August 2009 ASBI Shea Butter Certificate

Last August, some new tests have been conducted with the ASBI to track the quality of the unrefined shea butter we’ve imported from the Shea Butter Village in Tamale. Solidity Trade has been striving to make sure that the quality will improve or remain consistent over time.

The test release shows that the unrefined shea butter that we have imported on our second container has been graded B. Please feel free to click on the following link to take a look at our certification: August 2009 ASBI Shea Butter Certificate

The 21 Uses and Advantages of Shea Butter

The color of unrefined shea butter depends on the types of shea nuts used: in general, shea nuts will vary in color from near-white to yellow. The 21 uses and advantages of unrefined shea butter include the following:

1. Skin dryness
2. Skin cracking
3. Rough skin on the feet
4. Shedding of the skin after sun tanning
5. Skin damage due to the sun
6. Skin damage due to heat
7. Protection against the cold
8. Cold bites
9. Skin imperfections and wrinkles
10. Skin itchiness and inflammation
11. Skin rashes
12. Skin allergies
13. Eczema
14. Dermatitis
15. Superficial wounds
16. As a soft shaving cream
17. Prevention of stretch marks
18. Bites
19. Skin cleansing
20. Muscle problems
21. Before and after exercises

Shea butter primarily comes from the West African region, however there are increasing varieties in East Africa coming to market that are softer and smoother than the West African varieties.

Solidity Trade Introduces New Product: Shea Oil

After working on several months on shea butter, Solidity Trade team has chosen to broaden its product lines for the Northern American market and will be delivering to its customers shea oil for cosmetic purpose.

Cosmetic Shea Oil is a new product of SEKAF GHANA and Solidity Trade partnership. The product will be launched in July 2009 and you can soon order some samples on Solidity Trade website.

Here are more information about shea oil :

Chemical properties :

• High content of Diglycérides
• High content of unsaponifiables
• High content of Triterpen alcool esters (Stérols esters )
• Excellent moisturizer and emollient
• Easy to include in cosmetic formulations
• Lower molecular weight
• High composition in Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)

Shea Oil is an excellent alternative to the semi-solid Shea butter in many types of cosmetic formulation for many types of cosmetic products. Shea Oil helps to protect the epidermis and maintain the integrity of the stratum corneum, thanks to its composition in Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), vitamins and unsaponifiable (7-8%) matters. Shea oil is also has a good moisturizing and skin softening effect generally associated with Shea butter.

Shea Oil can be used as an active carrier for skin care emulsions because of its lower molecular weight. The liquid physical character of Shea Oil makes it easy to formulate with, there is no need for handling solids and heating to melt the ingredient before use. Because Shea Oil is liquid at room temperature, it can be used in cold-process formulations.

Shea Oil is has a good stability versus oxidation. This character helps lower the levels of anti-oxidants contained in the finish products.Shea Oil is also a good emollient for anhydrous products where the high level of bioactive shea unsaponifiables can contribute to skin repair and soothing action.

Applications
Shea Oil is a good emollient and moisturizer in all types of skin care creams and lotions. The liquid character makes it easy to formulate emulsions with no adverse crystallization effects and a high content of the Shea butter unsaponifiables.

Shea Oil can be used in the following application:

• Facial care
• Body care
• Sun-care and sunscreens

Shea Oil can also be used as a liquid emollient in anhydrous products ranging from body butters to lip balms and colour cosmetics. Shea Oil is also a good ingredient for hair care applications where 0.5-1 % addition in a conditioner may help to improve gloss and moisture retention in the hair.

Shea Conference 2009

During the 3 days conference, Solidity Trade had the chance to present its company to the participants in Ouagadougou. The theme of the conference was Optimization of the Value Chain. During the presentation our CEO was demonstrating how Solidity Trade was trying to optimize the value chain to capture more value for the African women in poor rural areas in West Africa.

You can take a look at Solidity Trade presentation and following the presentation at the same time by clicking here : Shea Value Conference Presentation