Lauren’s Botanicals uses fair trade unrefined shea butter as one of the main ingredients in our Whipped Shea Body Butter. This unrefined shea is a beautiful creamy butter that is made traditionally under fair trade and organic guidelines in Togo, West Africa. Today, Africa is considered the poorest continent on Earth. Seventy-seven percent of Africans live on less than $2 per day, and women and children make up the majority of this number. The unrefined shea butter is not extracted using hexane or other chemicals, bleached, or deodorized. It contains no preservatives, yellow coloring agents (natural or artificial), or other additives. It is a renewable resource of African origin; shea trees are wild, requiring no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It is made and sent to us in its purest and most natural state. Like most unrefined shea butters, it has a characteristic nutty scent, which disappears after a few minutes when rubbed on skin. Unrefined shea butter is a very versatile active ingredient for skin and hair care products, and has excellent anti-aging, soothing and moisturizing properties. Enjoy it in Lauren's Botanicals Whipped Shea Body Butter.