FAQ’s

Our mission encompasses revolutionizing the way shea butter is bought and sold worldwide. Shea Yeleen International is a unique social enterprise that includes a 501(c)3 nonprofit and a commercial entity that sells high-quality, unrefined shea butter products. We support shea butter producers in West Africa by paying them living wages and providing the shea butter cooperatives that we work with funding, health insurance, and training.Unlike other shea butter skincare manufacturers, we want to ensure that shea butter producers have a voice and visibility. And we do this by educating consumers and by having shea butter producers represent their issues and concerns within the global marketplace.

Shea Yeleen products feature natural, organic shea butter produced in small batches using traditional methods. Our products do not contain manufactured chemicals or pesticides.

Currently, our products are not certified due to the high costs associated with organic certification. Shea Yeleen works with cooperatives and many cannot afford the high cost of USDA organic certification.

Shea Yeleen products — including each of its ingredients — are not tested on animals.

Shea Yeleen considers parabens unsafe. Our products are paraben-free and do not contain manufactured chemicals.

Shea Body Balm – 18 months
Shea Body Cream – 2 years
Shea Butter Soap – 2 years
Black Soap – 2 years
Shea Butter Lip Balm – 2 years

Shea Yeleen products can benefit anyone who wants soft, supple, healthy skin, regardless of gender, ethnicity or age. The only exception would be some who has a latex allergy. If you have a latex allergy, please consult a physician before using shea butter.

We recommend selecting the products according to your skin type:

Normal: Body Cream, Shea Soap, Lip Balm
Dry: Body Balm, Body Cream, Shea Soap, Lip Balm
Severely Dry: Body Balm, Shea Soap, Lip Balm
Eczema: Black Soap, Body Balm, Shea Soap, Lip Balm
Psoriasis: Black Soap, Body Balm, Shea Soap, Lip Balm

The phytosterols in shea butter contain cinnamic acid esters which can act as a UV protectant. It provides natural ultraviolet sun protection at approximately an SPF 6. However, Shea Yeleen products are not sunscreen products and should not be used as a replacement for sunscreen.

Shea butter has proven effective in the treatment of various skin ailments including eczema and psoriasis, and in some cases rosacea. We have customers who have successfully treated these conditions using Shea Yeleen products exclusively, as a natural alternative to medicated creams. (NOTE: Generally, people with skin conditions usually opt for unscented skincare products.)

Every person is different, therefore results will vary. Using the product consistently is the key. Start by using the shea body balm or shea body creams a daily moisturizer. You will notice changes as the weeks go by. You will notice an increase in your skin’s softness and suppleness, in addition to the alleviation of skin ailments like eczema and psoriasis.

Yes! Shea Yeleen products can be used all over, including the face. Our black soap is very popular as a facial cleanser. Shea body balm is very good for treating particular areas on your face such as your lips and around your eyes. If using the shea body balm all over your face, apply a very thin layer. We recommend this if you have very dry skin on your face. The skin on the face is much thinner than the skin on your body and you want to be careful to monitor the effects on your skin. We recommend using the unscented shea body balm as a night cream.

Yes! Our unscented shea body balm is wonderful for hair and scalp. We recommend using small amounts as a scalp moisturizer or setting lotion. When applying to the hair, rub a little into your hands, and then run your fingers through your hair all the way to the ends.

Shea Yeleen customers can submit written or video testimonials. All testimonials should include your name and the city where you live. Include your written testimonial in the body of an email and send it to: info@sheayeleen.com. If submitting a video testimonial, upload it to YouTube, and email us at the address above. In your email, include the YouTube link where the video is posted.

Shea Yeleen products are sold at select Whole Foods Markets, independent retailers, and on our website. For a complete list of retail locations that sell our products, please visit the store locator on our website.

