Everyone is curious about celebrities’ hidden beauty secrets. Celebrities’ skin care practices are always a mystery, but you might be surprised to know that shea butter is a constant in their routine. Celebrities like Sienna Miller, Brooke Shields, and Hailey Bieber are obsessed with shea butter for its properties. This key ingredient in cosmetics has also doubled on a global scale over the last decade. According to its qualities, shea butter has recently risen to the ranks of the top 20 ingredients in many products, surpassing all other vegetable oils by 300 percent. Importantly, shea butter isn’t just a key player in the beauty industry; it also provides a vital source of income for women like Karama.

Famous Ghanaian Shea Butter

Karama, a Ghanaian mother of four, is the sole provider for her family. She has been working here for 15 years, alongside her sisters and mother. Like Karama, many women in Ghana depend on shea butter for their livelihood. We asked them why Ghanaian shea butter is famous around the world.

Karama explained that Ghana produces high-quality, unrefined shea butter using traditional methods to extract it from the shea tree’s nuts. This purity and natural richness make it highly sought after for skincare and hair care. Ghana is one of the top shea butter exporters.

She highlighted that Ghanaian shea butter, derived from the Vitellaria paradoxa tree species, has a higher concentration of vitamin A compared to other varieties. Vitamin A accelerates skin healing, making it beneficial for scars, cuts, and minor burns.

Her sister Kahania described how much she loved using shea butter in their body care routine and added that shea butter is a potent moisturizer, rich in fatty acids and vitamins A, E, and F. She emphasized the importance of keeping Alpha Shea Butter in the medicine cabinet for minor skin injuries and in the cosmetics drawer for silky, smooth, and more beautiful skin.

Vitellaria paradoxa, the botanical name for shea trees, have a 300-year lifespan. They can continue to produce fruit for 200 years after they reach maturity, which takes 20 to 30 years.

It’s interesting to see that shea butter has uses beyond skin care regimens because shea fruits can produce other useful goods. Products derived from shea fruits, such as African black soap, shea nut oil, and shea oil, are extremely valuable worldwide.

SHE-A-BEAUTY

Karama and Kahania recently joined an organization called SHE-A-BEAUTY. She is both a researcher and a beauty specialist, and after much research, she founded this startup, which provides authentic shea butter around the world. “The incredible quality of Ghanaian shea butter is like a food for the skin,” she said. “We supply this shea butter in many countries and also work with many companies like Amazon and many more. Additionally, we offer pure shea butter-based face and body products, which are in high demand worldwide. I began this venture with a small team, but I am confident that it will grow significantly. Just within two years, my organization has already employed a significant number of women.”

They have also introduced an organic day cream, which functions as a sunscreen and is ideal for individuals with excessively dry skin who reside in winter-prone regions. In countries with cold climates, individuals must use these products during the day, as they not only act as moisturizers but also provide sun protection due to the presence of minor sunscreen agents.

The owner of She-A-Beauty Dream is a prominent figure in the industry. She aspires to establish a globally recognized beauty line and provide a reliable source of income for the impoverished women of Ghana. Her vision in her eyes serves as a small example of why Ghanaian shea butter is so famous, but now it should be known how significant shea butter is in the global beauty industry.

The key player in the beauty industry:

The market for shea butter has grown rapidly on a global scale in recent years. It was at around USD 2.04 billion in 2023, and at an average yearly growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%, it is expected to reach USD 2.16 billion by 2024. According to estimates, the market is expected to expand further, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.60% reaching a valuation of over USD 4.3 billion by 2032. Customers are favoring natural and organic skincare products more and more. This trend is well suited for shea butter, which is valued for its healing, nourishing, and moisturizing qualities.

The growing vogue for “clean beauty,” or goods devoid of harsh chemicals, has driven shea butter sales. Eu’Genia Shea, Kaeme, Sekaf, FairTale GHANA, and Akoma Skincare—incorporate Ghanaian shea butter into their products.

Shea butter is one of the natural, high-quality, and ethical ingredients that European cosmetics companies are increasingly looking for. There are various prospects for shea butter in cosmetics in nations like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

Every skin-conscious person adheres to Korean beauty practices, and Korean cosmetic products also include shea butter as an ingredient. The K-Beauty industry values its moisturizing and nourishing properties.

WithBotanic, a Korean startup, established a shea butter processing center in Uganda in 2019 to produce high-quality, organic shea butter known as ‘Nilotica.’ This initiative supports local women by providing employment and improving their quality of life through education and healthcare projects. The company aims to introduce this premium shea butter to global markets, promoting clean beauty and sustainability. Even though it’s in Uganda, Ghana’s women want to work with these kinds of global organizations.

Shea butter is widely used in hair treatments, anti-aging creams, and sunburn treatments. Its fatty acids restore lipids, soothe irritation, and protect skin cells from free radicals, promoting healthy, youthful-looking skin.

Beyond SHE-A-BEAUTY, many non-African companies import Ghanaian shea butter to produce various cosmetic products. La Roche-Posay is a well-known beauty brand, and they’ve also created Lipikar Wash AP, Gentle Foaming Moisturising Body & Face Wash, which contains shea butter for gentle cleansing.

Ghana is a major exporter, with numerous importers from Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, and India. Additionally, countries like the United States import shea butter, using it in cosmetics, confectionery, and even biofuels.

Many small and large-scale investors are seeking to invest in Ghanaian firms to procure authentic organic shea butter, a staple in numerous companies, shops, and other sectors. This investment is not only profitable, but it also gives a better life to local women and their communities.

Women empowerment: The shea sector is fast-growing, with strong returns. Over 16 million women are directly and indirectly involved in shea production in Africa, collecting approximately 920,000 metric tonnes of shea kernels annually. In Ghana, the shea industry supports the livelihoods of over 2 million people, either directly or indirectly. Approximately 1 million women are actively involved.

Investing in shea benefits rural women, who traditionally harvest and process shea nuts. It improves their incomes and livelihoods. About 85% of shea nuts are sold as kernels in the food industry. National, regional, and cosmetic markets use the remaining 15% for shea butter. Ghana exports shea butter, with an estimated worth of US$92.6 million (38,792 metric tonnes) in 2022 and shea kernels worth US$20 million (36,162 metric tonnes) in 2021, and this market has huge potential for growth in the future by empowering women.