Because we only use golden shea butter. 

Golden shea butter gets its rich color from nature herself, not from dyes or additives. The golden hue comes from the natural pigments and plant compounds in the shea nut, especially when it's processed the traditional way—with minimal interference. That color tells a story of freshness, nutrition, and authenticity.

Here's a breakdown:

• Natural pigments: The golden color comes largely from carotenoids, a group of powerful antioxidants also found in carrots, pumpkin, and palm oil. Carotenoids like beta-carotene are fat-soluble, meaning they blend perfectly into oils like shea butter. These pigments give it a warm hue and may contribute to skin-protective benefits, like helping reduce oxidative stress when applied topically (source: Stahl & Sies, 2005, Journal of Nutrition).

• Plant compounds from the shell: During traditional processing, parts of the shea nut shell and root bark can make their way into the butter, lending it not only a darker color but also trace amounts of tannins and other phenolic compounds. These are plant defense molecules that double as antioxidants. Tannins can have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, giving golden shea a bit more punch than its refined cousin (source: Maranz et al., 2004, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry).

• Roasting effects: In most traditional methods, the shea nuts are roasted before grinding. This caramelizes some of the sugars and deepens the color, much like browning butter. That process also adds a smoky, nutty scent that is often stripped away in commercial refining. Think of it like coffee—light roast vs dark roast.

• Processing differences: Golden shea butter is usually unrefined or cold pressed, meaning it hasn't been subjected to chemical bleaching, deodorizing, or high heat. These processes are used in cosmetic-grade white shea butter to remove scent, color, and minor impurities—but they also strip away beneficial fatty acids, vitamins (like A and E), and antioxidants.

TL;DR: Golden = More Natural Goodness

Golden shea butter is basically the whole-food version of a skincare fat. It’s vibrant, rich in skin-loving compounds, and only lightly processed. That means it still contains the good stuff—like carotenoids and polyphenols—that make your skin feel soft, nourished, and protected.

If white refined shea is like white bread, golden shea is the hearty, toasty, whole-grain version your skin's been craving.