Hey everyone, happy Labor Day! I hope you all have had a positive and fruitful
September so far, welcome back. Today we're going to talk about the differences between all-natural and not so natural body butters. We all have our preferences with products we use on our bodies, faces, hair, but it's very important that you know as many facts about those products that you trust to treat your most precious parts the way you want them to be treated.
Now I know we've all seen the ads for butters that really catch the eye, they're super pretty, they smell beyond amazing and edible - just plain old attractive. I've even been tempted by them myself! Then you see products like Brooklyn Shea Whipped Shea Butter and you say to yourself, "Well this one isn't so exciting", right? Lol, well of course! This blog post is absolutely not meant to shade the beautiful body butters out there, it is strictly to provide information so that you can make an informed decision. What's with all the butters, you ask? Well let's jump in!
So the type of body butter you will want to purchase will depend on what journey you're on or wanting to move towards with your skincare. Are you an all-natural, organic kind of guy or gal or are you looking for products that don't offer those attributes. If you're a person that leans towards body butters that are pleasing to the eye, more than likely they will contain distilled water, preservatives and the ingredient used to get that beautiful color. Adding water can create a more creamy, thick lotion like butter, however, with the addition of water the butter's shelf life shortens. In order to help prevent butter spoilage, a preservative must be used. Another issue with adding water is that obviously water and oil don't mix, so because of this, an emulsifier must be added to bring the oils and butters together. Last but not least is the eye-catching color, which depends on the type of colorants that is used. Some examples that may be used are:
Oxides/Ultramarines - These minerals start out natural, but since they aren't safe to use, they have to be synthetically recreated in a lab to make them safe.
FD&C/D&C - Are pretty controversial when it comes to beauty products. They produce bold, beautiful colors, however, they have been linked to allergic reactions, skin irritations and even cancer.
Pearlescent Micas - This colorant you more than likely see in butters to give them a shimmery look. Very pretty but you have to be very careful to know what types of Micas are used because some can cause seizing.
If you're an all-natural, organic type of person then the best types of butters are those that don't necessarily have the eye-catching colors, only the minimum ingredients: Shea Butter and various oils. Of course here at Brooklyn Shea we do have additional all-natural ingredients like Aloe and Oatmeal. There are ways to add color, but we strive to use the most minimum of ingredients, because of the multiple benefits of the "super food" shea butter. With the eucalyptus, for example, of course your mind would go to a green color, but having to add more ingredients to achieve that color and risk putting our customers at risk was not an option.
This is why it is VERY important that we are transparent when it comes to our ingredients. Whether you become part of the Brooklyn Shea family or not, we care about your safety and want you to be very informed when it comes to the types of body butters you decide to introduce into your beauty regimen. Checking ingredients is not bad thing, and a full list should be provided by the seller if you ask. Your skin is precious and deserves to be protected. Well, until next time. Let me know in the comments if you have questions or a topic I should cover. Stay blessed!!