Illipe Butter, Shorea stenoptera, is an exotic butter obtained from the nuts of a beautiful tall tree that grows in the forests of Borneo. For centuries, the inhabitants of the island have been using this butter as a treatment for skin problems.
The grand tree can grow to 50 feet in height and produces 2-inch nuts with a very thin shell. The nuts, which contain about 50% fat, are collected from the forest floor and dried in the sun. The shells are separated and the inner nut is pressed to extract "butter."
Although it is solid at room temperature, illipe nut butter melts when in direct contact with the skin.
Illipe, a creamy pale yellow butter with a mild scent, is similar to cocoa butter in its triglyceride composition. Rich in unsaturated fatty acids like oleic and linoleic, as well as vitamins A and E, it is reputed to be the most nourishing of the healing botanical butters.
Illipe helps reinforce the natural protective barrier of the skin which helps retain moisture and prevents the skin from drying out. All of this is especially important for people with eczema or dermatitis since their skin is often extremely dry and sensitive, Illipe nut butter also helps soothe symptoms of irritated skin conditions such as uncomfortable tightness, redness, and/or itchiness. It is an amazing natural moisturizer that will leave skin smooth, supple, and less dull.
In hair care, illipe butter is rich in Vitamins A and E, which helps stimulate the production of healthy sebum to soothe and hydrate the scalp and hair. It conditions dry hair strands and locks in moisture, to help tame frizzy hair, smooth split ends, and improve elasticity by making it more manageable and adding shine.
*We usually use the illipe butter that is USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade. Unfortunately, it is sometimes unavailable which is why we do not label this ingredient as organic.
The USDA organic illipe butter carries both Organic and Fair For Life Fair Trade certifications.
Fair Trade Certified™ is the global brand of Fair Trade USA, a nonprofit organization. Using Fair Trade Certified™ Organic Cocoa Butter supports quality products that improve lives and protect the environment.
Fair for Life is a certification program for fair trade in agriculture, manufacturing, and trade, created in 2006 and is now run by the Ecocert Group.
