If you've ever compared different types of unrefined shea butter, you've probably noticed that some are ivory while others are bright yellow. This often leads to questions like, "Which one is better?" or "Is yellow shea butter more natural?"
The simple answer is that both are traditional forms of shea butter. The main difference is how they are produced, not whether one is better than the other .
Shea butter is often referred to as "Women's Gold" because it provides a livelihood for women across the shea-growing regions of West Africa. For many, shea production is their main source of income, and they are often the primary breadwinners in their families.
The knowledge and skill of producing shea butter are traditionally passed down from mother to daughter, making it both an important source of income and a long-standing cultural tradition.
Ivory shea butter is the natural colour of most unrefined shea butter. It can range from off-white to pale cream, and slight variations in colour from batch to batch are completely normal.
Our Unrefined Ivory Shea Butter is the traditional ivory variety, sourced directly from a women's co-operative in northern Ghana. It is produced using traditional methods and supplied for skincare, haircare and soap making.
Yellow shea butter gets its colour from natural ingredients added during production. The most commonly cited ingredient is Borututu root, although some producers use small amounts of palm oil instead.
Like ivory shea butter, yellow shea butter is a traditional product that has been used in West Africa for many years.
Yellow shea butter gets its colour from natural ingredients added during production. The most commonly cited ingredient is Borututu root, although some producers use small amounts of palm oil instead.
Like ivory shea butter, yellow shea butter is a traditional product that has been used in West Africa for many years.
Ivory shea butter keeps its natural colour, while yellow shea butter gets its yellow colour from natural ingredients added during production.
The colour is simply a result of how the shea butter is made. It is not an indication of quality.
Yes.
The word unrefined describes how the shea butter has been processed, while ivory and yellow describe its colour. Both ivory and yellow shea butter can be unrefined.
If you'd like to learn more about what "unrefined" means, read our Unrefined Shea Butter FAQ.
No. Neither is considered better simply because of its colour.
Both are excellent natural moisturisers and are widely used in skincare, haircare and soap making. The quality of the shea butter depends much more on how it is produced, how fresh it is and where it comes from than whether it is yellow or ivory.
At Isivuno Naturals, we supply both Unrefined Ivory Shea Butter and Yellow Shea Butter, sourced directly from a women's co-operative in northern Ghana.
Our ivory shea butter is naturally off-white to pale cream, while our yellow shea butter gets its colour from the traditional addition of Borututu root during production.
Since 2017, we've supplied quality shea butter to soap makers, skincare brands, manufacturers and DIY makers across South Africa. By working directly with our partners in Ghana, we're able to offer consistent quality while supporting the women who produce it.
Explore our Unrefined Ivory Shea Butter or Yellow Shea Butter to find the option that best suits your needs.
No. Both yellow and ivory shea butter are natural products. The difference is mainly in how they are made. Ivory shea butter is the natural colour of the shea nut fat, while traditional yellow shea butter is usually coloured using the root of the Borututu tree or other natural plant-based ingredients during processing.
No. Ivory shea butter can be either refined or unrefined. The colour does not tell you how it has been processed.
For more information, see our Unrefined Shea Butter FAQ.
Natural unrefined shea butter can vary slightly in colour, ranging from off-white to pale cream or light yellow. This is different from traditional yellow shea butter, which gets its colour from ingredients such as Borututu root.
No. Both yellow and ivory shea butter provide the same excellent moisturising and skin-conditioning properties. The colour does not make one better than the other. Both are rich in naturally occurring fatty acids and vitamins that help nourish, soften and protect the skin.
Whether you choose yellow shea butter or ivory shea butter, the most important thing is choosing a quality product from a trusted source.
At Isivuno Naturals, we supply both Unrefined Ivory Shea Butter and Yellow Shea Butter, sourced directly from a women's co-operative in northern Ghana and trusted by soap makers, skincare brands, manufacturers and DIY makers across South Africa.
Zikhona Tefu
Zikhona Tefu is the founder of Isivuno Naturals and O'live Handmade Soaps. A self-taught soap maker and skincare formulator since 2011, she founded Isivuno Naturals in 2017 after struggling to find well-sourced, quality ingredients she could trust in her own formulations. Passionate about teaching , she shares practical, experience-based knowledge to help makers, formulators, and growing skincare brands create with confidence using ingredients they understand and can trust.
