Shea Radiance, a skin and haircare company based in Ellicott City, Maryland, has been named one of nineteen ‘Social Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2017’ by Conscious Company Magazine. The March edition of the magazine profiles men and women social entrepreneurs, as nominated by a group of investors, incubators, accelerators and industry groups.
Founded by Ms. Funlayo Alabi and her husband Shola Alabi in 2008, Shea Radiance was born when she tried to find a natural solution to her young children’s eczema. Shea Butter, a natural healing balm, turned out to be the ingredient that helped her children. Shea Butter originates in the shea fields of West Africa where women in small communities produce the majority of the shea butter. Ms. Alabi formed an instant connection with these women, and in doing so changed the focus of her business to help ensure that they and their children could have better lives as a result. “I believe when you empower a woman, she uplifts her children and transforms her community. That is how a jar of cream can change the world”, said Ms. Alabi.
Since 2014, Shea Radiance has purchased over 60,000 pounds of shea butter from the West African communities and has helped provide eight shea producing cooperatives with locally fabricated equipment to increase their production capacity. Ms. Alabi is also the Chair of the Global Shea Alliance Sustainability Working Group, an organization created to help lead the effort of self-sustainability in West Africa and to alleviate poverty there.
All ingredients used in artisan Shea Radiance products are natural and free of additives, parabens and sulfates. Shea Radiance products contain a high percentage of Shea butter, naturally rich in antioxidants and anti-aging actives that nourish and protect skin and hair.
“The need to connect woman globally, and the need to create an economic pathway for over 16 million African women picking and processing Shea nuts to care and provide for their families is what the Shea Radiance is all about”, Ms. Alabi noted.
To read about Ms. Alabi and the other eighteen Social Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2017, go to https://consciouscompanymedia.com/featured/19-social-entrepreneurs-watch-2017/.
Editorial Note: This post was shared by a member of the BXP community and edited by our editorial staff. Do you have news to share with our readers or a package design project that you are especially proud of? Click here to learn how you can become a contributing member of the BXP Magazine online community.