FAQs

Q: Why is my body butter lumpy/grainy in texture. It was fine when I received it and now it has hard lumps? What happened?

A: Don't worry...it's actually common and very easy to remedy. All body butters, organic or inorganic, have base butters, like mango, shea and cocoa as well as different oils to create the perfect butter and each ingredient has its own melting and solidification temp (temperature at which it becomes a solid). During the summer months or in warmer climates, butters are very susceptible to melting. Be mindful, that this phenomena can occur during transit or when your body butter has been sitting on your bathroom counter for weeks or months with no graininess. One day you open your jar and voila....grainy butter! This "phenomena" is a result of a temperature malfunction; temperature increases and a cooling effect that occurred too slowly! When this happens, each ingredient melts and re-solidifies at its own temp, thereby contributing to creating a grainy or lumpy butter that was once smooth and buttery. When ingredients, particularly like Shea butter have a low melting point, what occurs is the Shea will quickly melt while the fatty acids in the Shea butter become more solid than the actual Shea. The great number of benefits of shea FAR outweighs the appearance should this occur. Shea based products need to keep a consistent temperature to avoid becoming grainy. Places like the bathroom have temps that fluctuate and can cause this "issue" to flare up after days, weeks, months, or this may never occur. Shea, with all its wonderful benefits, can be quite finicky.The butters are not rancid, nor have they lost their benefits or usability. They still have all the qualities and benefits as before the melting and cooling took place, they just have a different look and texture. To remedy this grainy butter, slowly melt it in a double boiler until all lumps have melted and the butters have turned to liquid, about 15-30 mins. Once melted, place it in the freezer for 30 mins to an hour to allow it to freeze quickly. Once you remove it, let it cool to room temp (below 75 degrees) and store in a cool dry environment. All the lumps will be gone and you'll have smooth butters or balms again. This extreme warming and cooling that causes the grainy body butters are less likely to occur during cooler months or when the butters are not exposed to heat (ideal temp is 75 and below). 

Q: My butters/ balms have melted. Is it still good to use?

A: Yes, your butters and balms are still good to use and have all the quality benefits for the skin. Melting does not affect the quality or safety of the butters and balms whatsoever. Place the products in the fridge to have them re-solidify and they will be fine. You may run into grainy butters though....check out the first question and how to resolve it should it occur.

Q: My whipped body butter or balm has turned black...what happened?

A: Your body butter has been contaminated by water and it has caused bacteria and mold to grow. Your butter is rancid and needs to be discarded. Butter and oil based products have a shelf life of up to a year once created but all liquid must be kept from these organic butters. There are no artificial preservatives to eliminate the growth of this these foreign bodies if water is allowed to sit or enter the body products.

Q: My butters/ balms have melted. Is it still good to use?

A: Yes, your butters and balms are still good to use and have all the quality benefits for the skin. Melting does not affect the quality or safety of the butters and balms whatsoever. Place the products in the fridge to have them re-solidify and they will be fine. You may run into grainy butters though....check out the first question and how to resolve it should it occur.