Whether it's lusciously lathering soaps, creamy and moisturising body custards and lotions, succulent lip and skin balms, or deep treatment hair care products, natural butters bring an abundance of natural oils, proteins and fatty acids that enrich the skin or hair and an edge to any cosmetics line.

As well as all this goodness, many natural butters are indulgent to the touch and simply smell delicious, especially butters such as Avocado Butter, Cocoa Butter and Mango Butter.

Olive Extra Virgin Butter

Cold pressed from selected olive fruit, Olive Butter contains excellent antioxidant and emollient properties making it a highly sought after ingredient for skincare and hair care products. High in natural essential fatty acids, Olive Butter is deeply moisturising and often preferred by people with sensitive skin, due to its gentle but deeply nourishing effect. Commonly used in massage balms, Olive Butter can also be included in anti-ageing skincare, lip balms and body custards, lotions and butters, hair conditioners and hair grooming products.

Cocoa Butter

Around 70% of the world's production of Cocoa Butter (also known as Cacao Butter) originates in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa. Cocoa Butter is one of the most stable fats known and is the cream-coloured vegetable fat extracted from cocoa beans during the process of separating the powder and liquor from the bean.
Cocoa butter contains natural antioxidants that prevent rancidity and it is also highly moisturising, making it popular for use in soaps, lotions and body custards.

Mango Butter

Cold pressed and rendered from the seed kernel of the fruit from the Mango tree (Mangifera indica), Mango Butter, while new to the cosmetics industry, has rapidly grown in popularity due to its exceptional quality as a base ingredient in skin care products and soaps.

Revered for its skin softening, moisturising and soothing properties, Mango butter is believed to have wound healing properties. Highly effective in anti-ageing products, Mango Butter is believed to assist with the appearance of fine lines and tired, dry or mature looking skin.

Shea Butter

As one of the most popular natural butters in skin care products, Shea Butter is loved world-wide for its deeply moisturising properties and widely reported healing effect on common skin problems. Extracted from the Shea nut of the Kaite tree in West and Central Africa, Shea Butter is rich in cinnamic acid and is high in Vitamins A and E. Used in an array of skincare products such as body custards, lotions, skin balms, hair care products and lip balms, it has been revered for centuries by healers and women in Africa who claim it to be almost magical in its healing effect on burns, stretch marks, dry skin and common skin irritations.

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Kylie Drury

6 Sep 2010