We are committed to our customer’s satisfaction with our merchandise beyond the point of sale. Merchandise may be returned within 30 days of purchase when accompanied by the following:

Original receipt/packing slip
All original packaging
Refunds will be processed based on the original form of payment.
The following items cannot be returned:

Product samples
Individual products purchased as part of a set (the entire set must be returned)
The return address is:
Attn: Shea Yeleen Return Department
417 H ST NE
Suite #2
Washington, DC 20002
If a package is returned to our warehouse as undeliverable, you will be issued a refund for the amount of the order less $7.00 (UPS re-routing fee). If you choose to have your package reshipped, there will be a $13.95 charge ($7.00 re-routing fee and $6.95 shipping fee). While we are unable to process new orders via the return process, if you wish to replace the item, please place another order online.

For your protection, and to ensure prompt delivery, we recommend that you send your return via UPS or insured Parcel Post. Please note that return shipping fees are not refundable and are the responsibility of the customer. Your refund will be processed based on the original form of payment (minus return shipping and handling).

Shea Yeleen launched the soap club to help customers enjoy our natural shea butter soaps while saving money! Customers can select a 2 or 3 bar a month membership for either six or 12 months. For more information,

Shea Yeleen’s fair trade body creams, balms, lip balms, and all-natural soaps may be a perfect fit for your store. Please visit our wholesale webpage and complete our vendor application with your EIN number to receive more information and pricing.
Terms and Conditions
Our Policies

If you have any questions about our policies, we warmly welcome you to call or email us before you place your order.
General Ordering and Shipping Policies

Finalizing Your Order:
We cannot make any changes to an order once it is finalized. Please check your order carefully before you submit/place it.

Cancellations:
Canceled orders will be subject to a cancellation fee of 20% or $5, whichever is higher. The cancellation fee on canceled Priority Rush/UPS NextDay/UPS 2 Day/UPS 3 Day orders is 25% or a minimum of $10 plus the Priority Rush fee.

Credit Card Storage Information:
Our online shopping cart system does not require you to permanently store your credit card information online.

PayPal Users:
Payments made through PayPal may occasionally take a few days to clear. Orders cannot be shipped until PayPal confirms that your payment has cleared. Orders of $150.00 or more paid for via PayPal must be shipped to an address that you have set up through PayPal as being a CONFIRMED PayPal address. Please note that this is separate from verifying your account. You are able to confirm your address by logging into your PayPal account, going into the Profile Summary area, selecting Street Address, and then by clicking on the Confirm button on the bottom of the page. PayPal’s confirmation procedures may change, so if you have questions, please contact PayPal.

Payment Processing:
We will email you if we discover a payment problem when we process your order. Please be sure to add info@sheayeleen.com to your address book. If we aren’t able to reach you within 14 days, we may need to cancel your order.

Out-of-Stock Items:
Sometimes a product is available at the time you place your order but then becomes out-of-stock by the time your order is received at the warehouse. In these rare instances, we will offer you the option to cancel your order or wait for the item to be in stock. Usually, it takes 10-15 business days for an out-of-stock item to be back in stock.

Shipping Fees:
UPS shipping fees are calculated based on the weight of the merchandise. UPS sets their minimum shipping weight at 2 lbs. When ordering online, the shipping amount shown during checkout is the estimated charge generated by the UPS online system. In most all cases, this is the shipping fee that you will incur. However, in some rare cases especially with very large orders, shipping charges may be higher than the online estimate if we discover that additional boxes are required to best protect your items during transit.

Occasionally USPS.com/UPS.com may be down or unavailable during your checkout process and our shopping cart will be unable to retrieve or display the estimated shipping charges for your order. In these instances, your online shopping cart may display a shipping fee of $0.00. Thank you for understanding that these rare instances are beyond our control and that we must reserve the right to add the appropriate shipping charge to your order once UPS systems are back up. We welcome you to contact our Customer Care department at info@sheayeleen.com to confirm the shipping fee for your order.

Processing Time:
Orders placed online are generally shipped within 3-5 business days unless expedited shipping or processing options are chosen. Please consider our processing time when selecting your shipping method.

