If you’ve been following my twitter feed you’ll know that I have been desperate for relief for my dry, itchy skin. I haven’t found a body moisturizer or oil that has truly given my skin long-term relief so I put it out there to the green beauty community for help. Shea butter was one of the top products mentioned, so when I went to my local green beauty store and the sales-lady there recommended this product I had high hopes.
The African Fair Trade Society is a Canadian company that ethically sources and produces their products in an environmental manner without testing on animals.
The African Fair Trade Society uses the profits of our Shea Butter sales to establish a channel of micro-aid to small, impoverished communities in Western Africa. We distribute money and resources without patronage or privilege towards any sector or group within the village. We target funds towards those most in need without bias. Our goal is to invest in the Health and Education infrastructure of rural villages in West Africa. Currently we are working closely with the village of Dakateli in south eastern Senegal, close to the border of Guinea.
The company’s four objectives are to 1) Help fund schools and promote education within the community for all children, 2) Support the role of women in their local economies, 3) Provide medicine for malaria treatment, and 4) Build a local health clinic.
The founders, Ba and Fanta, are from the village of Dakateli themselves, so naturally their work would start “at home” but they have a well-developed process of how they allocate the rest of their profits to continue to help other communities with their four objectives. All in all, this company’s heart is most definitely in the right place. Plus, they make an effective and pure product.
The formula is very thick but I think that the argan oil and avocado oils help make this product a little softer than it would be if it were just shea butter. I scrape the product out of the container with a little spatula and then have to work a bit to help it melt into my skin. Once it is melted it spreads very easily and is very, very hydrating. When I first used it I was surprised at how quickly it turned my skin around! It is very heavy, but not really greasy, and absorbs within a few minutes. The hydration is very long-lasting. If I get out of the shower, put on a body oil and then this wonderful product my skin is 100% happy until the next day. If I skip either product or both my skin knows it. And makes me regret not taking the 5 minutes to apply both.
With the amount that I’m going through, the price just can’t get much better. It is $13 for 4 oz, but has already lasted me longer than the tube of Pacifica body butter that I spent $15 on and there is half of the tub still left! so I am counting this as a win!
If your skin situation is dire, or even if you’re just needing a little extra hydration I would absolutely recommend this product. It’s performance and the company’s sustainability and charity work are all wonderful.
Ingredients: 100% Unrefined Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Avocado Oil
Fair Trade Shea Butter
