Shea Butter originates from the seed of the Shea Tree. No chemicals or preservatives are used in the making of shea butter and the highest quality shea butter is prepared with a cold press. Because shea butter originates from a seed, it is considered a seed oil. Seed oils have two important characteristics. Firstly, seed oils have a saponifiable fraction, which contains the moisturizing agents. Secondly, seed oils have a nonsaponifiable fraction, which contains the healing agents. Shea Butter has been known to contain anywhere from 5% to 17% of a healing fraction. Other seed oils often contain a healing fraction of 1% and less. It is because of these unique healing properties that the shea tree is also called the Karite Tree, meaning Tree of Life in Wolof (an indigenous language of Senegal).

Natural, unrefined, Shea Butter is full of Vitamins A and E, which may explain why shea is an excellent moisturizer and healing agent. The Vitamin A in shea helps to alleviate blemishes, wrinkles, eczema, and dermatitis. Shea has also been shown to treat skin allergies, insect bites, sunburns, frostbite, and a variety of other skin ailments. Shea Butter may also accelerate the rate of wound healing. Shea is such a versatile moisturizer for the skin because the natural moisturizers in Shea Butter are the very same moisturizers produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Vitamin E has been known to increase the micro-circulation to the skin, resulting in a more effective flow of blood to and from the skin. Not all Shea Butter can have such beneficial effects on the skin. These benefits vary on the quality of the butter.

Shea Butter has been known to age and lose its natural integrity. Shea Butter becomes less effective as it ages due to a lack of bound Cinnamic Acid, the ingredient which allows shea to be an effective healing agent. Although shea with unbound Cinnamic Acid is less effective as a healing agent, it does retain its moisturizing benefits. The preparation and the environmental conditions after preparation can also alter the quality of the butter. Aging and loss of integrity make the difference between a poor quality shea butter and a high quality shea butter. A truly good butter will be both effective as a moisturizer and a healing agent, whereas poor quality shea butter is only good for moisturizing.

Shea Butter has been researched by physicians and classified into four different groups; Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class F. Class (or grade) A is premium Shea Butter, most effective for both moisturizing and healing. Class F is the lowest quality Shea Butter, recommended only as a moisturizer and has no healing properties. To confirm that a shea butter has been tested and certified as a Class A shea, look for the American Shea Butter Institute Seal. The Institute Seal also certifies that no fillers, chemicals, or preservatives have been used in the Shea Butter; as all of the aforementioned often alter the natural integrity of the Shea Butter. Aging and excessive heating may alter the integrity shea butter.