Expedited Processing:
A Priority Rush service is available for an additional fee, specified during checkout. Priority Rush orders are shipped on the same day, if the order is placed by 10:00 am Eastern Time. Orders placed after 10:00 am Eastern Time will ship the following day. If you need your order shipped the same day during peak seasons, we recommend that you select our Priority Rush service.

Orders shipped via USPS expedited services are automatically upgraded to Priority Rush.

Handling Fees:

Palletized Order Fee: Palletized orders incur a pallet charge of $15 per pallet.

Fee for Order Changes: A $2.50 handling fee is charged if a change is made to an order that is scheduled to ship on the date that the change is requested.

Shipping Methods:
USPS Priority, UPS Standard Ground, Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver, Saturday Delivery, 2nd Day Air, 3 Day Select and Worldwide services are available during your checkout.

Orders shipped by Next Day Air, Next Day Air Saver, 2nd Day Air, 3 Day Select will be shipped on the same day, if the order is placed by 10:00 am Eastern Time. Orders placed after 10:00 am Eastern Time will ship the following day. Saturday Delivery is only available when using UPS Next Day Air on orders that ship on Friday. This service costs $17 per box in addition to the UPS Next Day Air shipping fee. UPS now offers ground service to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

We cannot be held responsible for any theft or damage that occurs if UPS or USPS delivers your package when you are not home. If UPS requires that packages be signed for in your area, please ensure that you are available to sign for your package. Customers are responsible for reimbursing us for any shipping and handling charges that are incurred if a package is returned because no one was available to accept it. If you are not available to accept your delivery, we recommend that you use a shipping address where someone will be available to receive the package for you. We encourage you to contact USPS or UPS directly to find out what their delivery policies are for your area.

International Customers & Brokerage/Customs Fees:
International customers are responsible for any and all customs duties, taxes and brokerage fees that a shipment may incur. We are not able to determine the amount of these fees before shipping to you. UPS will not deliver your order unless these fees are paid in full. Any shipment returned to us due to rejection by customs will be subject to our cancellation fee and will incur a return shipping fee. Please familiarize yourself with your country’s import restrictions/requirements prior to placing your order.

UPS Canada Standard is the standard method used for most Canadian deliveries. Some locations within Canada require us to use UPS Worldwide Express. All other orders are shipped via UPS Worldwide Express.

Your shipping address must match the billing address for international orders, and the address must be verifiable through our Address Verification System (AVS). If your financial institution does not recognize our AVS system, we may be unable to authorize your purchase. In such cases, your payment must be made in US dollars via American Express International Money Order. Alternatively, you are welcome to remit payment via Wire Transfer for an additional bank fee of $60.

Additional Shipping Charges:
You are responsible for any additional fees charged by USPS or UPS for address corrections. UPS charges this fee when packages are missing suite numbers, contain typos including zip code errors, or contain any other incorrect information that is missing or inaccurately supplied by the customer within the “Ship To” area of our order form. UPS also charges for address changes such as dropping off your package at any address other than the one provided in the “Ship To” area of the order form. The address correction fee is $20 per box for most addresses but may vary in some countries outside the US and Canada. We reserve the right to charge for these fees as soon as we are notified of them.

Large Shipments:
For unusually large orders, we reserve the right to ship your delivery by trucking service. We will notify you in advance of all applicable costs, including liftgate service and pallet charges.

Damage Claims:
Please inspect the packages upon arrival. You must report any damages, missing items or missing boxes to both USPS/UPS and Shea Yeleen within 3 days of receiving your order. If you notice any damage to the shipping box upon delivery, report it to the UPS driver and then report it directly to UPS. UPS will send someone to inspect the package. If you notice any damaged items upon unpacking the order, leave the box and its contents as is, save all of the packaging material, contact UPS to arrange an inspection of your package and contact us so that we may process your claim. We cannot replace damaged merchandise unless the package has been inspected by UPS. Your replacement will be shipped once we have been issued a claim number from UPS. We also cannot replace missing items unless they are reported within 3 days of the receipt of your order.

