Refined Shea Butter is extracted in an industrial process using chemicals, which can greatly reduce its quality.

Shea Butter: A Natural Remedy for Acne

There are a number of commercial products on the market that claim to treat acne and heal acne scars but as with anything to do with the skin, natural remedies should always be favoured because they provide much better long-term benefits.

Shea Butter has natural antibacterial properties so works on treating the infection that causes acne flare-ups. It also contains Vitamins A, E and K, a natural sunscreen called cinammic acid and a blend of fatty acids that combine to promote healthy, clean skin. The Tausi Signature face creams also contain rosehip oil, amongst other skin health-promoting ingredients.

To reduce and heal acne scars, rosehip oil is highly effective. Vitamin K possesses natural wound healing properties; Vitamin E protects the skin against further damage and the natural sunscreen will prevent existing acne scars from being made to look worse. Vitamin A helps maintain skin health and strengthens immunity from infections.

Whilst Shea Butter is rich, it can still be used effectively to treat acne and promote a clearer complexion. It is important to select the right sort of Shea Butter; unrefined organic Shea Butter has an abundance of benefits over refined Shea Butter and further, East African Shea Butter is superior to West African Shea Butter.

If you suffer from acne, it is vital to be aware of what you use on your skin. Make sure you take time to choose natural products that have all-round benefits and act as both prevention and cure for your ailment. Read labels; know what you are using. And if you decide to try Shea Butter to treat your acne, ensure you select the very best organic, unrefined East African Shea Butter.

The things people notice about Shea Butter

At Tausi Signature we make a point of taking a personal interest in our customers and always welcome feedback.

One of the best things for me is hearing our customers’ comments after they try our products for the first time; the things they notice are very interesting and I would like to share some of them with you.

Light scent
Many of our customers have used other Shea Butter products and commented on the almost overpowering scent. Of course Shea Butter is a natural product and has its own unique odour but the thing about East African Shea Butter – the one used in all Tausi Signature products – is that is has a naturally lighter scent than the more common West African Shea Butter - and people say this is much more pleasant.

Natural glow
I am not sure if people realise just how healthy their skin will look once they have applied a Shea Butter product. Some people have said they think they are going to look greasy because the creams are so rich, others said they wanted to avoid looking unnatural as you do sometimes with those ‘radiance’ moisturisers. But in actual fact customers have mentioned on numerous occasions that they find their skin not at all greasy, but feeling soft and naturally glowing, lacking the dullness that gets ground in through daily life.

Easily Absorbed
Whilst some Shea Butter products are quite hard and can be difficult to apply, the ones in the Tausi Signature range are far lighter and more easily absorbed; this is another benefit of using East African Shea Butter. Customers say that the body lotion literally melts into their skin and having used other products before, find this quite surprising.

These are just some of the observations that customers have communicated to us. If you have any comments you would like to make about Tausi Signature products, please get involved in our blog; we’d love to hear from you!

Who should use Shea Butter?

Everyone! Every household should have a jar of Shea Butter either among the beauty supplies for soft, smooth, better looking skin, or in the medicine cabinet for minor skin injuries around the house. SHEA BUTTER IS THE SKIN'S BEST FRIEND! (Source: ASBI)

Benefits of Shea Butter

Did you know that shea butter can provide relief from everything, from just dry skin to many minor dermatological ailments. It can be very useful for/on;

• Daily skin moisturizer (face and body) • Dry skin relief • Dry scalp• Skin rash- including diaper rash • Skin peeling, after tanning • Blemishes and wrinkles • Itching skin due to dryness • Sunburn • Shaving cream to reduce razor irritation • Small skin wounds • Skin cracks • Soften tough skin on feet
• Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy • Minor burns • Eczema • Sun and wind protection • Even skin tone • Reduce blemishes and scarring • Eliminating scalp irritation from dryness• Preventing bumps after shaving • Reducing ACNE • Absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue • Helps restore elasticity to skin • Restores luster to hair.