Author: Shea Island

Tis the Season to be Jolly!

Posted on by Shea Island

Tis the season to be jolly……………………….

It’s that time of year again where many of us look forward to giving our loved ones gifts to say Happy Christmas, be it for religious beliefs or a thank you for the past year.

 

Christmas has become a busier and busier time of year for us all. With the High Street and Internet flooded with Christmas Gift ideas, it is no wonder that we are not only stuck for choice but also end up buying gifts that run the risk of collecting dust in someone’s cupboard!

With this in mind….why not give a gift that keeps giving! We have the perfect gift for you……..

Shea Island Gift Sets contain all Natural Skincare products that not only offer a range of health benefits but are also kind to the environment and help to support local African communities by providing jobs and sources of income.

 

The Gift sets contain x1 200g bar of African Black Soap, x1 500g Unrefined Shea Butter and x1 Natural Sea Sponge.

Natural Sea Sponge:

  • Sea Sponges are the most natural and healthy way to cleanse and care for the skin as they are permeated with natural enzymes that inhibit the growth of mould, mildew and bacteria
  • Produce a rich lather, needing only a small amount of liquid or bar of soap
  • 100% Hypoallergenic
  • Sea Sponges are sustainably harvested. When sponges are collected, part of the sponge is left on the ocean floor to grow back. Through crop rotation sponges are harvested over, and over again as they regrow to their original size within a few years.

Unrefined Shea Butter:

  • Excellent face and body moisturiser
  • Reduces Inflammation
  • 100% Natural
  • Contains essential fatty acids, Vitamins A and E which helps to maintain the skins elasticity and suppleness
  • Can be used in the hair and scalp to repair damaged hair and promote hair growth
  • Suitable for Children

African Black Soap:

  • Natural Skin Cleanser
  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Combats Acne
  • Helps to treat Eczema and Psoriasis
  • Reduces Fine Lines and Wrinkles
  • Evens Skin Tone
  • Can be used on the face and body

So what are you waiting for?……..Purchase your Shea Island Gift Set today or following us on Instagram/Facebook and Twitter and see which local Christmas Markets we will be at!

 

Happy Christmas Shopping from Shea Island!

Our 7 Day Vegan Challenge!

Posted on by Shea Island

So we are attending the Viva Vegan Festival on Saturday 16th September and we are also applying for vegan certification for our Shea Island Products. All of this got me thinking about what the benefits of being vegan and the big questions that everyone asks, “what do vegans eat?”

Myself and Jamie decided to sign up for the Plate up for the planet 7 day challenge to answer these questions for ourselves! And here is how we got on!

Day 1:
After doing some very brief reading up on veganism we thought this would be a piece of cake (dairy free cake obviously!)
We were both late leaving the house so thought we would grab something on our way into work…..after confiscating a fuslie cereal bar as it contained honey I realised that “grabbing” something from our the tesco local was not going to be easy.

Lunchtime was another hurdle as everything I picked up contained dairy of some sort. I ended up having some fruit and a trek bar washed down with a soya latte.


Monday night was shopping night I suggest that you do this before going starting your day 7 Plate up for the planet! Again this was possibly my longest shop ever as I had to take the time to read the labels to ensure that the foods were vegan friendly.
I will definitely be taking more time to check the labels on foods before buying in the future! I couldn’t believe how much “stuff” (I say stuff as I had no idea what half the ingredients was!)

Monday’s dinner was sweet potato spinach and lentil Dahl which was so tasty. Bring on day 2!!

Days 2-4

Breakfasts we mostly toast with vegan butter from Sainsbury’s free from range. Nush yoghurts with berries and cereals, which is roughly the same as our usual breakfasts.
Lunchtime still proved a bit more difficult. With limited time and limited choice at the local cafes, supermarkets and shops. After day 3 we took the sensible option and started to make our own lunches which included vegan cheese salad sandwiches and falafel wraps. Jamie who eats meat around 3 times a week has not yet missed meat at all!

Days 5-6

I have stopped missing skimmed milk in my tea and have got used to the taste of almond milk instead. I have also started doing more research into the benefits of the vegan and how it can help to combat climate change and protect our natural world.

I have really enjoyed our evening meals especially the mushroom risotto and mushroom burgers with sweet potato and tofu stir fry!

Day 7!

We made it! We completed our plate up for the planet 7 day challenge!

I am so pleased that we decided to sign up for this as it has opened my eyes to the effects that animal produce is having on the environment. Although I have been a pescatarian since childhood (I have just never liked meat) I have realised just how many foods contain animal products.
I feel that over the years the choice for those who follow a vegetarian diet has widened dramatically as there is now almost always a vegetarian option on menus etc. However I did find that there is still work to be done in terms of the variety and availability of vegan foods. However I am sure those of you who have followed a vegan diet for a many years have seen a vast improvement.

Although I can not yet say that I will continue to follow a fully vegan diet I can safely say that I will continue to check my food labels and consume less dairy products. I will also continue to try and experiment with more vegan recipes!

You can sign up for the challenge here https://www.vegansociety.com/get-involved/campaigns/plate-planet

Thank you for reading our blog and give it a go! We would love to hear from you if you do 🙂

African Black Soap

Posted on by Shea Island

African Black Soap and Why We Love It……………….

 

Why is everyone talking about African Black Soap?

You will be forgiven if you have never heard of African Black Soap, however, with the popularity of the Soap soaring, it won’t be long until you do!

The use of African Black Soap may be new to some of you however this natural cleanser has been used widely across West Africa for hundreds of years.

There are different variations of African Black Soap on the market today but the main ingredients are Plantain Leaves, Cocoa Pods, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil, and Shea Butter.

There are many benefits of using African Black Soap including the following:

It’s an ALL Natural Product: As the soap is made from all natural ingredients it will not strip your skin of its natural oils. Authentic African Black Soap does not contain any hidden ingredients and is batched 100% naturally, making it vegan friendly and suitable for those with sensitive skin.

It’s Suitable for All Skin Types: Dry, Oily, Acne Prone, Eczema, Hyperpigmentation, Young, Old, Psoriasis, Sensitive………..whatever your skin type African Black is suitable for you!

Shampoo Use: Did you know that African Black Soap can be used as a shampoo for your hair too. Whether melted down to a liquid form or just using the bar itself, African Black Soap is excellent for treating your dry scalp and hair, gently cleansing, preventing dandruff, strengthens hair and prevents breakage.

Shea Island’s African Black Soap and all its ingredients are all sourced responsibly. Our African Black Soap is 100% natural with no added nasty chemicals or things you’ve never heard of! Our African Black Soap is produced with love by our suppliers in Ghana West Africa.

These are just a few reasons why everyone is talking about African Black Soap. Don’t just take our word for it…..check out our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and look through our customer testimonials and reviews!

Purchase your Shea Island African Black Soap today and feel the benefits for yourself!

Written By

Rachel McIntosh