Safety Disclaimer and Use of Our Products:
Shea Yeleen is a supplier of natural unrefined shea butter, soap, lip balms used in skincare, hair care, massage, and spa products.

Although Shea Yeleen tries to be as accurate as possible when describing ingredients and supplies, Shea Yeleen cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information that is provided via its Web site, blog, social media networks, telephone conversations or written/email correspondence. It is up to the customer to adequately research the appropriate use and safety information for each item, including any governmental regulations in place for proper usage, labeling, and sale.

The contents of our catalog and Web site have not been evaluated by the FDA. Information on our Web site, blog social media networks, telephone conversations or written/email correspondence is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

By purchasing and using ingredients and products sold by Shea Yeleen, you agree that you are knowledgeable about the safe, appropriate storage and use of the ingredients and products that you purchase. You agree to carefully inspect all products, botanicals, and ingredients upon arrival and report any problems or need for replacement immediately. You agree that you will not hold Shea Yeleen liable for any problems that arise from your storage and use of the ingredients or products.

If you purchase bulk shea butter to make your own products, you will assume all product liability for the final products/creations that you make using ingredients purchased through Shea Yeleen.
We reserve the right to modify our policies at any time.

Return Policy

We are committed to our customer’s satisfaction with our merchandise beyond the point of sale. Merchandise may be returned within 15 days of purchase when accompanied by the following:

Original receipt/packing slip
All original packaging

Refunds will be processed based on the original form of payment.

The following items cannot be returned:

Product samples
Individual products purchased as part of a set (the entire set must be returned)

Online Purchases
The return address is:
Dotcom Distribution
Attn: Shea Yeleen Return Department
417 H ST NE #2
Washington, DC 20002

If a package is returned to our warehouse as undeliverable, you will be issued a refund for the amount of the order less $7.00 (re-routing fee). If you choose to have your package reshipped, there will be a $13.95 charge ($7.00 re-routing fee and $6.95 shipping fee).

While we are unable to process new orders via the return process, if you wish to replace the item, please place another order online.

For your protection, and to ensure prompt delivery, we recommend that you send your return via UPS or insured Parcel Post. Please note that return shipping fees are not refundable and are the responsibility of the customer. Your refund will be processed based on the original form of payment (minus return shipping and handling).

Damaged items

When your order arrives, please inspect the carton for any damage that may have occurred during shipment. It is normal for the shipping carton to show some wear, however, if damage occurred to the items in your shipment, please contact Shea Yeleen Customer Service: info@sheayeleen.com between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m, EST., Mondays to Fridays. Our customer service representatives will be happy to assist you.

Shea Yeleen has trained thousands of women in Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali on quality shea butter production and business skills. Currently, Shea Yeleen’s business model demonstrates a 5x increase in income for the shea producers — helping women who historically have lived on less than $2 a day to generate over $10 a day. In addition, shea butter cooperative members are provided with health insurance, access to savings groups, and provided with the training.

Shea Yeleen works directly with cooperatives and pays cooperative members 7 times more per pound of shea than the current market rate. There is no intermediary. We transfer funds directly into a bank account that’s co-managed by cooperative leaders. The cooperatives are directly involved in the payment process and all payments are well-documented. The cooperative members all sign payment slips to verify they have received payment for their work.

Many rural women in sub-Saharan Africa do not have it easy: they generally hold an inferior position in society, they are predominantly less educated than men, and they also handle household chores and child-rearing most of the day. Yet, in developing countries where women are engaged in economic endeavors, such as shea butter production, the overall well-being of the communities improves.

At Shea Yeleen, shea butter entrepreneurs are the inspiration that fuel us. We are committed to ensuring that these women have the resources they need to operate effective, independent and sustainable businesses. We have seen that when families earn fair wages, they can pay for health care, send their children to school, and improve their communities