Shea Butter Cream, 300 ml

A shea butter cream in a pump bottle, made in Egypt. Shea butter is a soft fat made from the nuts of the shea tree. The label names it shea butter cream in Arabic and English and does not name a maker; its side gives the size, 300 ml, says “Made in Egypt” and carries printed dates. The label lists no ingredients, so it does not say how much shea butter the cream contains, or what else is in it. It comes in a 300 ml white plastic bottle with a white pump; the orange and navy label shows a photo of a model's face in a round frame.

What it is for: the label lists no uses, so these are the usual ways shea butter cream is used. It is an everyday moisturiser for dry skin on the body; it softens dry hands, elbows and heels; and a little can go on dry skin on the face. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin looks and feels.

Use a little at a time. After a shower, pump a small amount into your palm, warm it between your hands and smooth it over dry skin on the arms and legs until it sinks in. For dry hands, elbows and heels, rub in a little in the evening. On the face, use only a little on clean skin and keep it away from the eyes.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a printed label with the name, the size and “Made in Egypt”. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over.

It is for external use only. Try it on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it on your face. Do not put it on broken or irritated skin. Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree, so skip it if you have a nut allergy. The label lists no ingredients, so if you have allergies, ask a doctor before you use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF, so in the Egyptian sun you still need one. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children.

Keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat, and wipe the pump clean after use. At 300 ml it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the pump screwed down tight and the bottle sealed in a zip bag, standing upright.

Who it suits: anyone with dry skin who wants one plain cream for the body and hands, in a bottle with a pump. Skip it if you have a nut allergy, if your skin reacts easily and you need to read an ingredient list first, or if you travel with hand luggage only.