Pure shea butter and a moisturizer containing shea butter need separate shelf life advice, even if both jars give shea butter top billing. A cream that mixes water and oil can separate, and preservatives can break down over time.2
How can you tell whether it has deteriorated?
Look for a changed smell, color or texture compared with when you first opened it. Cosmetics can also dry out, harden or crack. These changes are reasons to question the product's condition, but texture alone does not tell you what happened: temperature changes, sunlight and air can alter cosmetics.2
How should you store shea butter?
For shea butter sold as a cosmetic, use these general storage precautions:
- Keep the container and any applicator clean. Dipping fingers into a jar introduces bacteria and fungi.
- Avoid heat, including leaving the jar in a hot car.
- Keep it away from sunlight and unnecessary exposure to air.
- Avoid damp storage conditions. Bathroom moisture can make bacterial and fungal growth easier.
What if the jar has no expiry date?
US cosmetics do not have to carry an expiry date, so a blank label is not a lifetime membership. The manufacturer is responsible for determining shelf life. Ask the brand for the usable period for your exact product rather than assigning every shea butter jar the same deadline.2
Does refining make a difference?
Refining changes shea butter's composition, including some of its natural antioxidant components. Extraction methods and the butter's origin also affect its quality. Neither "refined" nor "unrefined" gives you a universal expiry period; use shelf life advice for the particular product.1
