Shea butter is derived from the nuts of the karite tree also known as the “Shea tree”. Shea trees grow in varied areas of West Africa. Shea has a soft pasty texture that can vary greatly in color from pure white, to yellow to greenish hues.

Shea butter is rich in vitamins E and K. It has been used for centuries to protect the skin. Shea butter is for great dry, cracked skin that regular lotions are unable to fix. Since lotions are mostly water in base, any all-oil butter, like Shea, is going to be better than lotion for skin problems.

We here at Spotted Owl love to use our Shea for lots of different dry skin issues. We use Shea after shaving to avoid unsightly and painful razor burn. We also use it in place of regular diaper rash creams and ointments. Because of the rich nutrients naturally found in Shea, it acts as a better healing agent for sensitive skin and diaper areas.

Our Shea butter is white and naturally refined without solvents in France. Use it to help soften those rough, cracked winter hands. Have unsightly cracked heels? Shea works great at healing and softening them as well.

Get your Shea Butter here.

Anyone new to the world of handmade soaps and cosmetics is bound to ask “Why go handmade?”. In the case of soaps, the first thing people notice is the great smells and textures, then the great lather and the feel of their skin after. But what about the reasons you can‘t see and feel?

Cruelty Free: Our soaps are never tested on animals. Instead we rely on volunteer humans to try our products and report their experiences. Not only do the bunnies appreciate it, its far more useful in developing products humans will enjoy.

Detergent & Dye Free: Soap (real soap, that is) does not require the addition of detergents to bubble and lather luxuriously. If you want to clean your skin while leaving it feeling replenished there is nothing better than soap.

Animal Fat Free: While beef, horse or pig fat (sodium talloate) has been an inexpensive ingredient the factory soap industry has enjoyed using for decades, we don’t feel “inexpensive” is enough to recommend an ingredient. We insist on “beneficial”.

Eco Friendly: In addition to not using detergents and dyes we also don’t use petrolatum and other petroleum byproducts common in many cosmetics. Our products take very little energy to create because we make them by hand without the need for constant heat and other high energy processes. Our items are minimally packaged and most of our containers are completely reusable around the house.