Shea butter and the problem of crystallization

Shea butter is a wonderful ingredient used in many of our products. Its nourishing, moisturizing, and regenerating properties make it an indispensable part of skincare. However, you may have already noticed that your shea butter products sometimes form small, grainy crystals.

Here is some background on this phenomenon and tips on how you can prevent it.

What is crystallization?

Crystallization is a natural process in which solid crystals form within a substance. Buttery fats consist of long-chain, saturated (solid) and unsaturated (liquid) fatty acids. Through heating and subsequent cooling, the solid components of a fat can separate from the liquid ones and reconnect during the solidification process. They arrange themselves into a crystalline structure and form larger, visible, and palpable crystals. This can change the texture of the butter, giving it an uneven consistency. Improper storage conditions or temperature fluctuations during storage or transport can promote the crystallization of fats.

Is crystallized shea butter still safe?

Yes, crystallized shea butter is completely safe and does not lose its beneficial properties. Crystallization only affects the texture, not the efficacy or safety of the shea butter.

How can you prevent crystallization?

Keep your shea butter products at a constant, cool temperature, ideally between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. Avoid direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations.

Alternative: SheaSmooth

SheaSmooth is a special variant of shea butter from fully traceable origins and is produced under fair farming conditions. After refining, it undergoes a special process called "interesterification," in which the fatty acids are rearranged so that saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are better blended. As a result, the product remains smooth, homogeneous, and can no longer crystallize. The texture is permanently soft and spreadable, which improves the skin feel and application performance.

The high-quality nourishing properties and the unsaponifiable content of the shea butter are preserved. The INCI name for SheaSmooth also remains "Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter."

Cosmetic products such as sticks, balms, or creams obtain a creamier texture thanks to SheaSmooth and are no longer at risk of crystallization. This makes consistent quality virtually guaranteed and prevents faulty batches.

SheaSmooth is approved for the natural cosmetics labels Natrue and Cosmos!