A fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). It is ivory in color when raw. Raw unrefined, untreated shea butter is as natural as it gets. It is produced through natural process of extracting the butter from the seed without the use of harsh chemicals or equipment that would compromise the nutrients of the butter. Its moisturizing, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties make it invaluable in the making of cosmetics and soaps as a moisturizer, salve, or lotion. Shea butter is sometimes used as a base for medicinal ointments. Some of the isolated chemical constituents are reported to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, emollient, and humectant properties. Shea butter has been used as a sunblocking lotion and some of its components “have limited capacity to absorb ultraviolet radiation“.